EMS experience confirms student’s career plans
William Gan ’21 spends break expanding role with local ambulance corps
Internship supported by: Nancy Lyon Porter ’43 Community Service Fellowship
Majors: Considering biology or neuroscience (currently undeclared)
Taking the next step: “I’ve been an active member of Glen Oaks Volunteer Ambulance Corps [in Glen Oaks, N.Y.] since my freshman year of high school. However, being such a young age, I was restricted in the work and tasks I was able to perform involving patient care. As I continued my skills training this winter, I have come to love and value patient care much more.”
Responding to calls: “I had a wide range of responsibilities, which included responding to 911 emergencies dispatched by the New York City Fire Department, providing basic life support for patients during emergency transports, performing complete medical and psychological assessments on patients, treating and stabilizing patients using clinical knowledge and skills, and assisting the emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic in their duties. At the end of a day’s work, we were responsible for keeping the base clean and operational as well as each of our ambulances.”
Making a difference: “Any moment where the patient is in stable condition is a ‘good’ moment. Aside from bonding with your crew members and enjoying lunch or dinner at base when we’re not in the ambulance, it is the greatest feeling in the world when you are able to relieve the patient or better their condition. In one case, we had a patient encounter involving a young boy and his mother. The boy was suffering from an asthma attack and did not have his inhaler on him. He was wheezing and had shortness of breath. Through proper clinical treatment and communication, we were able to relieve both the boy and his mother from their worries. The look of reassurance on the mother’s face was a sight to remember.”
Career in medicine: “My career plan is to become a doctor. I also want to travel and work in areas domestically and internationally that are medically unserved and remain unrepresented with their stories and tragedies untold. Ultimately, I would like to become a surgeon and operate; I love working with my hands, and working as an EMT has solidified that.”