James Brogan appointed Consultant Editor of the Journal of Paramedic Practice

James Brogan, Principal Lecturer in Paramedicine at RGU, has been appointed as the newest Consultant Editor of the Journal of Paramedic Practice (JPP).

James has supported the journal over a number of years as both an author and reviewer, and his new role will see him contribute to the continued development of the publication and the wider paramedic profession.

His first editorial, ‘Talking Trajectories’, explores the future direction of paramedicine and the importance of understanding the profession’s evolving role within healthcare. 

The Journal of Paramedic Practice has also published a Q&A with James, in which he reflects on his professional journey, discusses some of the opportunities and challenges facing paramedicine, and shares his ambitions for his new role.

Q: Tell us about your professional background and journey into paramedicine

A: That is such an interesting question. So many people only talk about life after registration, or perhaps their training, rather than the time they spent preparing – being an ‘aspirant paramedic’. I was fortunate to develop my love of healthcare from volunteering with St John Ambulance in Herefordshire and Worcestershire from an early age, and also working as an ‘Auxiliary Nurse’ (now ‘Health Care Assistant’!) at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. This enabled me to undertake a new course that had just opened at the University of Worcester – a Foundation Degree in ‘Pre-hospital unscheduled and emergency care’ (‘Paramedic Science’ and ‘Paramedicine’ weren't a ‘thing’ back then!). I graduated and registered as a Paramedic and worked for West Midlands Ambulance Service in a variety of roles (and continued to volunteer for St John!). From here, I developed my practice into higher education.

Q: What initially drew you to the role of Consultant Editor?

A: I have been fortunate to serve as an Editorial Board member of the British Paramedic Journal for 5 years and alongside my work across the pillars of practice, the opportunity to serve as Consultant Editor for the Journal of Paramedic Practice (JPP) was a great way to share my learning, and support the continued development of our profession and discipline, by ensuring that we support colleagues who impact on health and wellbeing outcomes for the public through evidence-based, accessible and credible research.

Q: What do you see as some of the biggest challenges currently facing the paramedic profession?

A: Like any profession in its fledgling years, the definition of what we are and where we go next is so important. The trajectory of our profession is far from clear, and we need to consider who we are and what our unique offering to society is.

Q: In your view, what are the greatest opportunities for growth and development within paramedicine?

A: Paramedics are known for being the ultimate ‘generalist’ – we have a culture steeped in defying the odds and using our initiative to ensure that even in austere or challenging environments, we can bring care to our patients. Our strength of being at the front of the line, pushing and operating at the frontiers of clinical practice, also means that we have a unique opportunity to position ourselves to meet tomorrow's challenges.

Q: How would you describe your short-term and long-term vision for the profession, both within the UK and internationally?

A: In the short term, we need to have an open, clear and frank conversation as to what our profession claims to be, and where we should be in the future. This might mean not doing things that, historically, we have always done. While paramedicine and ambulance services are closely and understandably associated with each other, the profession has – whether we want to acknowledge it or not – ‘de-coupled’ from emergency medical services (EMS)/ambulance practice. We need to consider this reality and how our profession develops both within and outside of this work environment. Longer term, we need to share our learning with colleagues around the world – it is a fact that we often don't talk about that, internationally, paramedics are not always regulated, protected by law in terms of title, skill set or scope of practice – indeed, lots of countries do not yet recognise paramedics as autonomous healthcare professionals! But to do this, we need to settle on our own trajectory and consider what this ‘new’ profession is, what unique and specific knowledge it claims to hold, and, most importantly, what our offer to society is now and in the future.

Q: What role do you think professional journals and shared learning have in supporting the future of paramedicine?

A: Professional journals and shared learning are vital in supporting the future of paramedicine and paramedics individually. Long gone are the days when we could rely on a single publication or manual to give us all the answers to the complexity we now face day to day. Evidence-based practice is vital, but research-informed practice can only be achieved by professionals who actively read, reflect and participate in research. We have our place to make evidence and changes in knowledge accessible to busy professionals – that is where the offer of the JPP is key. Through our journal, in conjunction with others, we must focus our efforts on disseminating learning to those who can use it to improve the lives and health of our populations.

Q: What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

A: I want to work with colleagues in continuing the great offering the JPP has provided since 2008. I am looking forward to playing my part in ensuring that we provide a publication that is accessible, researched, evidence-based, thought-provoking and professionally challenging to ensure that we provide a platform for paramedics and those working allied to our profession, to learn from, consider and challenge current practices. I want to contribute towards facing and elucidating some of the challenging and, at times, uncomfortable questions that we must consider to ensure our profession thrives – and a little bit of humour always helps!

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with readers?

A: I am looking forward to the voyage of discovery that this role allows me to embark upon. I look forward to connecting with people and working together to improve the offer our profession provides to society by engaging in lifelong learning, in the knowledge that our patients deserve the best we can offer. Our patients did not choose us – we chose to serve them.

This piece originally featured in the Journal of Paramedic Practice on 29 June 2026.