[Editor’s Note: New Canaan EMS celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. To mark the milestone, the New Canaanite is publishing profiles of members each month in 2025. This is a new installment in the series, written by Wendy Fog, herself a longtime EMT with the organization.]
Dr. Sheldon Stevenson is medical director of emergency medicine at Mid Coast Hospital Bluewater Health. He is also president of the Maine Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Dr. Sheldon Stevenson
But to us, Dr. Stevenson is “the 17-year-old kid” who wanted to take CPR, become an EMT and join New Canaan EMS.
Sheldon did it—he passed every test with flying colors. Even while away at boarding school during the week, he rode almost every weekend with NCEMS, pulling 24-hour shifts without hesitation. He continued serving on the ambulance crew throughout college, which led to his decision to become a paramedic. After passing the rigorous exams, he worked at Norwalk Hospital while still riding with NCEMS and preparing for medical school.
He went on to complete medical school and his residencies, ultimately fulfilling his dream of practicing emergency medicine. Through it all, whenever he was home, he never stopped riding with NCEMS.
Sheldon attributes much of his career path to his countless hours spent at New Canaan EMS. He told us that it was this training and experience that guided his Emergency Department leadership through the major mass casualty event which resulted in dozens of victims in the Emergency Department at his home hospital in Lewiston, Maine in 2023. Sheldon knew exactly what to do. He learned it here with us.
Through his experience and dedication, Sheldon is now the president of the Maine Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, and regularly meets with state officials to advocate for Emergency Medical Care advances.
Sheldon and his Nurse Practitioner wife, Suzanne, along with their two young sons, live in central Maine. We at NCEMS are proud to be a part of this story of dedication, compassion, and excellence.
We like to think we “raised this kid” and gave him the wings to fly into a career of making a difference and passing these goals on to his children and his community. Emergency Medicine is no walk in the park, but it is indeed worth it. Just ask Sheldon.
Great article! What an impressive young man, and how wonderful that our volunteer EMS got him started
Great article and congrats to the Doctor.