ALTOONA, PA — The Shapiro Administration has announced a new statewide initiative aimed at attracting more Pennsylvanians to careers in emergency medical services (EMS). The program was launched on Thursday at the AMED Authority EMS station in Altoona by Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) Executive Deputy Secretary Kristen Rodack. This comes just ahead of National EMS Week, which runs from May 18–24.
The initiative plans to collaborate with Pennsylvania’s 13 regional EMS councils to host career days, giving residents the opportunity to meet EMS professionals and explore careers through interactive events. Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-2026 budget proposal includes an additional $6 million annually for the next three years to the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund. These funds are expected to assist local EMS agencies with recruitment and retention programs.
“Providing 24-hour access to emergency care is no easy feat because every call for help has unique circumstances and many EMS services are stretched thin,” said Rodack. “We need to work together to create a pipeline of Pennsylvanians who want to serve their communities as EMS professionals.”
The first events of the initiative will take place on Sunday, May 18, in Blair and Mercer counties. Southern Allegheny EMS (SAEMS) Regional Council will host an “EMS Night” baseball game with the Altoona Curve at Peoples Natural Gas Field Stadium starting at 6:00 PM. The event will feature a virtual emergency response simulator.
Meanwhile, a Mercer County career day will occur at Grove City High School, beginning at 1:00 PM. The event will include a screening of the documentary Honorable But Broken: EMS in Crisis, along with interactive sessions allowing attendees to engage with first responders and step into an ambulance.
Pennsylvania’s EMS agencies reported responding to 2.4 million emergency calls in 2024, underscoring the need for a robust workforce. Building on previous investments, including $140 million annually secured under Act 15 and tuition assistance programs introduced in 2024, the effort aims to address staffing shortages and improve services statewide.
With these initiatives, Pennsylvania hopes to ensure its EMS teams are well-equipped to meet growing demands and provide high-quality care to communities in need.
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