34 Paramedics Graduate from Academy

34 FDNY paramedics graduated from the Academy on March 30.

A packed crowd cheered as 34 new paramedics graduated from the EMS Academy on March 30.

“The average life expectancy in New York City is now greater than the country as a whole … and part of that is because of our paramedics,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg during the ceremony at FDNY Headquarters. “You come to the aid of your fellow New Yorkers at their worst hour.”

Five of the graduates have relatives who have served with the FDNY.

“You are the future of the FDNY EMS Command,” said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. “Be proud of yourselves today, because all of us are very proud of you as well. You make this city a better place.”

The new paramedics speak a dozen different languages, including Farsi, Korean, Creole, Mandarin, Romanian, Greek and Tagalog. 

A paramedic is congratulated after the ceremony.

Two of the graduates are veterans of the U.S. military, Paramedic Francisco Espadas served in the Army’s 69th Infantry division and Paramedic Jose Morales served in the Navy. 

“Tomorrow, whether you are transmitting a 12 lead EKG to a physician on a STEMI patient or monitoring victims of a fire … you will be saving lives,” Chief of EMS John Peruggia said. “Be proud of it and be prepared.”

Paramedic Joseph Daly was named class valedictorian.

Nine of the graduates already have made pre-hospital saves and two of them delivered three babies while on duty.

Paramedic Nancy Castle said she was surprised she got the chance to assist at a baby delivery, remembering she “just helped as much as I could.”

She said the experience confirmed why she joined the EMS Command, because “I like being there to help when I’m really needed.”

Paramedic Caleb Laues noted that he joined for the same reason, “I like being able to help people and what better way to do it than to save a life?”

The graduates included:

Paramedic Basic Program

Lt. Linda Carlson
EMT Stephen Carpenter
EMT Nancy Castle
EMT Brent Charles
EMT Dwaynne Coley
EMT Jessica Cruz
EMT Joseph Daly ¨
EMT Jose Delgado
EMT Francisco Espadas
EMT John Eyzaguirre
EMT Lee Fleming
EMT Alfredo Gaw
EMT Sean Josten
EMT Sikinia Kemp
EMT Yonatan Klein
EMT Erica Krasilovsky
EMT Caleb Laues
EMT Hyo Lee
EMT Sylvia Martinez
EMT Matthew McBroom
EMT Alexandru Mihailescu
EMT Jose Morales
EMT Said Mustafa
EMT Makesi Oliver
EMT Niall O'Shaughnessy
EMT Melissa Ovalle
EMT Julio Padilla
EMT Asya Pendergrass
EMT Latasha Pierre
EMT Kevin Ramdayal
EMT Braulio Roman
EMT Glen Taylor
EMT Georgios Zervos

Paramedic Upgrade Program

EMT Gloria Kim