UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When Bella Spadotto first came to Penn State, she was unsure if healthcare was the right path for her.
But through her experience as an EMT for the University Ambulance Service, Spadotto — a fourth-year biology major — gained the confidence to pursue the field professionally.
“Coming into school, I wasn’t sure if healthcare was even for me — if I was going to be able to work under pressure,” said Spadotto, who has been a student EMT for more than two years. “I wanted to make sure I was able to do that before I committed to pursuing healthcare after graduation, so getting to be an EMT and try it out showed me where my strengths and weaknesses are as a healthcare provider.”
Penn State’s University Ambulance Service is the oldest collegiate emergency medical service in the country, responding to about 1,500 calls each year. Since 1956, it has served University Park and other University properties, including University Park Airport and the Ag Progress Day fields. UAS also covers events, such as football games and concerts.
“Our entire ambulance corps is staffed by full-time students,” said Jeff Brytczuk, an EMS supervisor. “It’s kind of unique in that while they’re carrying full course loads, they’re also staffing our ambulance force 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
For Riyanna Roehrig-Hubert, nothing has been greater career preparation than the hands-on experience of working as an EMT.
“I think it’s the best job you can have if you want to go into anything health-wise because you get such a variety of experience and you get to work under yourself,” said Roehrig-Hubert, a fourth-year biology major. “You’re making your own decisions.”
According to Roehrig-Hubert, who has been a student EMT for two and a half years, the unpredictability of EMT work contributes to the learning experience. Although there is often an increase in drug- or alcohol-related calls on Fridays and Saturdays, everything else about the job is up in the air.
Because EMTs do not know what they will be called for during a shift, it is important to memorize state EMS protocols. Roehrig-Hubert reviews them during downtime between calls and, sometimes, before she goes to sleep.
Priya Devanarayan said student EMTs may respond to six to 10 calls on some shifts and none on others.
Devanarayan — a fourth-year biology major — said she has gained valuable critical thinking skills in her one and a half years as an EMT, and she plans to put them to use in her career. Devanarayan plans to go to medical school to become a critical care physician.
Although her classes teach her “book knowledge,” working as an EMT allows her to put this information into practice.
“Having those routine patient encounters and being able to do basic life support interventions…has been extremely rewarding, and I’m sure these skills will benefit me moving forward,” she said.
Spadotto mirrored this sentiment.
“It’s taught me how to take a second, figure out what I’m doing, and then be able to do it really efficiently,” she said.
Although staffing UAS can be a significant time commitment, Devanarayan said the supervisors put the students’ education first.
“The administration is fully aware that we are full-time students,” she said. “I have been willing and picked up shifts to work about 40 or 50 hours a week, and even though that sounds like a lot in addition to being a full-time student… we are able to sleep and we’re able to take naps [between calls].”
Devanarayan said she also uses her downtime to complete school work, but she does not count on this. She said assuming there will not be spare time keeps her organized and on top of her responsibilities.
In addition to staffing UAS, many student EMTs also work with another local ambulance service. Devanarayan works about two 12-hour shifts a week for Penns Valley EMS, and Roehrig-Hubert picks up about three 12-hour shifts a week for the Bellefonte EMS.
“It’s busy, but I wouldn’t do it so much if I didn’t love it,” she said.
Roehrig-Hubert plans to pursue a career as a flight paramedic upon graduation. In addition to preparing her for the job, UAS has provided invaluable life lessons and experiences.
“I know [my coworkers] will be with me for the rest of my life, and when you’re working in an environment like that in those critical situations, it really bonds you like no other student job does,” she said. “I delivered a baby on campus last summer, and that was one of the best things to ever happen in my life — in or out of work. I feel very lucky to work here.”
Penn State UAS is a unit of Student Affairs. Students interested in joining the service who are not yet EMT-certified should consider enrolling in KINES 403, the EMT training course. For more information about emergency medical training at Penn State, contact the EMS Education Office via 814-863-0434, 814-865-1772 or uhs-ems@psu.edu.
Those who already possess certifications in CPR, EVOC and HAZMAT can apply for a part-time paramedic or EMT position with the University Health Services’ EMS department through the student HR portal in WorkLion. The UAS job requisition number is REQ_0000016271, but those who are interested in exclusively covering events as an EMT can use 'REQ.'