Two years ago, Gene Barkey didn’t know the difference between a stair chair and a beach chair.
Today, he can assess a patient, take vital signs, provide emergency care, and help transport patients to the hospital.
That’s a pretty big leap for someone who works full-time in finance and came to Little Silver EMS with, as Gene puts it, “absolutely zero” medical experience.
Gene didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming an EMT or spend his career working in healthcare. He was a Little Silver resident who had built a life here, raised a family here, and wanted to give something back to the community his family had called home for more than two decades.
Gene and his wife, Jennifer, moved to Little Silver in 2001. Their three children grew up with many of the traditions local families know well, from rec sports and Halloween parades to waiting for Santa to make his rounds on Christmas Eve. Those experiences gave Gene a strong connection to Little Silver and, eventually, a desire to find his own way to serve it.
An Interest That Kept Growing
Gene was no stranger to volunteering. Throughout his career as a securities regulator and former equity trader, he made time to serve, including 15 years with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. In 2021, he joined the Little Silver Fire Police.
That brought him closer to the work of Little Silver’s first responders, and the medical side of emergency response caught his attention. Curious to learn more, Gene earned his Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification in spring 2025 and began putting those new skills to use.
The experience only made him want to learn more. With encouragement from fellow squad members, Gene enrolled in EMT training the following year and became a certified EMT in summer 2026.
For Gene, passing the exam meant being able to take everything he had spent months learning and put it to work caring for people in his own community.
Learning EMS From the Ground Up
It would be easy to look at what Gene can do today and believe he brought some medical knowledge with him. He didn’t, and that’s something he wants other people considering EMS to know.
“Many people think you need an extensive medical background to join, and I felt the exact same way at first,” Gene said. “But EMT programs are designed assuming you know nothing on day one.”
His EMR instructors started with the basics and made unfamiliar material easier to understand. At Little Silver EMS, experienced squad members answered questions, mentored him, and helped him build the confidence to keep going.
That team foundation helped when Gene moved on to EMT training. The course was challenging and there was a lot to learn, but the material became more manageable once he understood the structured, step-by-step approach EMS uses to assess and care for a patient.
“Before long, those skills start becoming second nature,” he said.
Gene also wasn’t an outlier in the classroom. Many of his classmates had no formal medical background either. They were learning from the ground up, just like he was.
Finding the Time to Become an EMT
For someone considering volunteering, finding time for EMT training can feel like just as big a hurdle as learning the material. Gene had a full-time career to work around, but he found the training more flexible than he expected.
His program used a hybrid format, with two evening sessions during the week and Saturday classes over the course of a few months. It required a real commitment, but the schedule allowed him to continue working full-time while earning his certification.
“EMT courses are far more flexible and accessible than most people realize,” Gene said.
Gene’s path also gave him the chance to build his skills over time. He started as an EMR, gained experience and confidence with the support of the squad, and pursued his EMT certification when he was ready for the next step.
Showing Up for the People Around You
After all the classes, studying, and training, what Gene values most about Little Silver EMS brings his story right back to where it began: his community.
“My favorite part is watching squad members, who are also my neighbors, coming from all different walks of life, pull together as a seamless team to help someone through what might be the worst day of their life,” Gene said.
The people on that crew have careers and responsibilities outside of EMS, and they bring different experiences with them when they walk through the door. What connects them is the choice to give their time and be there when someone in their community needs help.
“Knowing that everyone on that crew is a volunteer freely giving their time for others is incredibly rewarding,” Gene said.
Could EMS Fit Into Your Life?
Gene’s story started with an interest in EMS, not experience in it. He had a full-time career outside of healthcare and plenty to learn, but he found a place to start and people willing to help him along the way.
If you’ve thought about volunteering with Little Silver EMS but aren’t sure whether you have the right background or enough time, you don’t need to have everything figured out before you reach out. Explore the different ways to get involved, ask questions, and see what might work for you.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities with Little Silver EMS.
