Dr. David Kluge · Our founder
One vision.
A lasting
impact.
The STEP Council of the Genesee was founded by Dr. David Kluge with a vision of improving emergency services in the Greater Rochester area.
The vision behind STEP
Bringing disciplines together.
Putting patients first.
After earning his medical degree from the University of Rochester in 1954, Dr. David Kluge completed a residency in Buffalo and served in the Navy. He returned to Rochester as a general surgeon at Genesee Hospital and an associate professor of surgery at the University of Rochester.
His vision for STEP brought doctors, nurses, hospitals, law enforcement, fire services, and EMS into a regional organization focused on learning and working together. Colleagues remembered his ability to recognize people’s potential and draw them into projects that improved patient care.
That collaborative approach also supported a regional EMS directory, connecting responders with practical information. Its success led to work with the Rochester Institute of Technology to develop similar resources for other communities.
Historical profile: Rochester Business Journal, Health Care Heroes — Lifetime Achievement, as credited on STEP’s previous website.
Carrying the mission forward
The next STEP
belongs to all of us.
Today, the STEP Fire & EMS Conference continues the council’s commitment to learning across disciplines, developing leaders, and strengthening the systems that protect our communities.
Your next STEP starts here.
Build your skills. Connect with your peers. Bring it back to your community.