02/27/2026
Freedom House Ambulance Service was one of the most influential and groundbreaking programs in EMS history.
In 1967, in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, Freedom House was the first service in the country to train paramedics to provide advanced medical care before reaching the hospital. At a time when police or funeral hearses were the primary means of “ambulance” transport, this all-Black team of medics delivered true prehospital emergency care — cardiac monitoring, airway management, IV therapy, and more.
Although Freedom House was eventually dissolved in 1975, its impact on EMS, medical education, and community-based care remains profound. Freedom House didn’t just answer calls — it saved lives and opened doors at a time when opportunities were limited for Black professionals in healthcare.
As we recognize Black History Month, we also recognize that the profession we love was shaped by innovators whose contributions weren’t always fully acknowledged at the time. Every call we run stands on the foundation they helped build.
Learn more about their story:
🎬 Documentary: Freedom House Ambulance: The First Responders
https://www.pbs.org/video/freedom-house-ambulance-the-first-responders-7JoAG2/
🎧 Podcast (Criminal): Freedom House Ambulance Service
https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-222-the-paramedics-6-8-2023