We are pleased to share that Dr. Tracy Hejmanoski will return to our Summit this year as a presenter.
Dr. Hejmanoski’s presentation will focus on how serving in the fire service impacts adult and child relationships, given that fire training and experience serves as a lens through which circumstances are viewed. Attendees will be provided with a framework by which to discern how work impacts emotions, expectations, and conversations with loved ones.
Dr. Hejmanoski has presented at our Summit several times in recent years and it is always a pleasure to have her join us! She is a licensed clinical psychologist, with 24 years of expertise working with service members, first responders, veterans, and their families in the arena of occupational stress and accumulated trauma exposure. Dr. Hejmanowski’s current primary mission is serving as the Executive Director of the First Responder Project, a nonprofit that provides summits, resources, and unique retreats for first responders and their families.
Dr. Hejmanowski’s work began with veterans and Repatriated Prisoners of War (Vietnam). She was stationed overseas and stateside as an active-duty U.S. Navy psychologist, followed by 11 years as the Program Manager of Naval Hospital Jacksonville’s Deployment Health Center.
Throughout her career, Dr. Hejmanowski has also developed programming and served as lead clinical facilitator for organizations that provide reintegration and recalibration retreats for veteran and first responder communities. She is a nationally requested speaker on operational stress and trauma-related subjects for military and first responder communities and families, including Navy and Army Special Warfare Operations.
Dr. Hejmanowski currently conducts therapy in private practice, provides advanced special topics training for Fire/Rescue peer support teams, serves as an embedded consultant for the St. Johns County and Putnam County Sheriffs’ Offices, consults for the U.S.A.F. Ready Firefighter Program, and regularly authors articles, including those for Crackyl (fire service) magazine. She is certified as an IAFF-trained clinician, a RedLineRescue provider, and a National FOP Vetted Wellness Provider.
Dr. Hejmanowski has been recognized for innovative behavioral health initiatives related to first responder trauma and was nationally recognized as the first civilian to be awarded by the Center for Operational Stress Control with the Peabody Caregiver of the Year Award.