American Medical Response’s Emily Chandler was recently recognized with a Stars of Life award.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
SPRINGFIELD — American Medical Response’s Emily Chandler has been recognized nationally with a Stars of Life award for her commitment to furthering education through AMR’s Earn While You Learn program.
Chandler is AMR’s EMS programs manager and program director and lead paramedic instructor for the Massachusetts branch of NCTI, AMR’s educational arm, offering paramedic and EMT courses.
“It’s such an honor to be recognized for this award and for my accomplishments,” said Chandler. “I found out during a lunch meeting here at AMR and all of my co-workers definitely surprised me. I had no idea that I had been put in for the award or that I had received it. I was excited and truly honored that my co-workers felt that I should be put in for this award and that leadership and those choosing the recipients felt that I should receive it.”
She continued, “When we started this program in Massachusetts, it was really exciting not only for our company, but for the community to be able offer such an amazing opportunity. And by receiving this award it just verifies the importance of what I’m doing and reinvigorates my passion for the Earn While You Learn program and the importance in bringing this opportunity to our community members.”
The Stars of Life honors emergency medical services (EMS) professionals who have completed extraordinary acts of service for their patients, colleagues, communities or the EMS profession.
Honorees from across the country will be recognized at the American Ambulance Association Stars of Life Awards Ceremony, in Washington, D.C., from Nov. 10-13. Operations Manager of AMR Springfield Kim D’Angelo has been a longtime co-worker of Chandler’s and nominated her for this award.
“We’re just proud of her,” said D’Angelo. “Her passion for instruction as well as her passion for patient care and excellence is really what drives it.”
D’Angelo continued, “She was an incredibly strong paramedic in the field and just to be able to pass that on to the future generations of providers is impressive not just within AMR, but you can look at any of the fire departments, other EMS services frankly throughout the state and it’s hard to find someone that either hasn’t been taught by Emily or was a graduate of her program. Her reach is huge at this point.”
Chandler found this true passion by accident. She took an EMT class in college with a friend of hers who was nervous to take it on her own and the opportunity just arose once Chandler had her EMT card to transitioned into a job working as an EMT and getting some experience.
“I didn’t know that this would become my life’s path,” Chandler shared. “I thought I would be an elementary school teacher, but I fell in love with EMS. I definitely got bit by the public service bug and really enjoyed the patient care aspect, as well as the community here at AMR, the relationships I’ve built and the true passion I have for my job is so fulfilling.” Chandler started as an EMT, then paramedic to paramedic field supervisor. When she started helping with the medic class as a teaching adjunct many years ago, it sparked her interest in EMS education. She took a position teaching the EMT class, and then the paramedic class. She has been the lead instructor and program director for the paramedic program, and the EMS programs manager for their Earn While You Learn programs for a few years now.
“I’ve really been able to grow my career with AMR,” Chandler said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the experiences and opportunities I’ve had.”
The Earn While You Learn program is offered three times a year in both Springfield and Worcester. The class runs for 10 weeks. They pay students to attend class as a full-time job. They cover all the expenses including tuition, uniforms, books, fees, testing and licensing. Once they become an EMT, they get the appropriate pay increase and they work for them full-time for a minimum of one year. Their next enrollment process will open in mid-November for the February start for both their Springfield and Worcester locations.
“The most rewarding part is seeing our students graduate and transition into the field,” Chandler said. “I have a lot of students who would not have been able to afford this opportunity otherwise, so it’s truly a blessing to have the support of Global Medical Response, and our local leadership teams of AMR and Community EMS, to be able to offer this program to our community to help grow the EMS workforce.”
For people to look for the application or apply to the Earn While You Learn program, visit amr.net/careers.
