Reading Hospital Foundation has partnered with the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences to offer tuition scholarships to eight incoming students in the school's Paramedic Education Program. This is the first year the scholarships are being awarded for the program, which admits new classes of students every August.
The Reading Hospital Foundation, which funds innovation, education and research projects that improve healthcare in our community, is funding seven of the eight tuition scholarships. One scholarship, being given from the newly formed Charles F. Barbera, MD, Chairman's Scholarship Fund - Paramedic Education, covers tuition and all fees, and is awarded to the top candidate. Dr. Barbera is the Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine at Reading Hospital.
"The Reading Hospital Foundation is grateful to Dr. Barbera for his support of paramedic education and his desire to make an impact on educating paramedic students. Along with Dr. Barbera, the Reading Hospital Foundation recognizes the high-standard of clinical excellence expected by the paramedic curriculum and these scholarships will provide students the opportunities to receive the best training in their field", said Rachael Scheffler, Reading Hospital Foundation, Director of Development.
The scholarship winners are Anthony Hillen, winner of the Charles F. Barbera Scholarship; Ryan Lawler; Derek Dry; Kristin Howerter; Amanda Beres; Matthew Lex; Eric Wachter; and Ryan McCloskey.
The Emergency Medical Services faculty selected the scholarship winners based on the candidates' work experience, including all past experiences as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), and a written essay on "Why I Deserve the Scholarship."
The school's Paramedic Education Program offers the highest level of prehospital care training in advanced life support and includes academic, clinical, and field experiences. Enrollment is limited to certified EMTs and AEMTs with at least one year of experience in emergency care. Graduates of the program are qualified to take the National Registry Exam for paramedics.
The program has received accreditation from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Reading Hospital
Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 714-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for four consecutive years and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.