As communities across the country face an increasing demand for trained emergency medical personnel,Cedarville University’s Emergency Medical Services(CUEMS) is answering the call — right from its campus in Cedarville, Ohio.

Staffed entirely by state-certified EMTs, the CUEMS team operatestogether with and under the jurisdiction of the local fire department, granting crew members the ability to respond to 911emergency calls on campus. Each of the 13 student crew members earns theirEMT certificationthrough a university-offered course. Many of them also serve with the Cedarville Township Volunteer Fire Department.

“I really enjoy being able to serve the campus community that has poured so much into my life,” said Belle Vinczi, a recent graduate who served asthe 24-25 CUEMS chief. “Being on this team has given me valuable experience working with patients, working under pressure, working with a team and learning to think ahead.It’s taught me about the kind of doctor I want to be — calm, able to learn from my mistakes and able to learn from team members.”

Vinczi, who has served on the team for three years,graduated in May andwill attend medical school at Wright State University. She hopes to serve in underserved communities, whether in the United States or abroad.

Rhonda Evans, director of the University Medical Services, has served as the CUEMS advisor since 2021and has seen firsthand the transformation students undergo.

“They’re often nervous to start out, but there’sa big change from when they start to when they finish,” said Evans, a 1999 Cedarville graduate and former CUEMS and fire department member.“By the time they leave, they’ve grown very confident inwriting good reports, doing good assessments and asking the right questions.”

CUEMS alumni,such as Dr. Randy Marriott, have gone on to become leaders in emergency medicine. Marriott, now medical director for CareFlight Air & Mobile and an emergency physician with Premier Health, traces his career back to the influence of CUEMS.

“There was no single stronger influence on my career trajectory than CUEMS,” said Marriott. “I took the EMT course simply to gain experience for applying to medical school. After that, I was inspired to completeparamedic training and specialize in emergency medicine.EMS is invaluable to anyone pursuing a career in healthcare. It gives astrongfoundationin medicine and patient care.”

The EMS program at Cedarville Universityhas prepared generations of college students for success in health care fields of all types, equipping them with the skills to serve their communities as emergency responders, doctors, medical directors and advocates.

Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio’s largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.