03/14/2021
I’d like to congratulate pre-hospital registered nurse and nationally registered paramedic Cathie Rawlings on her retirement after 44 years of EMS!
Cathie’s life in EMS began in 1976 while she was living in Chalfont, Bucks County. Her apartment was right behind the firehouse, so close that she could run to the station. Even as a young child growing up in Radnor, Delaware County she loved chasing fire trucks. Moving to East Whiteland Township, she joined the East Whiteland Fire Company (Station 5) where she became an EMT, then quickly becoming ambulance captain which she held until 1980 when she moved to western Chester County.
She enrolled in Paramedic school in 1982 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lancaster County after hearing the rumblings that Chester County would soon be bringing Advanced Life Support to the residents of Chester County. Cathie was hired by Brandywine Hospital in 1982 as a newly graduated paramedic. She also flew with AeroMedix , the helicopter program which were based out of Brandywine Hospital along with a few flights with SkyFlightCare.
She decided to return to school in 1993 at the urging of her partner Craig Shaffer (PHRN, NRP) whom had just completed nursing school, Cathie say’s this was “the best decision I ever made”. Craig and Cathie were partners for an astonishing 32 years, not including 6 years as her relief for the night shift!
In 2012 Cathie was recruited by John Edwards, Chief of the East Brandywine Fire Company (Station 49) to take the role as EMS director to coordinate their QRS, in 2019 Cathie turned the position over to Greg Kohlmaier, however she continues to be active in the department.
Outside of Emergency Services, Cathie is happily married with 2 son’s whom are grown, with 2 grandchildren who live nearby that she enjoys spending time with. She has a beautiful home on Lake Naomi in the Pocono mountains that she shares with her siblings. To satisfy her creative side. Cathie has a garage full of woodworking machines and tools where she creates beautiful projects and brings new life to old furniture. Cathie loves going to auctions, yard sales and even finding random items placed in bulk trash to breathe new life into..
- Cathie has made a significant impact in my career, more then she probably realizes. I feel truly blessed to have been able to work with her, learn from her and spend time with her over the many years I’ve known her. Calm, knowledge, dignity, respect, empathy these are all words that come to my mind when thinking about Cathie. Compassion being the one I think might ring true most of all, she treated everyone with genuine compassion, she never lost the ability for compassion during her entire career. There are so many residents of this county that are, no doubt alive and well today as a result of Cathie Rawlings. Thank you for all your support in my photography and crazy endeavors. Enjoy your very well deserved retirement my friend and thank you for everything both professionally & personally!
