Meet Medical Director Joe Beirne

Gregory J. (“Joe”) Beirne, DO, FACOEP-D, FACEP, is the medical director for Respond Right EMS Academy. He has held this position since the academy opened its doors in 2009.

Joe holds Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Chemistry from Maryville University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, in 1986. He received his EMT license in 1986 after attending St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley, and then graduated from the paramedic program at IHM (Institute for Health Management) and was awarded his paramedic license in 1987.

Joe began working for Christian Hospital EMS in March 1987 as an EMT, then as a paramedic in 1988. He became a shift supervisor in March 1989, and was co-instructor for the paramedic class at Christian Hospital in 1992, then primary instructor in 1993. At that time, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of attending medical school, matriculating at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in August 1993. He graduated in June 1997, then returned home to St. Louis, where he did his internship with Emergency Medicine emphasis at Deaconess West (now Des Peres Hospital), form 1997-1998, then completed an emergency medicine residency at Des Peres Hospital, from 1998-2001.

Joe then became core faculty and assistant program director for the emergency medicine residency at Des Peres Hospital, and was also an attending physician at Forest Park Hospital, until 2003. He began working as an emergency medicine physician at Missouri Baptist Medical Center October 2003, and has been there since.

Joe created the EMS outreach education program at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in 2007, and this program remains an active and vital part of the EMS community in the St. Louis metro region. When Respond Right opened its doors in 2009, Joe happily accepted the job as medical director, reuniting him with colleagues from Christian Hospital EMS, Toni Milan and Donna Weiss.

Joe is also active in the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, holding committee appointments on EMS, undergraduate medical education, and became a member of the board of directors in 2014. He became secretary of ACOEP in 2017, and president-elect in 2019. Fall of 2020, he will assume the role of president of ACOEP. Joe also holds fellowship status from ACOEP (2005), Distinguished fellow status from ACOEP (2018), and fellowship status from the American College of Emergency Physicians (2004).

Joe is the current medical director for Des Peres Fire/EMS, a position he has held since 2009.

His research interests include prehospital RSI, prehospital treatment of atrial fibrillation, and prehospital resuscitation. His passion for EMS ECG education is one of his favorite topics.