East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has appointed its first Visiting Professor. This is an important step in how we support learning, research, and good practice across our service.
Dr Carl Webster, a Principal Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), began his role as Visiting Professor at EMAS on 1 April 2026.
A Visiting Professor is an honorary role. It allows an experienced university academic to work closely with EMAS. The aim is to bring academic knowledge into the ambulance service to support learning and strengthen how we work, while also ensuring that frontline practice helps inform research and academic activity.
This role also helps enhance links between universities and ambulance services. It ensures that learning and research reflect what really happens in frontline care and supports a collaborative approach to sharing learning, best practice, and developing joint projects.
Dr Webster has wide experience in paramedic education, research, and leadership. He has worked for many years to support staff development and the use of evidence to improve practice across ambulance services.
By having senior academic expertise working directly with EMAS, this role is intended to help turn research into everyday practice. It will support better learning for staff, strengthen training in real-world settings, and help develop future educators. Over time, this will help improve learning for staff and support high-quality, patient-focused care, while contributing to wider research, shared learning, and system collaboration.
As Visiting Professor, Dr Carl Webster will support EMAS in three main ways:
- Strengthening leadership in education and quality improvement.
- Improving learning based in real clinical practice.
- Helping the development of educators and future education leaders.
Dr Kacper Sumera, Head of Education at EMAS said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Dr Carl Webster as EMAS’s first Visiting Professor.
“This marks an important step in strengthening our work with academic partners, bringing education, research, and frontline practice closer together.
“I look forward to working with Dr Webster and drawing on his expertise to further support our workforce and enhance the care we provide.”
Dr Carl Webster said:
“It’s a privilege to step into this role and collaborate more closely with EMAS.
“Bringing academic insight together with the realities of frontline care allows us to elevate learning, grow capability, and build on the excellent work already happening throughout the service.”
This appointment reflects EMAS’s ongoing commitment to working with academic partners. By doing so, we aim to improve learning, support our staff and volunteers, and continue providing the best possible care for patients.