Montgomery County has First Class of EMT Students Complete Certification

Montgomery County, TN – Thursday, January 27th, 2022 was a special occasion for Montgomery County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Austin Peay State University (APSU) Continuing Education Program.

The very first class of Emergency Medical Training (EMT) graduates received their certificates of completion this morning at an informal ceremony with the graduates, instructors and some family members.

Although this first class of nine trainees began their 14-week training journey in October 2021, the idea for the program to be held in Montgomery County began more than 10 years ago with a vision, followed by a lot of tenacity, discipline and planning from Emergency Services Director Jimmie Edwards and his staff.

“It’s fulfilling to see this group of graduates here today thanks to our partnership with APSU’s Continuing Education Program. This has been a long time coming and I’m very grateful we’ve finally gotten to this point. We appreciate APSU Continuing Education Director Jeff Walton for joining us today and a big thanks to APSU Distance Education Program Coordinator Loretia Duncan who worked to help us coordinate the program,” said Edwards.
 
The 14-week class, held in the EMS classroom at Dunlop Lane, was taught by Brian McNeeley, January Bukowitz, and Danielle Chester who are all valued members of the Montgomery County EMS team. The curriculum covers both book and hands-on modules on topics such as airway management, medical and trauma emergencies and operations. The training also includes ambulance ride-alongs with seasoned Montgomery County medical professionals.
 
EMS Director William Webb also congratulated the graduates on the accomplishment. “Congratulations on completing your certification. You’ve had three fantastic instructors and you’ve stuck with the course through all the obstacles that came your way. Remember, we’re hiring and we hope you will consider joining our team,” Webb added.

The next step in the process is for the nine participants to take their EMT test online and wait for their licensure before officially putting their training into practice.

Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett stated, “Chief Edwards has been pushing for this since I began serving as Mayor. I am thrilled the EMT program is now underway in Montgomery County and hope to see many more participants in the future. We know there is a shortage of first responders in the medical field. The County Commissioners and I want to continue doing all we can to support the growth of this program in our community.”

Edwards also mentioned expanding the program in partnership with APSU for an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and a paramedic program. They hope to expand beyond continuing education and into a degree program in the future.

For information about the program visit apsu.edu.