Dr. Pollack was a true pioneer in the local EMS community. For twenty-nine years he was the Emergency Department Director at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson.

For almost his entire career at Mather Hospital, Dr. Pollack was the Medical Director for our organization. Dr. Pollack was one of the first physicians in the United States specifically trained and board-certified in emergency medicine.

Port Jefferson Volunteer Ambulance, now “Port Jefferson EMS”, and Mather Hospital have had a special relationship for over five decades. Until 2001, Port Jefferson EMS was headquartered on the grounds of Mather Hospital.

At Port Jefferson, Dr. Pollack oversaw many firsts in the county’s rapidly growing EMS system. With Mitch at the helm clinically, Port Jefferson EMS brought pain management, 12-lead capability, advanced airway procedures and many other clinical firsts to the Suffolk EMS Region.

Mitch was active in EMS at the state and local level. He was a founding member of the Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee for Suffolk County, as well as an original member of the New York State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee. Mitch represented our agency’s interests at both these organizations. Countless patients and providers have benefitted from his EMS leadership and vision.