Leading the Way: Exploring the Impact of Leadership Styles on Women’s Experiences in Emergency Medical Services

Women remain underrepresented in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), particularly in leadership roles, perpetuating inequities and retention challenges. The purpose of this dissertation in practice was to explore how women in EMS perceive leadership, organizational culture, and gender-related barriers as influencing their sense of inclusion and job satisfaction, and to identify leadership’s role in shaping these experiences.Using an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven women representing nine states and three EMS system types: fire-based, government, and private. Findings revealed four themes for research question one – leadership personalities, organizational culture, educational influences, and gender-specific challenges – and four for research question two – gendered barriers and inequities, leadership influence, organizational culture and belonging, and personal well-being, growth, and identity. An evidence-based leadership and mentorship framework for inclusion in EMS was developed, integrating servant, transformational, and leader-member exchange leadership theories. This framework offers a practical strategy for EMS agencies to strengthen inclusion, retention, and workforce diversity. Keywords: Emergency Medical Services, leadership, inclusion, mentorship, gender equity

Grantor dc:publisher

Creighton University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Reeder, Heather

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Rabas, Audrey

• Emergency Medical Services
• Gender equity
• Inclusion
• Leadership
• Mentorship

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is retained by the Author. A non-exclusive distribution right is granted to Creighton University and to ProQuest following the publishing model selected above.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://cdr.creighton.edu/handle/10504/161521

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:cdr.creighton.edu:10504/161521