TVC paramedic graduates ready to work

Submitted by Scott McCrea
Phone: 455-2857
08/11/05

For most university students, the month of August is focused on getting ready for the upcoming academic year. For the students graduating from the Tanana Valley Campus Paramedic Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the focus is on leaving academics behind and getting ready for the work world.

Thirteen students graduated Friday, Aug. 12 from the one-year program, which prepares students to become entry-level paramedics. The rigorous program includes 500 hours of classroom instruction, 250 hours of clinical studies at the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, and 480 hours spent in field internship with an advanced life support agency. For the field internship, the students worked Outside as medics on ambulance crews in places such as Tulsa, New Haven, Phoenix, and Portland, Oregon.

Students also have to take and pass a National Registry Paramedic Exam. Upon passing, students can apply for licensure with the State Medical Board to be practicing paramedics in Alaska.

This is the second cohort of students to graduate from the program. According to Chuck Kuhns, TVC paramedic program coordinator, the entire cohort that graduated from last year’s program are employed, with a majority of them in Alaska. Out of this year’s cohort, Kuhns said one of the students has already secured employment with ambulance services at Warbelow’s Air Ventures, while others have opportunities on the horizon.

The next TVC paramedic program will begin Sept. 1. Students wanting to apply should contact Kuhns at 455-2895 or by email at ffcmk@uaf.edu.