Utah Valley University students recently completed the Dominican Republic EMS project, an immersive initiative aimed at turning classroom learning into real-world impact. Developed with Universidad Católica Santo Domingo (UCSD), local hospitals, and parish partners, the project focused on emergency medical services (EMS) education, community training, and cultural exchange. For students, it affirmed not just what they know, but who they are becoming as EMS professionals.
“It was a unique opportunity because of the differences between our [United States] healthcare system and that in the Dominican Republic,” said Donovan Bloom, UVU EMS student. “Being able to go and lend some knowledge was enriching because it gave us the opportunity to review the things we’ve been taught, and then being able to share that allowed us to solidify the things we had learned in a classroom setting.”
Working alongside UCSD and parish leaders, students stepped into educator roles, delivering hands-on classes in airway management and bleeding control. At the project’s conclusion, participants were awarded an official certification of completion through the UVU UNESCO Chair.
“Despite us being early in our careers as parademics, everyone was very open to learning from us,” said student Allison Holmberg. “We also learned a great deal from their expertise and experience. Gaining perspective on how different their healthcare system is from ours showed us that we can learn from their practices just as they can learn from ours, helping all of us become better at what we do.”
Midway through the trip, the students confronted a real‑world test of their training when they witnessed a serious traffic accident in which a minibus lost its brakes, collided with multiple vehicles, and struck two people on a motorcycle. The students jumped into action immediately, freeing victims trapped beneath the bus and relying on their training to provide aid with only their hands.
“This happened about seven days in, so we had a chance to see their hospital system and what their physicians were capable of, but we hadn’t yet had the chance to experience what their first responders did,” said student Braxton Zirker. “It was very eye-opening to see, through this experience, just how different their first response system is.” The moment revealed clear opportunities for future training and collaboration.
Through teaching, service, and real-world response, UVU’s Dominican Republic EMS project empowered students to step forward as providers, educators, and leaders with clarity, confidence, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be ready when it matters most.
