With the recent graduation of 30 students at Southwestern College’s Paramedic Program, with their degrees these graduates now have the opportunity to apply for jobs, making an immediate impact on the welfare of communities. Students in these two graduating classes studied emergency medical care and the evaluation and treatment of injuries. They also learned to administer medication, start intravenous lines, interpret EKG rhythm strips, and defibrillate patients in cardiac arrest, as well as to administer many other advanced life support procedures.
Class 48 President Slater Lee said the class started in August 2022 with the 15-month program, not including testing required to get into the program.
“It was a very exciting day for all of us,” he said. “Southwestern College holds a very esteemed reputation in terms of how the students do here, make it through the program, and in terms of its success rate. Especially on the exams following paramedic school.”
Lee said this success rate is due to the faculty, the training received, internships.
“It sets you a high standard for success in the future,” he said. “I have a few more tests to take in terms of accreditation and once I get there, I will be able to apply to places. Whether that will be a single-role medic on ambulances or applying to fire departments, we will see where the journey goes. For me, this was a big step to get done. I am going to stay in San Diego County. I will apply and throw my hat in the ring with other departments and agencies and see where I wind up. But I want to stay in San Diego and give back to the community that gave me everything that I have. And the opportunity to come here to the school, I want to serve the community I trained in.”
Southwestern College’s Paramedic Program is held at the SWC Higher Education Center in Otay Mesa.
