CCC student Alfredo Villa demonstrating his Paramedic skills at the Fourth Street Campus. Courtesy photo.
FLAGSTAFF — Alfredo Villa wanted to be a part of his community and to make a difference in people’s lives.
So, he went to Coconino Community College and took Fire Science courses. He landed a job with the Highlands Fire District as a firefighter. He received his Emergency Medical Technician certificate in 2009.
And now, Villa is in the 2021-22 cohort of Paramedic Studies.
“I think it’s a dynamic profession,” Villa said. “There’s constantly something to learn. There’s a lot of teamwork involved, and every day is a little bit different, and every patient is a little bit different. For the creative types and for people who like helping people, it’s a great place to go to work. You have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s days when they need it the most.”
David Manning, coordinator for the Paramedicine course at CCC, said it is important for candidates in the northern Arizona region to receive their training locally.
“It gives local and regional emergency services agencies the opportunity to send people to a highly successful program right in their own back yard,” Manning said. “The program graduates have an investment in their local communities.”
That’s a fact Villa appreciates.
“CCC offers the opportunity to work and integrate with the local agencies, to be a part of the community and to accelerate your opportunities to be in those job in that field,” he said.
The CCC Paramedicine Studies program is designed to prepare students to enter the paramedic profession by providing them with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to be successful in the paramedic field.
In addition to teaching the foundation courses for an EMT and Paramedic education, Manning said CCC also provides vital continuing education throughout the region for current EMTs and Paramedics, which includes EMT refresher and recertification courses, CPR training, trauma and medical emergency assessment and management simulations labs, and much more.
“There are no two days that are the same in this career,” Manning said. “Paramedics as a whole thrive when presented with unique and challenging work scenarios. They must have a strong desire to serve the public and community at large.”
For more information on Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic Studies and other Health Services programs at Coconino Community College, visit https://www.coconino.edu/paths/health-services.