Lawrence Mack, a student in the University of North Florida’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, is playing a leading role in Jacksonville’s new Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit (MSTU). The unit is based at Fire-Rescue Station 64 and is operated through a partnership between UF Health and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD).
The MSTU is one of only three such programs in Florida, with the distinction of being the only one that operates around the clock every day. It provides on-the-spot stroke diagnosis and care before patients reach a hospital. Mack manages JFRD’s Quality Improvement Division, Critical Care Team, and Mobile Stroke Team Unit. His responsibilities include overseeing training, equipment acquisition, and daily operations for the MSTU. He works closely with UF Health Jacksonville for the mobile stroke team while managing other divisions independently for JFRD.
When a potential stroke case arises, both a regular EMS ambulance and the MSTU are sent to respond. The specialized team staffing the MSTU includes a CT technologist, a nurse trained in stroke care, and two board-certified critical care paramedics. Leadership consists of Lindsey Perrotta from UF Health as program manager for the MSTU and Mack as JFRD’s on-site leader.
By starting treatment in the field using advanced equipment and expertise, the MSTU aims to save valuable time during emergencies. This can improve survival chances and lessen long-term disabilities associated with strokes.
“It brings the hospital to the patient,” said Mack. “We’ve already responded to over 200 calls and transported 60 patients since launching in early June. This is a game changer for stroke care in Jacksonville.”
Mack grew up in Jacksonville with an early interest in emergency medical services inspired by television shows like “Rescue 911.” His career has included roles as a respiratory therapist, EMT, paramedic, fire captain-paramedic with JFRD, critical care flight paramedic with UF Health’s TraumaOne helicopter team, and adjunct EMS professor at Florida State College at Jacksonville.
He chose UNF for his BSN due to its reputation and location near home. He credits faculty members Drs. Sarah Firmin and Sandra Shapiro for enhancing his clinical skills: “A lot of what I’ve learned at UNF, I use out there on the truck,” he said. “Courses like complex nursing, med-surg and fundamentals directly apply to what we do on the MSTU.”
Mack will graduate from UNF on August 1st. After passing his licensing exam (NCLEX), he plans to move into flight nursing while continuing part-time work (“PRN”) and hopes to pursue further studies toward leadership or teaching roles.
Recently, UNF nursing students visited the MSTU to learn about mobile emergency care firsthand from Mack’s team: “It’s a great opportunity for students to see this level of care in action,” Mack said. “We expect our nurses to come in with strong ICU or ER experience, and UNF does a great job preparing them for that.”
