Chicago – Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service recently partnered with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to launch an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) internship program for high school students. This innovative program provided students with foundational emergency medical training and a real-world look into a career in emergency medical services.
Over the month of July, five CPS high school students participated in classes at Instituto del Progreso Latino, a centrally located training site chosen to help reduce transportation barriers. The internship was funded in partnership by CPS and Superior. Students received a stipend from CPS while completing this training, and Superior funded the cost of the class.
Students graduated from the EMR internship program on August 1, with three already taking the next step in their medical career by enrolling in Superior’s Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training course.
An EMR is often the first medical professional to respond to emergencies. Through this internship program, students learned life-saving skills such as patient assessment, CPR, injury management, and stabilization of patients prior to hospital transport.
Following their training, students are now licensed in Illinois, which is a necessary step toward advancing in their career as EMTs or paramedics. This partnership between Superior and CPS helps put students on a path toward meaningful, well-paying careers without requiring a traditional four-year college degree.
“Unique partnerships between businesses and educators are essential to strengthening our workforce development system and creating a robust pipeline of future EMS professionals,” said Kim Godden, Vice President of Legal, Government Relations, Corporate Compliance, and Education at Superior Ambulance. “We’re not just meeting the growing demand for emergency responders, we’re cultivating a stronger, community-rooted healthcare workforce right here within Chicago.”
Through this innovative partnership, Superior Ambulance and CPS are cultivating the next generation of emergency responders, while investing in Chicago’s public health, safety, and economic future. This marks the second consecutive summer Superior has partnered with the CPS internship program. Last year, students gained hands-on experience by cleaning and restocking ambulances. This year, the partnership expanded to offer formal medical training through the EMR course, opening even greater pathways into the EMS profession.
“We are proud to partner with Superior Ambulance to offer this unique opportunity to our students,” said Maria Bucio, Executive Director of Early College and Career Education at Chicago Public Schools. “Programs like the EMR course reflect our commitment to career-connected learning, ensuring CPS students graduate with real-world skills and a clear path to rewarding professions that serve our communities.”