Dr. Peter Benson has more than 30 years of experience in EMS as an EMT, paramedic, flight physician, ER doctor and medical director.

While attending UC Berkeley for his premed studies, he spent an exchange year abroad in Goettingen, Germany, which included running calls on a “Notarztwagen” — a physician-staffed ambulance. Upon his return from Germany, he entered medical school in Boston.

Upon completion of medical school, he returned to California where he worked as a National Health Service Scholar, staffing clinics for underserved populations in several housing projects in Los Angeles County.

He subsequently entered residency training in emergency medicine at the Los Angeles County/USC Trauma Center in East Los Angeles.

During his emergency medicine residency, he also obtained a Master of Public Health degree with an emphasis in disaster medicine.

After his emergency medicine training, he stayed on at USC as an associate professor to teach residents, as well as focus further on medical direction of fire based emergency medical services.

Dr. Benson is board certified in emergency medicine, with a subspecialty in emergency medical services. He is also an actively practicing emergency physician at John Muir’s Walnut Creek Medical Center where he enjoys teaching and interacting with EMS personnel both at the bedside, as well as in the field at the scene of a call.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family relaxing, hiking, biking and working in the backyard.

Dr. Benson has been with the District since 2013 and reports directly to the Fire Chief. His major roles include providing medical oversight to all of our divisions, including EMS, operations, communications and training. In addition, he is highly focused on the health and safety of our members and strives to ensure that they receive the highest level of medical care, should the need arise. He feels honored to serve the amazing men and women of our District.