Lewes-focused podcast hosts Mallinson for another episode

“We in Lewes: The Podcast” has released its second episode with guest Dr. Kevin Mallinson PhD.

In the early 1980s, Mallinson worked for the Key West Fire Department, unknowingly becoming the first openly gay firefighter in the United States.

He then took the lessons he learned as a fireman to a career as a working nurse and professor, earning an associate’s degree in nursing from the Florida Keys Community College, his bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Miami, and both his master of science and doctorate in nursing from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

The second episode focuses on Mallinson’s work with LGBTQ+ communities; persons with or at risk for HIV; the Nurses SOAR (Strengthening Our AIDS Response) program in Lesotho, South Africa, and Eswatini, also known as the Kingdom of Swaziland; and lessons learned from his Fulbright Scholarship in southern Africa.

“It’s a story of incredible bravery and toughness,” said Kevin McGuiness, podcast host. “Kevin always coupled his resilience with compassion for others. No matter the circumstances, whether it was working with nurses in Africa or helping those dying of AIDS, he always sought to understand the needs of others first, which made the numerous treatment programs he helped design so much more effective.”

Throughout his life, Mallinson has dealt with death, both personally and professionally, yet so much tragedy has also given him insight into what’s important.

“Death is part of life. We’re all going to die,” said Mallinson. “Once you really understand that, you realize you should enjoy every day, enjoy the people around you. Do whatever you can when you can, because that’s what life should be about.”

Now a Lewes resident, Mallinson is the author of "Alarm in the Firehouse: A Memoir of America's First Openly Gay Professional Firefighter." 

The episode is available now at at weinlewes.com and on major podcast platforms.