MN Bridge Interview Series: EMS & the Opioid Crisis

The opioid crisis demands a stronger response from emergency care and EMS is uniquely positioned to lead. The MN Bridge podcast explores how EMS systems across Minnesota and the country are stepping into this role. This series highlights innovative strategies, local successes, and the evolving responsibilities of emergency providers. It’s a place for honest conversations, practical insights, and stories from the front lines of overdose response.

Last refreshed: August 19th, 2025 at 8:50 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

From Rural to Regulatory with Dylan Ferguson and Jim Rieber

We talk with Dylan Ferguson, Director of the Minnesota Office of EMS, and Jim Rieber, former EMS Director in Perham in Northern Minnesota. Dylan shares his vision for EMS’s role in the opioid crisis, while Jim reflects on how his rural system changed its approach—bringing buprenorphine to the field and transforming how they respond to overdoses. Together, they explore how statewide leadership and local innovation can reshape care across Minnesota.

Aug 13, 2025•52 min•Ep. 7

Peers, Trust & Tribal-Led Recovery with Jordan Hanson & Colin Cash

What does real recovery-oriented care look like—and what role can EMS play? In this episode, Jordan Hanson, founder of YourPath, and Colin Cash, founder of Sober Squad and Director of Tribal Development at Pathfinder Solutions, share how lived experience, tribal innovation, and community-rooted systems are transforming addiction care. They explore the vital role of peers, what EMS providers need to know about building trust with people who use drugs, and how grassroots leadership—especially in t...

Jun 30, 2025•55 min•Ep. 6

Recovery, Rural Care, and Showing Up with Dr. Cole Pueringer

Dr. Cole Pueringer is an addiction medicine and toxicology physician at Essentia Health in Duluth, MN. In this episode, he shares how his personal recovery journey informs his clinical work and leadership. We talk about the real barriers in rural communities, the gap between medical and recovery language, and what EMS and ED providers can do right now to make a difference. His message is clear: you don’t have to say the perfect thing—you just have to be genuine. Compassion and presence matter mo...

Jun 30, 2025•55 min•Ep. 5

Paramedic Roots and Systems Change with Dre Cantwell-Frank of Bridge

Dre Cantwell-Frank shares how her own experience as a paramedic shaped her path into addiction care and systems transformation. Now a leader at Bridge, she reflects on what she’s learned from teaching paramedics across the country—especially how eager frontline EMS providers are to better understand and care for patients with opioid use disorder. While leadership can sometimes be hesitant to focus on the opioid crisis, Dre has found that medics welcome the conversation, recognizing it as one of ...

Jun 30, 2025•52 min•Ep. 4

Addiction Medicine Deep Dive and Understanding the Brain in Addiction with Dr. Brian Grahan

Dr. Brian Grahan is an internal medicine and addiction medicine physician at Hennepin Healthcare. In this episode, he walks us through the realities of addiction medicine, including what it’s like to be a patient in a clinic, options for medications for opioid use disorder, and how care is structured. He focuses on the profound brain changes that occur in opioid use disorder—and how these changes affect decision-making, motivation, and the ability to engage in care. Dr. Grahan also shares why he...

Jun 30, 2025•53 min•Ep. 3

Clinical Backup from the Minnesota Regional Poison Center with Dr. Jon Cole & Dr. Samantha Lee

Dr. Jon Cole and Dr. Samantha Lee from the Minnesota Regional Poison Center discuss how they support EMS providers treating opioid overdose and withdrawal in the field. They explain the Poison Center’s 24/7 role in guiding clinical decisions, managing concerns like precipitated withdrawal, and helping EMS providers feel confident when initiating buprenorphine. This episode highlights the critical partnership between EMS and toxicology in expanding access to evidence-based care.

Jun 30, 2025•47 min•Ep. 2

The Origin of EMS Buprenorphine with Dr. Gerry Carroll & Dr. Gene Hern

Dr. Gerry Carroll, EMS Medical Director at Cooper EMS in New Jersey, and Dr. Gene Hern from the California Bridge Program were among the first in the country to bring buprenorphine into the hands of EMS providers. In this episode, they share how it all started—the early challenges, the first successful cases, and how they each got their systems off the ground. They highlight the importance of clinical champions, the operational nuts and bolts, and how EMS can do more than reverse an overdose—it ...

Jun 30, 2025•56 min•Ep. 1

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