Her Story
About Elizabeth
Dr. Elizabeth Travis is a Doctor of Health Sciences, nationally registered paramedic, and healthcare advocate specializing in maternal health within emergency medical services. She has worked across multiple levels of EMS since 2014, including EMT, Advanced EMT, and paramedic roles, and now serves as a thought leader focused on addressing maternal care deserts and strengthening prehospital response to childbirth. Her professional work bridges clinical experience and healthcare strategy, with an emphasis on improving outcomes through better training, system design, and cross-sector collaboration.
Her academic background includes three bachelor’s degrees from Virginia Tech in Biology, Communications, and English, a Master of Science in Health Informatics and Data Analytics from George Washington University, and an MBA from Longwood University, alongside a Doctor of Health Sciences from A.T. Still University. She is also a perinatal mental health coach and holds national paramedic registration. Elizabeth’s most notable professional achievement is the development of a maternal EMS framework and the creation of the Paramedic Initiative, which aims to better prepare EMS providers for physiologic birth and maternal emergencies.
In her current work, Elizabeth operates as a self-employed consultant and advocate while also serving in leadership roles focused on healthcare partnerships and frontline support initiatives. She is passionate about expanding education in maternal EMS care, strengthening collaboration across healthcare systems, and increasing awareness of maternal health disparities. Outside of her professional work, she is a parent of two, enjoys spending time with her children and her corgi, and finds balance through activities such as scuba diving and swimming.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Elizabeth
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to persistence and a strong commitment to doing what I believe is right. I pursue goals with full focus and determination until I achieve meaningful progress, even if the outcome is not the complete solution I initially envisioned. For me, success often begins with gaining the right attention on a problem and initiating action around it. I’ve learned that no meaningful challenge is solved alone, so I prioritize engaging the right people and perspectives early to create impact and move solutions forward.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to stay open and always be willing to learn from others. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that there is something to gain from everyone in the room, regardless of their role or experience. Keeping an open mind helps you grow and develop in every environment you enter.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is the rise of maternal care deserts, driven by shortages of midwives and OB providers and the closure of labor and delivery units, which limits access to essential care. At the same time, there is a key opportunity to help close this gap by training paramedics to support maternal health services and expand access in underserved communities.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are persistence, collaborative problem-solving, and advocacy for greater access to maternal care. I tend to approach challenges with determination and a strong sense of purpose, staying committed until meaningful progress is made. I also value working with others to surface the right perspectives and drive solutions forward, particularly in addressing gaps in maternal health and improving visibility and access to care.
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