Paramedic Emergency Medicine Degree Program

Specific Admission Requirements

GREAT REASONS TO CHOOSE NHTI'S PARAMEDIC PROGRAM!

Program Quality

• 70 credit degree in Paramedic Emergency Medicine
• Committee on Accreditation on Educational Programs of the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP) accredited for 15 years
• Program longevity and reputation
• Consistent and successful Registry Results
• Graduate pride and success
• Ongoing clinical supervision and advocacy in the hospital and field setting
• Dedicated lab/classroom facility and equipment
• New Meti-Man integrated training equipment

Program Faculty

• Active Medical Director
• Paramedic faculty who each have over 20 years of field experience
• Full-time faculty, with Master's Degrees in Education
• Outstanding Adjunct faculty with proven expertise in their subject areas

Curriculum

• Fully integrated program current with new national paramedic curriculum
• Comprehensive Anatomy and Physiology and Pathophysiology courses
• Progressive clinical track with the opportunity to be paired with two dedicated, experienced, and skilled field preceptors

NHTI Support Services

Easy commuter access

On-campus housing

Availability of tutoring, academic and learning disability assistance

Library serviced with dedicated EMS related journals, reference books, and computer resources.

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Any student considering paramedic education today should consider the associate degree. For many, the degree provides for competitive entry into the job market, a stronger advantage for career advancement, and the potential for academic advancement with transfer to a four-year college.

NHTI's Paramedic Emergency Medicine Program combines a unique blend of paramedic courses, general education requirements, specialty certifications and diverse hospital and pre-hospital experiences. NHTI students have opportunities to work with some of New England's finest hospital and pre-hospital affiliates.

Program emphasis is placed on the development of paramedic knowledge and theory, practical skills application and the development of professional behaviors required of the entry level paramedic. The development of leadership skills, individual professional growth, and academic excellence are integral parts of the program.

Please access suggestions on transferring to other institutions here.

The degree of Associate in Science with a major in Paramedic Emergency Medicine is awarded upon successful completion of the program.

The Paramedic Emergency Medicine Program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation on Educational Programs of the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP) and has been accredited since 1990. Graduating students receive an Associate in Science with a major in Paramedic Emergency Medicine and are then eligible to sit for the National Registry Paramedic exam and for exams in other states. Articulation agreements with several colleges allow opportunities to pursue bachelors degrees in a variety of EMS related fields.

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EMS providers look to have more flexibility in the educational process and alternative ways of completing their degree. Some students want full-time classes while others seek a more part-time approach. Students with transfer credits see the value in a time-efficient schedule. Full-time and part-time EMTs may want to focus on EMS courses once their general education requirements have been completed. Several program options have been developed to meet these needs.

CL - Numbers in the CL column below designate the number of lecture/classroom hours per week for the course
LAB - Numbers in the LAB column below designate the number of simulation laboratory, laboratory or clinical hours per week for the course
CR - Numbers in the CR column below designate the number of credit hours for the course

Specific Admission Requirements

# Indicates Major Field Courses.

Health, Character and Technical Standards

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Alumni News Next Call? Med School! Two generations of NHTI grads are med school bound. Ryan Pouliot always knew he wanted to go to med school. Even as a student at Hinsdale High School, he took an EMT course and worked for his local ambulance service. “Unfortunately,” he says, “you could say I was a ‘slacker’ the first few years of high school, and by the time I decided I wanted to go to college, it was too late for me to correct my academic record in time to gain admission to the more competitive universities. “So I thought I would go to paramedic school, gain some medical experience and work in an incredible job while slowly working towards medical school,” says the 26-year-old newlywed. “I did some research and found out that NHTI has arguably the best paramedic program in New England.” Ryan began classes at Harvard Medical School in August, so his plan clearly worked. He is studying to become a critical-care specialist, drawn to the intensity of caring for the “sickest of the sick.” From ‘Slacker’ to ‘Summa’ Ryan had an active and successful career at NHTI. He served on the Student Senate in 2000-01, and received the Cheryl M. Kellogg Award (given to the paramedic department’s “outstanding senior”) in 2002. Evidently his “slacker” days were over. He earned his A.S. in Paramedic Emergency Medicine, summa cum laude, in 2002. “NHTI was great for me,” says Ryan, “and even landed me a great job.” Most NHTI paramedic students have field clinicals with Greater Lowell (MA) Emergency Medical Services, as did Ryan. A few months after graduation, the company offered Ryan a full time position. Ryan earned his B.S. in biology and fulfilled his premed reqs at UMass Lowell, again graduating summa cum laude. Meanwhile, he took the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and did – as he modestly puts it – “really well” (he scored in the top 99.4 - 99.6 percentile!) and was accepted to Harvard. Ryan has come a long way from the “slacker” days at Hinsdale High just seven years ago—even inspiring others to pursue their career dreams. Carol Bernier, 47, is also a graduate of NHTI’s paramedic program (class of ’86) and an EMT at Greater Lowell EMS. She had been talking about becoming a doctor for 20 years and was motivated by Ryan to take the MCAT’s. Long story short: Bernier began medical school, too, at the University of New England, Biddeford, Maine, in August. She’s considering emergency medicine, since it is closest to her experience, but as a non-traditional student ready for a change in life, she’s leaving the door open. “It’s time to learn new things,” she recently told the Lowell Sun. “I need the challenge now.” An Education Vacation? Med school may be a vacation compared to regular 12- and 16-hour shifts while pursuing their education, Ryan jokes. Ben Podsiadlo, director of the paramedic department, says that Greater Lowell’s is the second largest life support unit in the state, after Boston’s, with more than 8,000 calls per year or about a call per hour, and 4,000 of those require advanced life support services. The hours are long and the intensity high. Carol alone has helped deliver 71 babies, including three sets of twins, and attended every fatal fire in Lowell since 1993. Yet, she found time to serve as a registered nurse in the ER at Lawrence General Hospital and teach as an adjunct at NHTI for six years! Ryan has managed to maintain a number of outside interests. He is a graduate of the AMC Winter Mountaineering School, plays classical and jazz guitar, and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, as well as reading, films, and photography. He and wife Kerri celebrated their first wedding anniversary … just two days after he started med school!

LAB CLASSROOM

The program lab classroom offers up-to-date equipment for the demonstration and practice of paramedic procedures. Adult and pediatric skills stations are set up with models for IV cannulation, endotracheal intubation, medication administration, chest decompression, intraosseous infusion, emergency defibrillation, cricothyrotomy, and emergency childbirth. ECG, breath sounds, and heart sound simulators offer students realistic practice in assessment. ECG monitors, 12-LEAD simulator and defibrillators give students hands on experience with manual and remote defibrillation, electrical cardioversion as well as emergency cardiac pacing. The recent addition of the $60,000 Meti-Man provides students with unique and realistic simulation opportunities.

CLINICAL AFFILIATIONS

One of the most important elements of a paramedic program is the variety of clinical opportunities. Diversity and location of clinics are key. Experiences range from a variety of hospitals and high volume field sites being used by students. During hospital clinic, the student is provided with in-house faculty supervision and advocacy. During field clinical, students have opportunities to ride with New England's finest and busiest field professionals. In addition, students will have the opportunity to work with two skilled, dedicated, experienced and motivated prehospital preceptors.

PARAMEDIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE ALS FIELD SITES
Action Ambulance, Woburn, MA
Concord Fire Department, Concord, NH
Cataldo Ambulance Service, Somerville, MA
Derry Fire Department, Derry, NH
Frisbee Memorial Hospital, ALS, Rochester, NH
Greater Lowell EMS, Lowell, MA
Lawrence General Hospital ALS, Lawrence, MA
Rockingham Ambulance, Manchester, NH
Rockingham Ambulance, Nashua, NH
Trinity EMS, Inc., Haverhill, MA

PARAMEDIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE HOSPITAL CLINIC SITES
Concord Hospital, Concord, NH
Lowell General Hospital, Lowell, MA
St. Joseph Hospital, Nashua, NH
Saints Memorial Hospital, Lowell, MA
Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Nashua, NH

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MEET THE FACULTY

Full-Time Faculty/Staff

Dr. Patrick Lanzetta, Program Medical Director

Patrick Lanzetta serves as the program's Medical Director. A graduate of St. John’s University of New York, Dr. Lanzetta earned his medical doctor degree from the University of Montpelier in France in 1973. A lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, Dr. Lanzetta has assisted with field medic training since 1986. Dr. Lanzetta, who is board-certified as an emergency department physician, is presently affiliated with Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.H.

Nancy Brubaker, N.R. EMT-P, RN, CEN, MEd.

Nancy Brubaker, Paramedic Program Director/Professor holds a Masters Degree in Education, an A.S. in EMS (1984) from NHTI, and an A.S. in Nursing (1994). She currently works as a prehospital Paramedic and Nurse for Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth, N.H. Specialty Area: Physical Assessment

Martin E. Jean, N.R. EMT-P, MEd.

Martin graduated from NHTI's Paramedic Program in 1984. Since then he has worked for several private EMS services and served as a hospital EMS coordinator. After having earned his bachelors and masters degrees, he returned to NHTI in 1991 to teach for the program. Specialty Area: Cardiology

Susan Graham, Program Secretary

Susan joined the Paramedic and Radiology Programs in October 2006 and has worked at NHTI since 2005. She coordinates the office, maintains student records, and serves as a liaison to the faculty. She will provide you with current program information and the admissions packet upon request. She is a graduate of Hesser College and holds Associate of Science degrees in Medical Office Management and Medical Assisting. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Granite State College in 2006.

Adjunct Faculty

Robert Atwater, B.A, N.R.EMT-P

Rob graduated from Colgate University in 1993. Not knowing what else to do with himself, he ended up working as a Basic-EMT for what was then Eastern Paramedics. He graduated from SUNY (State University of NY) Upstate's paramedic program in 1995. In 1997 he began working for Mercy Flight Central, and moved down state to work for Westchester Medical Center's STAT Flight in 1999. While there, he was an adjunct faculty member of Rockland Community College's Paramedic Program. He made the leap to New Hampshire in 2002, joining DHART. Wanderlust hit him again in 2005, and he joined the ranks of the firefighters, working for Derry Fire where he continues to work today.

Vicki Blanchard, A.S.,N.R.EMT-P

Vicki graduated in 1995 with her Associates Degree in Emergency Medical Services. In addition, she has an Associates Degree in Business from NHTI and multiple EMS instructorships. Since graduation she has worked for Milford Ambulance as a paramedic and as NH ALS Coordinator for the Bureau of EMS. Specialty Area: Special Populations, Trauma

Rick Gross, R.P., CCEMT-P, CFP

Rick graduated from Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Roanoke, VA in 1986. He was an adjunct faculty, paramedic educator and clinical preceptor for Jefferson College of Health Sciences, and Roanoke Fire/EMS-Paramedic and Field Supervisor/Educator for 9 years. He has extensive experience as a staff paramedic educator, and as a supervisor working in trauma centers and air-med flight programs with organizations such as Carilion Health System, Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Speare Memorial Hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock-Weeks Medical Center, Dartmouth Hitchcock-DHART Flight Paramedic and Frisbie Memorial Hospital. He has extensive critical care transport background and is also trained in Wilderness Emergency Medicine.

Shawn Haggart, B.S., N.R. EMT-P

Shawn graduated in 2001 with his Associates Degree in Emergency Medical Services. He is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Emergency Service Administration from Granite State College. Since graduation he has worked for the Derry Fire Department as a firefighter/paramedic and Saints Memorial Medical Center as a hospital based, intercept paramedic.

Jean Robertson, B.S., M.S.N.

Jean received a B.S. in Nursing and a B.S. in Vocational Education from UNH in 1995. In 1999, she graduated from the University of Texas with her A.N.R.P., specializing in emergency medicine. She has worked as an EMT-RN and currently works as an ER-ANRP at Speare Hospital in Plymouth, NH. Area of Expertise: Physical Assessment

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YESTERDAY'S GRADUATES ... TODAY'S LEADERS!

NHTI has graduated more than 400 paramedics. Many of our graduates have gone beyond "life in the streets" to clinical and administrative positions all over New England and beyond. We celebrate the many lives that they have saved and their commitment to public service and safety.

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Revised June 19, 2008