Published: June 4, 2026
The Medic One Foundation mourns the loss of Dr. Werner Samson, one of our founding board members, a longtime Foundation leader, and a cherished friend whose influence helped shape emergency medical care throughout our region. Dr. Samson passed away on May 4, 2026, just one day shy of his 98th birthday. For more than three… Read More »
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Published: March 5, 2026
On March 7, 1970, a single vehicle left Harborview Medical Center carrying two firefighter-paramedics and a bold idea: what if lifesaving care didn’t wait until a patient reached the hospital? That first run marked the beginning of Medic One. While Seattle was not the first city to deploy paramedics, it became the first to implement… Read More »
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Published: October 30, 2025
On a quiet Sunday morning, Doug Henderson’s life changed in an instant. What began as an ordinary day quickly spiraled into a fight for survival. “I started feeling just… off,” Doug recalled. Within minutes, he was drenched in sweat, dizzy, and numb. “That’s when I realized I had a problem. Normally, I’d wait things out,… Read More »
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Published: October 30, 2025
Few couples have shaped our region’s medical landscape like Dr. Werner Samson and his wife of 72 years, Joan Samson. Their story is one of resilience, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to each other and to improving lives—both in the exam room and in the community. Werner was just ten years old when he left… Read More »
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Published: October 30, 2025
Every October, we shine a light on Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)—a sudden electrical failure of the heart that strikes more than 356,000 people each year in the U.S. Survival depends on what happens in the first few minutes. Without immediate CPR and access to an AED, chances of survival drop by 10% every minute. That’s… Read More »
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Published: October 30, 2025
When Paola Chaves responded to overdoses and medical emergencies while working for Seattle Parks—administering Narcan, performing CPR, and watching firefighters in action—she discovered her passion for emergency response. What she didn’t yet know was how she’d afford the next step toward her dream of becoming a firefighter: enrolling in EMT training. Thanks to the Medic… Read More »
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Published: October 30, 2025
The Medic One Foundation’s Lifesavers Gala delivered a historic night of generosity and celebration on Saturday, drawing more than 500 guests in support of one of the most advanced emergency medical systems in the world. The event raised an unprecedented $1.56 million to help fund the training of 39 new Medic One Paramedics — the… Read More »
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Published: August 8, 2025
What a spectacular evening we had on Saturday, July 26, for our Meet the Chief event on Camano Island! Hosted by our Board President Craig Peterson and his wife Cassandra at their beautiful home, the night was filled with sunshine, stunning views, great conversation, and a shared commitment to lifesaving care. Guests enjoyed delicious food,… Read More »
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Published: August 8, 2025
As part of its commitment to expanding life-saving pre-hospital care across Washington State, Medic One Foundation is proud to announce a $50,000 grant to support statewide participation in the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) for 2025 and 2026. The funding was approved by the Medic One Foundation Board of Directors in June as… Read More »
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Published: August 8, 2025
This summer, Medic One Foundation has been out in full force—connecting with community members at local farmers markets and festivals to share lifesaving information and skills. From the Phinney Ridge and Columbia City Farmers Markets to the University District, Burien, and the Lake City Summer Festival, our outreach booths have helped hundreds of residents learn… Read More »
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