{"687668":{"#nid":"687668","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Students Making a Difference: EMTs Juggle Schoolwork and Emergency Medicine","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EMany Georgia Tech students spend their free time studying, relaxing, or working part-time jobs. But for students who work as emergency medical technicians (EMTs), their time outside the classroom includes responding to medical emergencies \u2014\u0026nbsp;and helping patients when every minute counts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s literally life or death sometimes,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBrandon Brigner\u003C\/strong\u003E, a fall 2025 biochemistry graduate now pursuing a master\u2019s in chemistry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFour Georgia Tech students share their experiences on the front lines of medicine as EMTs, including Brigner;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELianna Homrich\u003C\/strong\u003E, a fourth-year biology major;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDaeun \u201cEsther\u201d Lee\u003C\/strong\u003E, a third-year biomedical engineering major; and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EKrishna Monroe\u003C\/strong\u003E, a third-year neuroscience major. Brigner, Homrich, and Monroe work as EMTs on ambulances while Lee serves as a technician at Emory University Hospital Midtown. Each plans a career in medicine and serves on the leadership team for\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/emsat\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;EMS at Tech\u003C\/a\u003E, a student organization dedicated to expanding access to and knowledge of emergency medical services on campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy become an EMT?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAll four agree that EMT work offers unmatched medical experience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cYou can show up on someone\u2019s worst day and immediately make a difference\u003Cem\u003E,\u201d\u003C\/em\u003E says Lee.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EHomrich started exploring EMT work after realizing she needed clinical hours for the pre-health track. \u201cThe adrenaline and lifesaving aspect appealed to me. I knew I\u2019d learn so much from living the hands-on side of medicine.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBrigner began working as an EMT in high school.\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u201cI wanted to get started on my pre-med journey,\u201d\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003Ehe explains\u003Cem\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u201cBecoming an EMT is one of the most powerful medical experiences you can have \u2014\u0026nbsp;and it\u2019s definitely solidified my decision to pursue medicine as a career.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s the job like?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EMonroe first joined an ambulance crew with American Medical Response in DeKalb County and now works for Grady Health System. \u201cAt a basic level, our job is to stabilize patients and get them to the hospital safely,\u201d says Monroe.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBrigner explains that most ambulance EMTs split time between emergency calls, special events, and transfers. \u201cIt can be intense,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen everything goes well, you can seriously change someone\u2019s life trajectory.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EMonroe adds that there is no typical shift on an ambulance. \u201cWe\u2019ve had anything from people shot in the chest to someone struggling to breathe to someone experiencing abdominal pain because they are hungry. You respond where the public needs you.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat do you like best about being an EMT?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EHomrich appreciates the people. \u201cYou\u2019re on a truck for 12 hours with career paramedics who spend their lives saving others. Many are former military; I learn something new every shift. They\u2019re heroes.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELee values the teamwork she finds at the hospital. \u201cUsually when something very high acuity comes in, like a cardiac arrest,\u0026nbsp;you have everyone in the emergency room acting as a team. We\u2019re doing chest compressions, checking in with each other, and switching out when needed. Everyone is there in this very stressful time, working together to save someone\u2019s life.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow does EMT work prepare you for careers in medicine?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EEMT work offers solid medical experience and critical soft skills. \u201cYou\u2019re making decisions about real patients,\u201d says Monroe. \u201cYou have your own patient, sometimes with no help for 30-45 minutes, depending on how long it takes to get to the hospital. It\u2019s the best clinical experience you can get.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELee adds, \u201cIt teaches creativity, problem solving, and composure under pressure \u2014\u0026nbsp;skills you can\u2019t learn from a textbook. You learn to stay composed in chaos.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow do you balance school and work?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAll four agree that it takes a lot of organization and discipline. \u201cHaving a good calendar system is key, and strategically scheduling classes really helps,\u201d says Homrich. \u201cI\u2019ve definitely fallen into traps where I get really into EMS \u2014\u0026nbsp;picking up cool events or overnight shifts for bonuses \u2014\u0026nbsp;but I\u2019ve learned to make schoolwork a priority. Academics come first.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELee primarily works weekends to accommodate her school schedule. \u201cI work 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays,\u201d she says. \u201cI get most of my studying done during the week.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat kind of training does it take to become an EMT?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EMonroe is an Advanced EMT while Brigner, Homrich, and Lee hold the EMT Basic designation. Training includes coursework, skills testing, and clinical ride-alongs. To become an EMT, students must complete training, earn National Registry EMT certification, and apply for a state license.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe real learning happens during clinicals or \u2018third rides,\u2019 where you ride along as the third person on the truck,\u201d says Homrich.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EMonroe estimates that he has spent more than 600 hours studying and training to earn both certifications.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECan you describe a meaningful moment in your EMT career?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBeyond the life-saving thrills, these students encounter moments that stay with them forever.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBrigdon remembers an incident from his very first day as an EMT:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe were transporting a patient up from the depths of the D.C. subway. After putting him on the gurney, we took the escalator instead of the elevator. The fire crew saw us and immediately let us know that wasn\u2019t the right move. Listening to their angry feedback put into perspective how serious this job is and the life-changing implications of doing it right. That moment taught me that every decision matters.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EHomrich remembers leading an \u201chonor walk,\u201d a ceremony to honor organ donors and support their families, for a deceased teenage patient being transferred for organ donation:\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cAt 19 years old, I wheeled a son away from his mother for the last time, knowing she\u2019d never see him again. It was heavy but also meaningful because his sacrifice would create so much life. That moment reminded me how much trust people place in us \u2014\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003Eand the importance of what we do.\u201d\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is Emergency Medical Services at Tech (EMS at Tech)?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA student organization dedicated to improving emergency medical care on campus, the club partners with Grady EMS and the Georgia Tech Police Department to respond to medical emergencies, lead CPR and first aid classes, and provide clinical opportunities for members.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cEMS at Tech is a community where you can nerd out and share your passion for emergency medicine,\u201d says Homrich, the club\u2019s vice president.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003E\u201c\u003C\/em\u003EWhen you\u2019re with friends at lunch, no one wants to hear about applying a tourniquet for an arterial bleed. But at EMS at Tech, everyone is an emergency medicine enthusiast who wants to share experiences.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELast semester, the group trained more than 160 students, faculty, and staff in CPR\/AED and supported campus events like Homecoming and Halloween. EMS at Tech also guides students pursuing EMS certifications and helps administer the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/emsat\/todd-family-fund-scholarship\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Todd Family Fund EMS Scholarship\u003C\/a\u003E, which covers tuition for Grady EMS Academy classes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFour Georgia Tech students share what it\u2019s like to balance rigorous coursework with the high-stakes world of emergency medicine.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Four Georgia Tech students share what it\u2019s like to balance rigorous coursework with the high-stakes world of emergency medicine."}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2026-01-26 16:35:54","changed_gmt":"2026-02-03 15:11:29","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-26T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-26T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679085":{"id":"679085","type":"image","title":"From L to R: Krishna Monroe, president of EMS at GT; Lianna Homrich, vice president of EMS at GT;\u00a0 Daeun \u201cEsther\u201d Lee, outreach director of EMS at GT; and Brandon Brigner, CPR officer of EMS at GT.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom L to R: Krishna Monroe, president of EMS at GT; Lianna Homrich, vice president of EMS at GT;\u0026nbsp; Daeun \u201cEsther\u201d Lee, outreach director of EMS at GT; and Brandon Brigner, CPR officer of EMS at GT.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1769446300","gmt_created":"2026-01-26 16:51:40","changed":"1769540357","gmt_changed":"2026-01-27 18:59:17","alt":"Four students stand in front of emergency sign.","file":{"fid":"263217","name":"cropped2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/26\/cropped2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/26\/cropped2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2519783,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/26\/cropped2.jpg?itok=8KDP-jjh"}},"679090":{"id":"679090","type":"image","title":"EMS at Tech members provide medical support during campus events like Halloweekend.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEMS at Tech members provide medical support during campus events like Halloweekend.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1769454300","gmt_created":"2026-01-26 19:05:00","changed":"1769455091","gmt_changed":"2026-01-26 19:18:11","alt":"Students stand in front of an ambulance.","file":{"fid":"263207","name":"IMG_0843.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/26\/IMG_0843.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/26\/IMG_0843.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4198068,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/26\/IMG_0843.jpeg?itok=a2uRzRK_"}}},"media_ids":["679085","679090"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/bill-todd-grady-emergency-medical-technician-scholarship.html","title":" Professor Bill Todd Creates Grady Emergency Medical Technician Scholarship for Georgia Tech Students"},{"url":"https:\/\/gatech.co1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_bmyFvzfsUGiuGsm","title":"Pre-Health Advising"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"}],"categories":[{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"5170","name":"pre-health"},{"id":"192259","name":"cos-students"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaura Segraves Smith\u003C\/a\u003E, writer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}