By Marilyn Miller
The most important lesson that Brian Sparks, 46, has learned from three decades of involvement in the EMT, SRT, EMS, law enforcement, and emergency medicine fields can be summed up in a quote from an exceptional British actor, “It is possible to commit no mistakes, and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life.” Sir Patrick Stewart
Not only does Brian like “Star Trek” quotes, but he bats acronyms around like he’s swatting at flying plates. For the past 15 years he has been with the Minden Medical Center (MMC) Emergency Department (ED), where he is now the Lead Advanced Practice Provider (LAPP). MMC is owned by Allegiance Health Management (AHM). In 2019, Brian additionally joined the Minden Police Department (sneaked in another acronym). There he is a member of and chief medical officer for the Special Response Team (umm, SRT). In a big city, SWAT…
Although he started out in EMS with Bayou Ambulance Service three years before graduating from Minden High School in 1996, Brian’s fascination with all things “emergency” began when his family was stationed at Camp Zama, Japan for three years. His father was in the U.S. Army, and he often hung out in the radiology department, where his father worked. “The Emergency Department was next door, so I got to see a lot of emergencies play out in real time,” Brian recalled. After returning stateside, his father joined the Army Reserves, and was stationed at Forts Beaureguard and Polk, and finally, Camp Minden.
Today, Brian is a licensed Physician’s Assistant (PA), having attended PA school at the LSU-Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. He obtained his Masters of Science in PA Studies, major in Clinical Medicine, at A. T. Still University of Health Sciences, Mesa, AZ; and his Doctorate of Medical Science (professional practice concentration in Emergency Medicine) at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia.
All of his professional medical training has resulted in fewer worries for Minden Police Chief Jared McIver. Among Brian’s responsibilities are:
- Providing expertise in medical pre-planning for each mission;
- Improving survivability from traumatic injuries involving police officers, bystanders and combatants during operations;
- Assisting the department in achieving its mission during times of crisis, and;
- Supporting the mission of the entire MPD with guidance on health issues and training in Tactical Emergency Casualty Care according to current standards.
Aside from this, what does Brian do for the Special Response Team? He trains SRT officers in hostile environment combat casualty care and he provides direct tactical medical support during high-risk situations. “I worked with the WP Office of Emergency Preparedness/Homeland Security to secure a grant that outfitted the SRT with state-of-the-art medical gear that will also be available to the police department,” Brian said.
Why does he enjoy emergency medicine? “I enjoy the dynamic environment,” Brian explained. “Every patient has a different story. I’m reminded of a quote by late physicist Carl Sagan — ‘Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.’ You encounter patients who are having the worst, possibly last, day of their life. Having the ability to make a decision that influences a person’s survival is extremely gratifying.”
Brian was just out of high school when he completed paramedic school through the Bossier Fire Training Academy. Three years later, in 2000, he became co-owner and vice president of Operations for Advanced EMS. He served as the assistant and then chief medical officer for the WP Sheriff’s Office from 1997-2004. He has been deputy coroner for Webster Parish since 1997.
He will continue to maintain his current paramedic certification and licensure, remaining a Certified Tactical Paramedic through specialty certification, and a Board-certified PA, with added qualification in Emergency Medicine.
While emergency medicine and services have taken a big chunk of his time for the past 30 years, Brian puts his family above all else. He and his wife, Dr. Stacey Sparks (pediatrician) have three children, Gage, 10; Cole, 8; and Andy, 4. He is a certified pilot, but he no longer owns a plane. “You can have kids, or you can have toys,” he said. “When the oldest was five, I sold it (his plane).” His wife co-owns the “Acorn to Oak” pediatrics practice in Haughton with Dr. Marie Harper, wife of Marshall Harper, manager of the GMC dealership in Minden.
Two satisfying careers!! What draws Brian to his role with the Minden Police Department? “The emergency department is stimulating and challenging, but it doesn’t compare to the adrenaline rush of being first on the scene of a major incident,” he remarked. “Working in the WP Sheriff’s Office medical office for so many years was a unique and challenging experience. But being the tactical medical officer of MPD’s special response team is a marriage of my past roles, giving me a connection to the experiences that shaped my career in healthcare.”
“When Deputy Chief Chris Cheatham asked me to be part of the rebirth of the current team, I could not say ‘No.’ My brother, OFC Benjamin Sparks, is also a Minden police officer and SRT member. It is an added bonus to be able to share these experiences with him.”
After so many years in medicine, what remains the most challenging aspect of the job for Brian? “Dealing with situations that involve the death or abuse/neglect of a child,” he answered, especially now that he has his own children. In fact, the worst case Brian ever worked was the horrifying high-profile death by abuse of a five-year-old girl in 1991.
“You just have to push through things like that,” he lamented.
Moving forward, Brian is just anxious to see the vision for the SRT program as it comes to fruition under the leadership of Chief McIver and Deputy Chief Cheatham. “I am thankful to have the opportunity to support local law enforcement who put their lives on the line daily while performing an often-unappreciated job.”
