Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined with officials from American Medical Response (AMR) of Springfield to bring greetings and congratulations to AMR’s newest graduating class of EMT’s from their Earn While You Learn program this morning at AMR headquarters on Cottage Street.
Mayor Sarno, along with State Representative Carlos Gonzalez who chairs the legislature’s joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, Deputy Chief Michael Hess and Captain Edward Geier from the Springfield Police Department, AMR’s EMS programs manager Emily chandler, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) instructors spoke at the ceremony. City Councilor Maria Perez and District Chief of Emergency Preparedness in the Springfield Fire Department Tyrone Denson also joined.
Mayor Sarno states, “Congratulations to all the members of the graduating class of AMR’s Earn While You Learn Program. This class has been a tremendous success and are looking forward to starting their careers as an EMT. Of note, this EWYL class is the first to achieve a 100% first-tome pass rate on their exams – congratulations! I am very proud of the graduates and appreciative of AMR’s continued belief and investment in our Springfield along with their partnership working with the city of Springfield, responding to any and all health-related calls. I’d like to commend and give a special shout out to Emily Chandler, recipient of the American Ambulance Association’s Stars of Life Award, for her pioneering efforts to train the next generation of EMTs. Continued success and God Bless.”
First launched in August 2019, the Earn While You Learn program is designed to make an easier transition for those wanting to become EMS professionals. Participants are hired as employees and compensated while attending AMR’s EMT-Basic certification course. Upon successful completion of the program and obtaining their state certification, participants are promoted to EMT-B with a commensurate pay increase.
