Training Officer, EMS Chief / Division Head, Captain, Retired
Years in Fire/EMS:
20+
Relationship Status:
Single
Why I Joined Fire/EMS
Fire Service Affiliations
Riverside County Fire Department, California, US
Angwin Fire Department, California, US
Saint Joseph Township Fire Department, Michigan, US
Saint Helena Fire Department, California, US
Biographical Information
Thomas Bishop is a retired Fire Captain, Truck Officer, Training Officer and EMS Coordinator. He has been voted as Firefighter of the Year and, upon retirement, was voted an Honorary Firefighter for life with the Saint Helena Fire Department. He served as fire photographer for the Saint Helena Fire Department and the Napa County Fire Department. He covered incidents and training throughout the Napa Valley in northern California. He also worked as a Press Photographer with a weekly fire photography section in the St. Helena Star Newspaper.
Tom introduced unique professional imaging systems to fire photography including Mamiya Medium Format camera with Kodak digital back at 16 megapixels on the fireground and training; Panoscan ultra high resolution panoramic system getting 360 images at 185 megapixels, with 400 watt UV system for the only spherical ultra high resolution ultra violet system worldwide for investigation and evidence photography; low altitude aerial system allowing digital photographs from 30' robotic head on portable indoor/outdoor tripod with all camera controls, joystick and monitor at the base.
As an educator, Tom has served as an assistant professor and taught university courses, of which some include, anatomy and physiology, diagnostic methods, swallowing disorders, cognitive disorders, clinical practicum, and issues in professionalism. As a licensed clinical specialist in speech pathology and swallowing disorders, Tom has specialized in advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques including transoral and transnasal fiberoptic and stroboscopic endoscopic techniques, as well as radiographic and videoendoscopic instrumental assessments. He has developed clinical techniques for cervical auscultation and invented a variety of intraoral instruments and advanced endoscopic systems for imaging the oral, nasal, pharyngeal and laryngeal cavities. This experience has advanced fire photography to include advanced medical imaging techniques for the education and ongoing continuing education for firefighters, paramedics, nurses and other medical professionals.
In his work with cognitive rehabilitation, Tom developed the Bishop Short Cognitive Exam (BSCE) as a tool to identify cognitive dysfunction in the areas of attention, orientation, memory, reasoning, thought organization, and problem solving. Tom has also recently published the book, Consciousness Theory, which theorizes how our mind works and how our brain processes consciousness, experience, and emotion.
Special Skills I Bring to the Fire Service
Photographer, web developer, illustrator, clinical coordinator and specialist, author, educator and theorist.
What the Fire Service Means to Me
I see the fire service as mankind's best effort to manage crisis and immediate threats to our well being. It is the paramount offering of one's own comfort and safety in order to protect the well being of others.
Deb Jeffery
Jan 2, 2009
THE CHIEF'S GIRLFRIEND
Jan 4, 2009
Glyne Alleyne
Jan 16, 2012