Looking toward a career in the medical field, Kathryn Vecchiato found LMU’s Emergency Medical Services program as an opportunity to put her on the path toward that goal.
The LMU Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are a team of full-time students certified as EMTs. Sponsored by Student Health Services, the EMTs are the campus’s first responders —providing first aid, stabilization of the patient and if needed, coordinate an emergency response with Los Angeles City Fire Department as well as Public Safety. Kathryn, a senior biology major from Seattle, joined the program in Fall 2012, and has also worked as a Resident Advisor for Student Housing and is a member of the Gryphon Circle Service Organization.
As part of the ‘10 for 15‘ interview series, freshman Nathalie Rubin asked 10 questions to 10 seniors from the Class of 2015 who were involved in Student Affairs. Here’s what Kathryn had to say about her experience as an EMT on campus.
Why did you choose to come to Loyola Marymount University?
I chose to come to LMU for many reasons. Being from Seattle, I knew I wanted to go out of state and to a small, faith-centered school. While there are many schools that fit these criteria, I was initially drawn to LMU when I visited during a convo hour. I quickly noticed the strong sense of community about the campus and knew I wanted to attend LMU.
What made you get involved with the EMTs?
When I began my studies at LMU, I had an interest in pursuing a career in the medical field. My freshman year coursework confirmed this interest and a medical career soon grew into a goal that I believed EMS would help me achieve. Thus, after learning exactly what the EMTs did, I decided to become EMT-B certified and apply for the program. EMS has been a way to practice the work that I am passionate about and to gain the experience necessary for my future as a health professional.
How has your involvement in the EMTs affected your experience at LMU?
My involvement in LMU EMS has completely shaped my LMU experience. The EMS organization is quite different than most other clubs on campus, and the EMTs have been in many situations most LMU students never encounter. We are on duty whenever the health center is closed and never know exactly what type of situation we will be walking into — making for a unique perspective of LMU. My experience in EMS has also been shaped by the other EMTs. Our program is very small and the situations we have encountered together has allowed us to grow as a team. The EMTs are some of my closest friends at LMU and I cannot imagine attending LMU without being involved in EMS.
What is your favorite memory from being an EMT?
My favorite memory from being involved as an EMT was during my second semester of involvement in the program. In February of 2013, we were able to travel to Washington D.C., for a weekend to attend the NCEMSF [National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation] conference, which brings together collegiate EMS programs from all over the country. The opportunity to travel across the country together, learn about nationwide EMS programs, and sightsee in D.C. was incredible. Over the weekend, the EMS team was able to grow closer and bond. This enhanced my excitement in the program because I truly felt at this point that we were a team who not only worked together, but also valued the company and integrity of one another.
Who in Student Health Services has inspired you and how have they done so?
Our moderator, Dr. Katie Arce, and Dr. Dan Hyslop inspire me the most. Both Katie and Dr. Dan attend EMT team meetings and walk us through specific calls we want to debrief on so that we can learn best. Their presence has evolved from role model to mentor for each individual EMT, and I am very grateful for that. They have provided endless support for each of us as we move through the program and have truly helped us become not only better EMTs, but also better students and professionals.
What is an important lesson you have learned as an EMT that you’ll take with you?
An important lesson I have learned while in EMS that I will take with me is the importance of maintaining professionalism while being compassionate in all situations. There have been many times during medical situations where I have been challenged, and I have learned to handle these situations by remembering that I am working with people who are relying on my EMT team to improve how they are feeling, whether that be physically or emotionally. While it is easy to become discouraged during calls when patients or professionals challenge us, it is an honor to be looked upon as a source of comfort to the people we assist. Above all, I have learned that people respond best to compassion.
What is something most people don’t know about the EMTs that you’d like them to know?
Most students and faculty at LMU do not know that the EMT team is a group of students that volunteers to serve the LMU community. We each go through an extensive 150-hour EMT training course and are all nationally certified EMTs. We serve the LMU community to the best of our abilities simply out of our passion for medicine and dedication to service.
What are your plans after you graduate and how do you think your experiences as an EMT will benefit you moving forward?
After graduation, I will be taking a year off of school to apply to graduate nursing programs in hopes of eventually becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. My experience in EMS is invaluable to my success moving forward. Not only did my involvement in the program help solidify my decision to go into the medical field at all, but the lessons I have learned and situations I have encountered have prepared me to move into the next stage of my life with passion and humility.
What advice do you have for current and future LMU students?
My advice is to discover what you are most passionate about and dedicate yourself completely to it. By doing this, you will not only gain the most from your experience but also be the most influential to the people around you. It is easy to want to be involved in every single opportunity LMU offers, but giving your whole self to something you are truly passionate about will allow you to grow the most and shape your experience to be tangential to life after LMU.
What will you miss the most about Loyola Marymount University?
I will miss my involvement in the LMU community most. The people I have encountered at LMU have become my friends, role models, and mentors, and have been incredibly inspirational in my life. LMU is truly a home for me that has allowed me to grow as a person while shaping my goals for the future.
By Nathalie Rubin