Del Mar College

History

The Emergency Medical Services Professions program has existed at Del Mar College since the early ‘80’s. It first existed as a non-credit program working closely with the Corpus Christi Fire Department.

In 1998, Dave Jackson, Program Director, converted the program to credit and began offering certificates in EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate; and EMT-Paramedic.

When Mr. Jackson left in 1999, Walter Thieme, Director of the Fire Science program, took over the EMS program and led the effort to bring the program in line with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Workforce Education Course Manual.

In 2000, Chris Black accepted the position of EMSP Program Director. The program soon began offering a Paramedic Associates in Applied Science degree and has grown from 35 enrolled students and 58 majors in 2000 to 140 enrolled students and 125 majors in 2005. This growth was facilitated by Patrick McBride, Clinical Coordinator, and the very capable adjunct faculty.

The EMSP program became a part of the newly created Department of Public Safety Education in 2001. This new department combined EMSP; Fire Science/Fire Academy; Occupational Safety and Health Technology; and the Del Mar Regional Police Academy. This new organization has created a synergy between the programs and has led to many collaborative efforts between them.

In January of 2007, the EMSP program, along with the other programs of the Department moved into its new $11 million facility. The facility features larger EMS labs; larger, better-equipped classrooms; and training field facilities that feature a residence simulation; office tower simulation; confined space props; and driver training pad.

The EMSP program thanks the Del Mar College Board of Regents; the Del Mar College Administration; the local EMS and healthcare community; and the generous citizens of the Del Mar College district for their overwhelming and continued support of the program.