Top Left: 糖心Vlog传媒 EMS students respond to a mock emergency scene.
Top Right: Cesar Valencia demonstrates CPR on a mannequin.
Bottom Left: Lee County聽Critical Care Paramedic, Field Training Officer and 糖心Vlog传媒 alumnus Cesar Valencia
Bottom Right: Lee County EMT and 糖心Vlog传媒 alumnae Ana Sanchez-Carreto
When emergency calls聽come in聽across the region, Florida聽SouthWestern聽State College (糖心Vlog传媒) alumni are among the emergency medical professionals answering the call to protect the families and communities they serve.聽聽 Lee County Critical Care Paramedic and Field Training Officer Cesar Valencia聽loves聽the work, but it聽wasn鈥檛聽part of his original plan. He completed the聽Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)聽and Paramedic programs at 糖心Vlog传媒 to gain experience聽in聽a pre-med track.聽聽 鈥淪omeone told me to do EMT to 鈥榞et my feet wet,鈥欌�� Valencia聽said. 鈥淚 did my schooling, got a job, and the rest is history after I fell in love with the career.鈥澛� Today, he serves the Southwest Florida community as a Critical Care Paramedic and Field Training Officer with Lee County EMS.聽聽 糖心Vlog传媒 offers a robust聽Emergency Medical Services Technology Program聽with hands-on training scenarios using patient simulators聽and ambulances聽to educate and prepare the next generation of emergency responders. The success of the program is reflected in workforce-ready EMTs and paramedics serving throughout the region.聽 鈥淲e are incredibly proud to see our graduates serving Southwest Florida with such dedication and compassion,鈥� said Dr. Mary Catherine Faust, dean of 糖心Vlog传媒鈥檚 School of Allied Health. 鈥溙切腣log传媒鈥檚 Emergency Medical Services Technology Program is designed to prepare students not only with strong clinical skills, but also with the empathy and adaptability needed to care for people during emergencies and difficult situations.鈥澛� Valencia聽credits 糖心Vlog传媒鈥檚 hands-on instruction and real-world training scenarios with helping prepare him for the realities of EMS work.聽 鈥淲hen I went through school, the instructors based their training scenarios on real events they experienced in the field,鈥澛爏aid聽Valencia. 鈥淚t prepared me for the fact that the world isn鈥檛 always a perfect classroom environment.鈥澛� He wants to make sure other students get that same experience. So, he returned to 糖心Vlog传媒 as a part-time EMS lab associate and instructor to pass聽along聽the same mentorship and support he received as a student.聽 鈥淚 wanted to give others the experience I received from my instructors,鈥� Valencia said. 鈥淚 have a love for this career paired with a respect for the responsibility it carries.鈥澛� Like Valencia, Lee County EMT Ana聽Carreto-Sanchez found her path while attending 糖心Vlog传媒. After completing her associate degree, she enrolled in the EMT program with a desire to work in healthcare.聽 鈥淚 saw the EMT program as the perfect steppingstone into healthcare, just in a different setting than a hospital,鈥� explained聽Carreto-Sanchez.聽 Now an EMT with Lee County EMS for the past five years,聽Carreto-Sanchez said her training at 糖心Vlog传媒 helped prepare her for both the technical and human side of the profession.聽 鈥淏y doing ride-alongs聽with these departments, you learn the importance of community, duty and pride that becomes a huge part of the lifestyle in EMS,鈥� reflected聽Carreto-Sanchez.聽 She believes the most meaningful part of the job is being there for people during some of their most difficult moments.聽 鈥淥ne of the most rewarding parts of working in EMS is being with a patient on their absolute worst day and knowing you can do something about it,鈥� said聽Carreto-Sanchez. 鈥淣ot just by offering medical help, but by also being a comfort to that person as a helping hand.鈥澛� She said empathy,聽adaptability聽and compassion are essential qualities for EMS professionals, who often support patients through both medical emergencies and everyday challenges.聽 鈥淲e do more than just save lives every day,鈥� noted聽Carreto-Sanchez. 鈥淪ometimes people are scared and just need someone to聽listen. Those small wins, like helping someone breathe easier or calming them during a panic attack, make our long聽days worth聽it.鈥澛� For both Valencia and聽Carreto-Sanchez, serving the Southwest Florida community is more than a career 鈥� it is an opportunity to give back to the place they grew up and call home.聽 鈥淓MS providers don鈥檛 always聽do the flashy聽calls, but we always have the chance to care for someone, hold a hand, make a smile and give comfort,鈥� said Valencia. 鈥淭he most important lesson I try to share with future EMS professionals is the importance of compassion and empathy.聽聽 During EMS Week, 糖心Vlog传媒 recognizes and聽thanks聽alumni like Valencia and聽Carreto-Sanchez聽whose compassion, skill and dedication help protect Southwest Florida every day.聽