Longtime Habersham EMS Director Jack Moody (left) congratulates Chad Black on his new job. Black will take over the position as EMS Director when Moody retires at the end of June. (photo/HMC)
(DEMOREST, GA) – After 42 years of service with Habersham Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and 28 of these years at the helm, Jack Moody of Baldwin is retiring at the end of June. Habersham Medical Center CEO Jerry Wise named his successor, Chad Black, earlier this week.
“Chad has big shoes to fill as Jack is a pillar in our community and has led Habersham EMS to a nationally recognized, award-winning innovative program,” says Wise. “Chad will be working alongside Jack for the next few weeks to help with the transition.”
Chad Black will become only the third Director of Habersham EMS since its formation in October 1974. The first Director was Jimmy Wheeler, who served as Director from 1974-1989 and then Jack Moody, who has served as Director since 1989.
Under Jack Moody’s leadership, Habersham EMS has won numerous national and state awards for advanced stroke and cardiac care from the American Heart Association and the Georgia Hospital Association. He and his team also implemented an innovative heart attack fast-track treatment program with the Ronnie Green Heart Center in Gainesville. In addition to saving many lives, the STEMI heart program, as it is called, has been recognized throughout Georgia, and has been implemented by other EMS services throughout the region.
Habersham EMS won the Georgia EMS of the Year award in 2007, and Jack was honored with the Georgia EMS Director of the Year award. In addition, for his service to the community and outstanding leadership, Jack was also awarded the Habersham Medical Center President’s award in 1992 and in 2004.
“It’s been a real honor working in this field. As an EMT or paramedic, you are where patient care begins and our team has worked hard to gain respect and has earned their place in emergency health care. The wonderful people I have had the pleasure of working alongside will be what I will miss the most,” says Jack.
When asked about his retirement plans, Jack grins, “It’s time for some ‘Jack’ time!” He is looking forward to spending more time with his family, doing some long overdue projects around his house and lots of hunting and fishing.
Chad is no stranger to Habersham EMS having worked part-time with the organization since 1998 and fulltime since June 2016 after retiring from the Hall County Fire Services after 31 years of service and as Deputy Fire Chief. His experience includes working in Fire and Emergency Services for the past 32 years including 17 years in Air Medical Transport Services. Chad worked both part and full time for 17 years with Air Methods Corporation, the largest Air Medical Provider in the United States. With Air Methods, he has worked as a Critical Care Flight Paramedic, Georgia Business Manager, S.E. Regional Business Manager (GA, FL, SC, NC, AL) in 2013, and in 2014 as a consultant performing work in Corporate Business and Governmental Affairs.
Chad is a Licensed National Registry Paramedic and holds instructor certificates in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basis Life Support, International Trauma Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and Paramedic Preceptor. Chad also is a certified Hazardous Materials Technician and past Chief of the Hall County Fire Services Hazardous Materials Team. Chad holds more than 15,000 training hours in both Fire and EMS (Ground/Air) related topics including Rope Rescue, Hazardous Materials, Incident Command, Emergency Operations Center Management, and Rescue Systems.
Chad currently serves as Chair the EMS Region II Regional Trauma Advisory Committee as mandated by Senate Bill 60 that established the Georgia Trauma Commission where he represents EMS Region II. In June of 2010, Chad was appointed to the EMS Sub-Committee of the Georgia Trauma Commission for EMS Region II and serves on the Region II EMS Council. He is a past member of the Georgia Statewide Trauma Action Team, Statewide EMS and Trauma System Development Committee, Georgia Air Medical Committee, Georgia Emergency Medical Services Information Systems Committee and Advisor to the Fire Science Program at Lanier College in Oakwood, Ga. A Gainesville resident, Chad is currently back in college at Lanier Technical College where he will complete his degree in Fire/EMS Business Administration in 2018.
He serves on several boards including the Georgia Association of EMS, as Treasurer of the Georgia Association of EMS Preparedness Foundation, Vice-Chair of the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids and the John Jarrard Foundation. His professional affiliations include Region II EMS Regional Trauma Advisory Committee Chairman; Region II EMS Representative to the Georgia Trauma Commission EMS Sub-Committee; Region II EMS Council; Region II EMS STEMI Committee and the Georgia Association of EMS. His past memberships include the Georgia Firefighters Association and the Georgia Fire Chief’s Association.
