Cherokee Nation Emergency Medical Services is launching a new paramedic education program to train new paramedic providers and help address the shortages being experienced across the United States, including within some Cherokee communities.

The comprehensive education program spans approximately 18 months and includes both didactic and clinical opportunities. Students will have the opportunity to apply this experience toward an associate’s degree.

“Many of our Cherokee communities are faced with a growing need for more emergency medical services personnel, similar to the shortages being experienced across the country,” says Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “Cherokee Nation’s paramedic education program is a great opportunity to develop valuable skills and for those training to become paramedics to eventually serve their communities. This program also has an opportunity to strengthen our workforce and contribute to improved quality of life for our Cherokee communities in northeast Oklahoma.”

The curriculum is designed to ensure graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of the profession and provide exceptional care in emergency situations. The program features a thorough application process to ensure all candidates meet the necessary prerequisites and are prepared for the rigors of paramedic training.

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Cherokee Nation EMS for more information and to start the application process by emailing paramedicclass@ cherokee.org. Leaders from the Cherokee Nation gathered earlier this year to break ground on a new, state-of-theart, 61,500-squarefoot public safety building that will be located in Tahlequah near the tribe’s current EMS and Marshal Service facilities. The groundbreaking marked the beginning of construction on a new facility that is poised to provide comprehensive support through the tribe’s emergency medical services, emergency management, emergency dispatch operations and the ability to offer comprehensive training initiatives. The public safety building represents a critical investment in emergency relief efforts for the Cherokee Nation, and is being funded through American Rescue Plan Act funding.

In 2022, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Warner announced a $54 million investment into the tribe’s EMS program after meeting with the EMS staff and soliciting feedback from the department while discussing plans to bolster facilities and fleet services. The proposal was later approved by the Council of the Cherokee Nation.

Along with the new $50 million public safety building, the tribe is also purchasing a fleet of new ambulances, which are set to arrive later this year.