Donald Simpreus

I have always felt my personal life’s mission was to serve others.  While attending Providence College, studying biology, I worked part-time at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Rhode Island.  Working in the medical field exposed me to the EMS profession and a physician I worked with suggested I pursue a career as an EMT as it would be an invaluable experience toward my goal to become a Physician Assistant.

Exposure to the field would provide real-world medical scenarios, providing insight into patient care in high-pressure situations. This would build the foundation for understanding the patient’s perspective. I wanted to diversify my clinical experience, and EMS provided critical hands-on exposure with a wide range of medical situations and emergencies that I know will benefit my continued learning.

Financially, the course cost would be difficult to manage, so I called the Community Education department to seek out my options. Knowing my financial dilemma, the staff let me know about a grant-covered program that had opened up with available seats.  I couldn’t believe it! The grant covered the tuition, plus provided a stipend, which allowed me to take the class and helped me to save money to buy a car, the same one that I am still driving today!

As I continue my undergraduate education, I am now working as an EMT.  I have met some of the most honorable people who save lives every day.  Each shift is a chance to learn and make a difference. My career in EMS pushes me forward with discipline and purpose and has been a wonderful opportunity that has fulfilled my personal mission to serve others.  I continue training in all aspects of emergency care, becoming more comfortable with 911 calls, and managing my own patients during lights and sirens calls, as well as driving the ambulance in those situations.  You name it, I’m working on mastering it!

The EMS profession demands the utmost respect.  You need a strong balance of mental and physical endurance to handle the challenges you face.  Once you adopt that mindset, everything else falls into place!  The Basic EMT course at Massasoit Community College has not only provided me with the steppingstones I need to continue toward my educational goals to become a Physician Assistant, but it provided me with an instructor who actively worked in the field, bringing real-world experiences to our classroom.  The instructor had a major impact on me and was always available for the class.

When asked what he would say to students who are thinking about taking this program, Donald responded: “I want to say to you, take it!  It is an opportunity to discover what you are capable of and of possibility.  This field teaches you resilience, and you won’t regret where it takes you!”