Sophomore Hanna Winslow spent the summer becoming an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and working at the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences. The program was a mix of lectures and labs, where she received hands-on training in CPR, airway adjuncts, wound care, assessments and medication administration. She also “ran” with an ambulance company, and had a chance to work in the emergency and respiratory departments. For a future doctor, Hanna said this was an exciting and worthwhile summer experience.

Hanna Winslow ’27

• Hometown: Reading, Pa.
• Expected major/minor: Neuroscience (pre-medical track)
• Activities on campus: F&M EMS, club tennis and working as a sports medicine student assistant
• Summer experience funding: Rackow Kaminsky Endowed Fellowship for Pre-Health Students

What inspired you to take on this particular experience?

I need clinical experience for medical school and I felt like being an EMT was the perfect route for me. I love to be in high-stress situations and being an EMT was great for that. I also felt it was the best clinical experience to get because you have to think fast during many different situations and I thought it could better prepare me for med school. Most importantly, I thought it was the best way to help as many people as I could and get a lot of amazing patient experience. Having this experience made me realize how imperative prehospital care is and how big a difference it can make. 

What skills have you been able to learn or practice?

The biggest skill I was able to learn, which I’m still in the process of learning, is patient experience. While shadowing and volunteering helps you learn in areas of medicine, nothing is more important than being able to communicate with people — especially those who are in pain or irritable. I do not think any amount of shadowing or volunteering can really get you prepared for communicating with patients as well as being an EMT. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to get this license, so I can have as much patient contact as possible. 

One other thing that I learned is how to deal with high-stress situations. Sitting in a class and then actually going into a facility and practicing what you learn is so different. You can’t prepare yourself for that stress until you are actually doing it. 

“Sitting in a class and then actually going into a facility and practicing what you learn is so different. You can’t prepare yourself… until you are actually doing it.”

Hanna Winslow '27

What did you find the most interesting or surprising?

The most surprising thing I realized is how important prehospital care is. EMTs really set the scene for what is coming into a hospital and we play a huge role in helping make emergencies easier for hospitals. I never realized how much first responders do in the short amount of time they get to see patients. It was very surprising, actually getting to go on the ambulance for clinical and also being in the hospital and seeing first responders come in. 

Why did you choose F&M?

I chose to attend F&M because of the amazing pre-med program. There was no other college I was looking at that had numbers even close to the statistics of F&M (for getting into medical school). I love the rigorous academics because I feel that is important for preparation going into med school. The academics at F&M really prepare you for continuing education. 

"I chose to attend F&M because of the amazing pre-med program. There was no other college I was looking at that had numbers even close to the statistics of F&M (for getting into medical school)."

Hanna Winslow '27