New York State-sponsored EMT Class at BMCC Helps Meet Dire Shortage in the Field

On February 25, 41 National Guard members — men and women ages 18 to 50 — completed an intensive class at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) to prepare for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) online certification examination.

“This was the first time we provided this class, and it came about because we are facing a dire shortage in pre-hospital care providers, or EMTs, across New York State,” said Meghan Williams, EMS Program Director and Assistant Professor in the BMCC Allied Health Sciences Department. “To address the shortage, the state of New York activated the National Guard, all across the state, to start taking courses to prepare for their EMT certification.”

Of about 600 individuals statewide who underwent the state-sponsored EMT classes — both National Guard members and civilians — 43 attended the EMT class at BMCC’s 199 Chambers Street campus and 41 completed that class.

“The class retention was impressive,” said Professor Williams. “They were a very dedicated and serious group of people. They met Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for five weeks.”

On March 2, the class members will take the EMT certification examination online.

“Our recognition ceremony was a celebration of everyone’s hard work to that point,” said Professor Williams. “They were able to meet BMCC President Anthony Munroe and Provost Erwin Wong, who shared the informal celebration with the students and their instructors.”

While the EMT students weren’t enrolled in a degree program at BMCC, they earned four credits they can apply toward an Associate degree in Paramedic at the College.

“We appreciate their service and their willingness to do the hard work to take the EMT exam and serve in that capacity if there is a need,” said Professor Williams. “Because of COVID and other factors, we find ourselves with this dangerous shortage — but we are all safer in the event of an emergency, because of these individuals and their hard work.”

The instructors for the class appear to the right of the photo, not in uniform. From top to bottom, they are William Huang (Lab Instructor), Andrew Miller (Assistant Senior Instructor), Frank Ancona (Assistant Senior Instructor), David Mader (Lab Instructor) and Marc Moorer (Assistant Senior Instructor).

Instructors not pictured include Javier Mendoza, Pablo Santiago, Nelson Velez, Edward Perez, David Cadogan, Robert Bonome, Michael Chernichaw and Emilio Del Busto.

At the front of the photo, from left to right, are Madeleine Fong, Clinical Coordinator and Meghan Williams, EMS Program Director and Assistant Professor in the BMCC Allied Health Sciences Department; Anthony E. Munroe, BMCC President; Kirt Bowen, EMT instructor and Erwin Wong, BMCC Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs.