By Dan Nelson
FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC
ADAM KOVACOVICH
There’s an old firehouse saying that
states “Firefighters are jacks of all
trades but masters of none.” I think
there’s a lot of truth and wisdom in
that old saying, but after 24 years
in the fire service, I’ve observed
that we are more than that. As a
group, members of our Local 935 are
intelligent, hard-working, success-
driven individuals. Over our careers,
I believe that we cement these
characteristics into our lives, and
that it becomes part of the fabric
of what makes us who we are as both individuals and as a group. We get
stronger and become capable of achieving things that most of us did not
think were possible when we started this career. Firefighter/Paramedic
Adam Kovacovich is a stellar example of one our members who embodies
these attributes day in and day out. For those of you who may be unaware,
Adam has left our department to pursue a lifelong goal that he felt, for
many years, was unattainable. He has left SBCoFD to attend medical school
and start a new career as a doctor.
As was the case for many of our members, Adam graduated from high
school not knowing what he wanted to do with his life. He held different jobs
over the years trying to find his career niche. Eventually, at the urging of
his brother Grant—now an engineer at Station 32 in Needles—Adam enrolled
in an EMT class at Victor Valley College (VVC). Adam was 23 years old at the
time and thought that EMS and the fire service might be the right choice,
so he put all his time and effort into becoming an EMT. There was something
about medicine that intrigued him; he soon became an emergency room
technician at a hospital in Victorville. While there, working in a fast-paced
environment around doctors and nurses, he first entertained thoughts of
becoming a physician—but dismissed the idea as unattainable. The cost, the
near-endless schooling…no way, right?
So, for the time being, Adam decided to shift his focus to becoming a
firefighter/paramedic. Once that decision was made,
he pursued the goal with vigor. Upon completion
of his training he took paramedic jobs with both
Desert Ambulance and Morongo Basin Ambulance. In
2006, Adam was hired as a limited-term firefighter
(LT) for SBCoFD and was assigned to Station 322 in
Adelanto. In 2007, he attended the full-time fire
academy at VVC. Later in 2008, Adam was hired as a
career firefighter/paramedic for County Fire and was
assigned to Station 311 in Victorville.
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When looking back through his career with SBCoFD, Adam recalls many
great memories of his service time. Among his best memories is his
probationary stint on a crew with Captain Scott Michaels and Engineer
Sitha Tan. According to Adam, both Scott and Sitha were hugely influential
in his career. He recalls the pair spending a tremendous amount of time
training him to be a good firefighter both on the fireground and around
the firehouse. Their kindness and humility left an impression on Adam
that he carries today.
Although he found work in the fire service to be interesting,
challenging and rewarding, Adam knew that something was always
missing. There was just something about his time working in the ER that
kept calling back to him. He admits to becoming frustrated with the limits
that paramedic protocols placed on his scope of practice in the field.
Adam knew that his true calling was to become an ER doctor. After a
lot of self-reflection, contemplation and some insightful conversations
with SBCoFD Medical Director Troy Pennington, Adam began to pursue his
undergraduate schooling. With the support of fellow Local 935 members
working time trades so that Adam never missed class, he was able to
successfully complete his first semester towards his bachelor’s degree.
It was at this point that he began to realize that the dream of attending
medical school was a realistic possibility. Adam went to school full-time
during the regular school year and paid back time trades to his fellow
firefighters during the summer months. It took a tremendous amount of
effort from Adam, his family and members of Local 935, but Adam was
able to graduate with great grades and scored well enough on his medical
school entrance exams to be accepted to Ross Medical School in Barbados.
Adam, his wife Kelly, and son Connor are now living in Barbados while
he attends medical school. The classroom portion of medical school takes
approximately two years to complete. After completion, Adam will attend
a residency program in the United States before becoming a medical
doctor. He and his family are excited to watch this process unfold their
futures take shape.
The members of Local 935 and FIREWIRE wish Adam and his family
success during their pursuit of this incredible goal. In his closing remarks
to FIREWIRE, Adam wanted to both thank us for our
support and to encourage us all to never be afraid
to pursue our goals and dreams. “The journey may
not be easy, but it will take you to great places.”
Well said, future Dr. Kovacovich! Thank your service
to our Local and SBCoFD and enjoy your adventure.
Dan Nelson is a FIREWIRE assistant editor and captain at Station 32 in Needles.