Acadian Ambulance announced Senior Director of Governmental Affairs Butch Oberhoff was elected to the American Ambulance Association (AAA) Board of Directors and began his three-year term last month.
Oberhoff started as an EMT in 1989 and became a paramedic soon after. During his career, he’s held numerous roles at Acadian, from operations and education to business development and advocacy, and now leads the company’s governmental affairs.
“I’ve been active with the Texas EMS Alliance and most recently had the honor of serving as president,” said Oberhoff. “I love advocacy and telling the story of men and women in EMS. Acadian and some of my mentors, Chief Legal Officer Allyson Pharr, former Health Policy Advisor Asbel Monte and Regional Vice President Ron Quaranto, have been involved with AAA for years. It just felt like the right time to bring that momentum from Texas to the national level. I feel very blessed and grateful that my colleagues entrusted me with their votes.”
As a board member, Oberhoff will help guide AAA’s advocacy, legislative priorities, and EMS leadership programs, including EMS Next and recognition programs such as Stars of Life.
Oberhoff said he aims to rethink how EMS delivers care, promoting smarter approaches such as Treatment in Place, Mobile Integrated Health, and Hospital at Home, while advocating for federal workforce support comparable to nursing programs.
“In Texas, we’ve launched workforce development programs, rural EMS grants, and even a prehospital whole blood initiative,” he added. “These efforts help EMS agencies bring greater value to the citizens they serve and become stronger partners in the healthcare continuum.”
