Kishwaukee College unveiled its newly renovated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) facility during an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the College.
The College relocated its EMS classroom and lab to make room for an ambulance simulator and provide more dedicated space for the in-demand program. Kish EMS students train for emergency medical technician and paramedic roles.
“As the needs of our programs, students and local workforce have evolved, we have been able to repurpose spaces on campus,” said Dr. Laurie Borowicz, President of Kishwaukee College. “We are fortunate to have all EMS instruction and related learning equipment relocated to one large learning space.”
Kishwaukee College operates the EMS program in partnership with the Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital EMS System. Since the partnership formed in Fall 2020, 203 graduates have completed an EMT certificate or paramedic certificate/degree at Kish.
“At Northwestern Medicine, we know how important it is that our EMS professionals are prepared for those moments when every second matters. The ambulance simulator gives them the opportunity to practice those skills in a realistic environment before they have to use them in the field,” said Tony Woodson, Program Coordinator and EMS System Manager for Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital.
Dr. Borowicz and Woodson gave remarks during the ceremony, along with Bob Johnson, Kishwaukee College Board of Trustees Chair; Dr. Jessica Berek, Interim Vice President of Instruction; Luke Howieson, DeKalb Fire Department Fire Chief; and Jonathan Knight, a recent Kish EMS graduate and current Firefighter/Paramedic for Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District. Knight provided a student perspective on the College’s and Northwestern Medicine’s investment in the EMS program.
“It’s great for new EMTs and paramedics to be given the opportunity to learn in the type of environment they will be expected to perform in outside of this class. It helps you get comfortable with performing your skills and bridges that gap to real-world situations,” Knight said.
Learn more about Kish’s EMS program at kish.edu/ems.
There is virtually no limit to what you can achieve at Kish, and we will be here for you every step of the way.