My first exposure to paramedicine was as a high school student doing ride alongs as part of a career preparation program – little did I know it would be my career for the next 20 years! The majority of my career has been spent in BC working in the Metro Vancouver area first as a PCP and then as an ACP in 2015. In 2020 I completed my Critical Care Paramedic training and specialized in both Adult Critical Care Transport and Neonatal, Pediatric and Maternal Transport. I got to fly around the beautiful province of BC for 5 years before deciding to concentrate on helping to train the next generation of paramedics ready to take their own careers to new heights.
Why did you choose to get involved in the education of Advanced Care Paramedics at JIBC?
When choosing my own paramedic education, JIBC has always represented the highest standard of paramedic education in BC. JIBC has the resources and instructors to produce job-ready, competent practitioners while also positioning students for continuing education opportunities through institutional partnerships and credit transfers. Throughout my EMS career I have always derived satisfaction from helping paramedic students apply their didactic knowledge in the precepting environment, coaching new paramedics through critical resuscitations, and participating in clinical discussions about evidence-based prehospital practice. Being an educator at JIBC allows me to more fully participate in the progress and development of the ACP community in BC, ensuring a thriving future for paramedics and the patients they serve.
What do you feel that you bring to the Advanced Care Paramedic program at JIBC?
My career in prehospital care has allowed me to experience the many care environments that paramedics work in throughout BC: from rural outposts to metropolitan centres each environment has offered its own rewards and challenges throughout my career. Working with diverse care teams while keeping a patient-centred focus has uncovered my passion for “helping others help.” I have obtained my Bachelor of Health Sciences degree through JIBC’s bridging opportunities through Thompson Rivers University and understand the challenges of working full-time while pursuing higher education. I take immense pride in helping students reach their full potential and achieving their professional goals while constantly being mindful of the changing landscape of prehospital care and the challenges facing today’s adult learners.
Why should students choose the JIBC ACP program over other programs?
JIBC has a long track record of attracting some of the best paramedics in BC to help deliver course content. JIBC’s ACP program strives to balance the highest level of learning with the practicalities of delivering adult education, taking feedback from each cohort and applying it to future classes. Our course content is continually reevaluated to ensure that it reflects current, evidence-based practice, exceeds the National Occupational Competency Profiles for ACPs, and is accredited by Accreditation Canada. Our graduates consistently obtain ACP licensure from EMALB and are well-prepared for a successful career in Advanced Care Paramedicine and beyond.