Steven Navarro: From M&A to EMT

When partner Steven Navarro isn’t working on cross-border mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions, he serves as a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) with the Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service (WVEMS) in his Connecticut hometown. Steven shares more about the work and why he was called to do it.

What kind of work do you do with the WVEMS?

I am an EMT, a first responder. The job of an EMT is to respond to emergency (911) calls to provide efficient and immediate care to the critically ill and injured, and to transport the patient to a medical facility when needed. Examples of the kind of situations I have been called to include patients suffering from strokes, cardiac emergencies, traumas from falls and automobile accidents, major bleeding, attempted suicide and other behavioral emergencies, drug overdose, severe allergic reactions, difficulty breathing, and diabetic emergencies. My training goes well beyond responding to these more routine calls such as responding to mass casualty incidents (e.g., school shootings). Luckily, I have not needed to draw on this skill.

What kind of time commitment is that?

Given the nature of my paying job and the time commitment I make to it, I try to squeeze in at least one six-hour shift a week. Because there is a shortage of EMTs, I generally have no issue picking up a shift on the fly. Working as an EMT is often hours of boredom punctuated by moments of adrenaline-charged activity, so I am able to take advantage of the downtime to keep up with client work.

Why did you decide to be an EMT?

Many people asked me if I always wanted a career in the medical field. The answer is no. From a young age, I always wanted to be a lawyer and never imagined doing anything else professionally. That said, I feel that I have been incredibly blessed in my own life and recognize that there are so many people out there where everyday life is a struggle. I know some will be surprised by this, but I am a very empathetic person and have had a desire to help others in any way I can.

At the same time, particularly during COVID-19, I wanted to help in ways that were new and unique to me and definitely unrelated to the law. While we were in lockdown, I saw an advertisement for a class that trained EMTs and thought that would be interesting, so I decided to take it. I loved that being an EMT would provide me a unique opportunity to help people. Not to be overly dramatic, but when I am on a call, I am typically the first person on the scene when someone is experiencing the worst moment in their life or even the last moments of their life. I am personally gratified when I can make that moment—whatever it may be—better.