Amera Gilchrist nominated to be Pittsburgh's next EMS chief

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is nominating Amera Gilchrist to be the city’s next EMS chief.

Pending approval from City Council, Gilchrist would become the first Black woman to serve in the role.

“I may be the first, but since that barrier (is poised to be) broken, I most certainly won’t be the last,” Gilchrist said at a news conference Thursday at the City-County Building.

Gilchrist, 49, has served on the city’s Bureau of EMS for nearly 24 years and assumed the role of acting chief when former EMS Chief Ronald Romano retired. After 45 years of service, Romano’s last day in uniform was March 31.

In 2019, Gilchrist became the first woman and minority to become a deputy chief within the bureau.

Gilchrist was born and raised on Pittsburgh’s North Side and graduated from Pittsburgh Public Schools. She went on to graduate from Robert Morris University and is now continuing studies at Point Park University.

Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt said Gilchrist has shown leadership and advocated for the EMS staff in her role as deputy chief. Since she was named acting chief, he said, he has received “numerous messages from different folks talking about how nice she is, how great she is and how much they liked her.”

“I agree she does a great job every day,” Schmidt said. “She shows up ready to go every day, even on her days off.”

Earlier this month, Gilchrist responded to a stabbing in the city’s Observatory Hill neighborhood while off-duty.

Gainey said he felt the outgoing chief had left the bureau in a good position by mentoring Gilchrist.

“Chief Romano made sure in his retirement that he left a legacy behind,” the mayor said. “I think he trained and prepared the right person to take this position.”

Gilchrist vowed to leave the bureau “better than it is now.” She said she’s planning for the bureau to “undergo restructuring to meet the modern-day needs of EMS,” but said she did not yet want to unveil specific details about those plans.

“To the citizens, I will not let you down,” Gilchrist said. “To the bureau, I will always fight for you, and I will fight along with you.”

As EMS chief, Gilchrist will make about $137,000 a year, according to Schmidt.

Pittsburgh City Council will need to approve her appointment.

Related:

• Pittsburgh swears in first woman, minority to EMS Deputy Chief rank

• Outgoing Pittsburgh EMS chief reflects on 45-year tenure with city

• Pittsburgh EMS Chief Ronald Romano retires