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Faculty

Chair

J. Lee Jenkins (Effective August 2016)
B.S., University of Maryland, Baltmore County, 1997; M.S., University of Maryland, Baltmore County, 1999; M.D., George Washington University School of Medicine, 2003

Professor

Richard Bissell
B.A., University of California, Davis, 1973; M.S., University of Colorado, 1979; M.A., University of Denver, 1979; Ph.D., 1984

Bruce Walz
B.A., Western Maryland College, 1975; M.A., Hood College, 1982; Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, 1985

Associate Professor

J. Lee Jenkins
B.S., University of Maryland, Baltmore County, 1997; M.S., University of Maryland, Baltmore County, 1999; M.D., George Washington University School of Medicine, 2003

Clinical Professor

Jeffrey Mitchell
B.S., St. Mary’s Seminary and University, 1971; M.S., Loyola College, 1975; Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, 1983

Clinical Assistant Professor

Diane Flint
B.A., University of Baltimore, 2002; M.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2008

Crista Lenk
B.A., The Pennsylvania State University, 1997; M.P.A., West Virginia University, 1999

Senior Lecturer

Dwight Polk
B.A., Virginia Polytechnic and State University, 1981; M.S.W., University of Maryland, Baltimore, 1996

Clinical Coordinator

Gary Williams, Jr.
B.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2004

Medical Director

Matthew Levy
B.S, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2000; D.O., Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2006; M.S, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2008

Instructor Emeritus

John Ashworth
B.A., University of Virginia, 1967; M.H.A., The George Washington University, 1975

William Hathaway
B.S., United States Military Academy, 1961; M.S., The George Washington University, 1968

Courses in this program are listed under EHS.

Students gain a unique depth of experience in emergency health services through this baccalaureate degree. The program stresses academic and clinical abilities, interpersonal and leadership skills, and the capacity for appropriate judgment. The major objective of the degree program is to prepare students for work in various occupational settings relating to emergency health services systems. Primary emphasis is placed upon developing leadership skills and promoting personal and professional growth.

Graduates are prepared to:

• Coordinate and manage emergency health systems
• Interact effectively with other professionals in the emergency medical services system, as well as with community agencies and the general public
• Satisfy certification requirements for EMT or Paramedic
• Conduct or use research
• Pursue graduate study

The Department of Emergency Health Services offers a unique perspective for the education of future EMS professionals. This is accomplished by providing a broad liberal arts and sciences education, which enhances the graduate’s employment opportunities as prehospital providers and managers. The Department of Emergency Health Services also prepares graduates for advancement to graduate and professional studies.

Career and Academic Paths

Federal, state and local efforts in the past three decades have resulted in innovative programs designed to improve the quality and efficiency of emergency health care services. As a result, several career fields have been created. Health professionals are needed at all levels in today’s emergency medical services system. Depending on experience and education, EMS health professionals will serve as emergency medical technicians, educators, supervisors, coordinators, planners, consultants, managers and directors. Additionally, EMS activities are relevant to ambulance providers, fire and rescue services, hospitals, industrial health services, military and volunteer EMS organizations. The solid academic basis of the EHS baccalaureate degree also prepares students for advanced studies in the sciences, medicine, public health, hospital administration and other health management programs. There are two separate tracks within the Department of Emergency Health Services; management and paramedic.

Management Track

Admission to the management track is concurrent with the general admission requirements at UMBC. Both freshman and transfer students must submit university application forms to the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation.

Paramedic Track

The paramedic is a professional provider of emergency care who must possess the essential attributes that are demanded by the profession, including general academic ability, physical abilities, interpersonal relationship skills, capacity for appropriate judgment and orientation toward human services. Class size is limited. EHS paramedic track majors are required to submit a formal application to the paramedic track by March 31, preceding the first semester that the student is eligible to take paramedic clinical courses. All EHS paramedic track lower-division requirements must be completed with a grade of C or higher prior to taking any paramedic clinical courses. The application will be accompanied by: A copy of the student’s Maryland EMT or National Registry EMT certification, current CPR (BCLS) certification, acceptable verification of status of physical health and immunizations, verification of active EMS experience, including documentation of at least 100 patient contacts with assessments prior to the first semester of paramedic clinical courses, four recommendations as suggested by the program, official transcripts from all colleges or university programs, documentation of membership in a Maryland fire or EMS agency, and documentation of a criminal background check by an agency recommended or approved by the program. The application package, including academic record, will be reviewed by a selection committee. Final selection of students will be based on a personal interview, the ability to complete any remaining credit hours of EHS paramedic track lower-division requirements prior to the beginning of the first semester of paramedic clinical courses, results of the criminal background check, the student’s previous emergency care experiences, and an EMT knowledge written examination. Interviews are scheduled in April. Paramedic track students are required to purchase malpractice insurance through the university and clinical uniforms from the department while engaged in clinical and field experience. Students should be aware that some clinical sites require specific vaccinations. Other fees and costs may be associated with participation in clinical and field training. Students are required to provide their own transportation to clinical and field experience sites. Personal health insurance coverage is strongly recommended. The paramedic track is accredited nationally by the Committee on Accreditation of EMS Professions and locally by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems.

Academic Advising

Successful completion of the EHS program requires thoughtful sequencing and careful attention to the program requirements; therefore, early and continuous advising is necessary. Students will be assigned a permanent EHS faculty advisor upon receipt of application forms. Transfer students should seek pre-transfer advising from the UMBC Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation and the EHS Department. The Department of Emergency Health Services welcomes high school students to contact an advisor for information. All UMBC students are required to complete the General Education Program (GEP). Students must take elective courses in science, humanities, social science, culture, and foreign language to fulfill the GEP. Some GEPs coincide with EHS degree requirements. Students are encouraged to work closely with their EHS faculty advisor in selecting GEP courses that will satisfy their individual interests.

Graduate Programs

The Department of Emergency Health Services at UMBC also offers a graduate program leading to a Master of Science degree. The concept of emergency health services graduate study at UMBC encompasses all EMS system components. The educational program is primarily focused on preparing professionals for leadership roles requiring skills in planning, research and development, and organizational operations. The curriculum offers three separate tracks and is designed to provide graduate-level training and education to health care providers, researchers, educators, policy-makers and administrators. This degree is also a core component of the UMB-UMBC post-residency fellowship in emergency medical services. The three major tracks in the program are: (1) EHS management; (2) preventive medicine and epidemiology and (3) education. Tracks 1 and 3 are offered via distance education and enrolls students from around the world. For track two, the department has designed a graduate program incorporating offerings from several university departments at both UMBC and UMB; this track is set up primarily as an online program, but does require some in-person courses to fulfill the track requirements. The EHS degree sequence is designed to fit the needs of part-time as well as full-time students.

Combined B.S./M.S.

Students in the EHS undergraduate program who meet specific qualifications may opt for a combined B.S./M.S. degree that can, under optimal conditions, be completed in five years total time for both degrees.

Part-Time Option

The management track can be completed on a part-time basis. The paramedic track requires full-time status during the junior and senior years.

Special Opportunities

UMBC’s close proximity to and cooperative arrangements with the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) professional schools and the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) provides students unique opportunities for contacts and experiences. Included in the possibilities are: Maryland’s internationally renowned R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, the National Study Center for Trauma/EMS, the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and the John Hopkins Hospital.

Student Organizations

EHS majors, minors and graduate students are encouraged to participate in the Council of Majors.

Programs

• Emergency Health Services, Management Track, B.S.
• Emergency Health Services, Paramedic Track, B.S.

• Emergency Health Services Minor

Courses

• EHS 102 - Emergency Medical Responder
• EHS 115 - Medical Terminology
• EHS 200 - Concepts of Emergency Health Services
• EHS 200Y - Concepts of Emergency Health Services
• EHS 202 - Clinical Concepts and Practice I
• EHS 203 - Clinical Concepts and Practice II
• EHS 204 - BLS Field Experience
• EHS 301 - Planning Emergency Health Systems
• EHS 310 - Seminar in Emergency Health Service Management
• EHS 311 - Stress and Burnout: Personal and Professional Issues
• EHS 320 - Disaster Management
• EHS 330 - Management of Search and Rescue Operations
• EHS 345 - Death and Dying
• EHS 350 - Supervision and Operations in Emergency Health Service Systems
• EHS 351 - Financial Management, Budgeting and Resource Allocation for Emergency Health Administrators.
• EHS 352 - Microcomputer Applications in Health Services Management.
• EHS 360 - Instructional Concepts in Emergency Health Services
• EHS 400 - Emergency Health Services Theory and Practice
• EHS 430 - Research Topics in Emergency Health Services
• EHS 450 - Emergency Health Services Practicum and Seminar
• EHS 461 - Introduction to Paramedic Practice
• EHS 462 - Fundamentals of Patient Management
• EHS 463 - Basics of Cardiology
• EHS 464 - Advanced Cardiac and Respiratory Emergencies
• EHS 465 - Medical Emergencies I
• EHS 466 - Medical Emergencies II
• EHS 467 - Introduction to Trauma Emergencies
• EHS 468 - EMS Capstone Experience
• EHS 470 - Emergency Response to Crisis
• EHS 481 - ALS Field and Clinical Experience I
• EHS 482 - ALS Field and Clinical Experience II
• EHS 483 - ALS Field and Clinical Experience III
• EHS 484 - ALS Field and Clinical Experience IV
• EHS 490 - Independent Study
• EHS 498 - Financial Management and Decision Support for Health Service Organizations

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