The Emergency Medicine Program at the University of Pittsburgh is designed to meet the growing need for advanced skill level EMS professionals and to prepare students for the technical, clinical, and administrative tasks of a career in EMS and healthcare. Many EM students continue to medical school and other graduate level programs upon completion. This pre-med major can be used to help further a degree in the paramedic, nursing, and other healthcare professions. For over 40 years, paramedics have functioned in the out-of-hospital environment, providing emergency care to people with life-threatening illness or injury. Today, the field of out-of-hospital medicine is expanding rapidly to include many aspects of patient care in addition to emergency medicine. As this field continues to grow and change, leaders and educators with a background in emergency medicine are needed to help shape the future of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The Emergency Medicine (EM) program at the University of Pittsburgh is designed to meet the growing need for the advanced skill levels required in the EMS profession and to prepare students for the technical, clinical, and administrative challenges of a career in EMS and health care today. The program faculty are leading educators in their fields and take a dynamic and multi-disciplinary approach to emergency medicine education. Students are provided with a strong foundation in clinical experiences, educational expertise and administrative leadership. Recognizing that students will be entering the program with varying levels of education and experience, students are admitted into the program at the appropriate level based on student’s career and academic experiences. Currently certified paramedics will be awarded 39 credits. The program can be completed on a full or part-time basis. Starting Paramedic Salaries: Average: $32,000 - $42,634
Due to the ever changing health care industry and the integral part EMS has played in public safety, EMS will be more than a medical response in an emergency. It will play a vital role in improving the general health of the population in the community it serves. The demand is also growing for EMS professionals to have an expertise in business, management, teaching and clinical techniques. For more information visit: shrs.pitt.edu/EM
