Detroit Fire Department announces first department-run paramedic class

30 Detroit EMTs currently enrolled in accelerated Paramedic course
Partnership with Wayne County Community College District key to program’s success
Detroiters to benefit from more highly trained members responding to medical runs

The Detroit Fire Department (DFD) has launched its first-ever department-run paramedic training class in partnership with Wayne County Community College District, marking a historic investment in the future of emergency medical services in the city. On Tuesday, June 17, members of the media were invited to observe hands-on training at the Walter P. Harris Regional Training Center and meet the instructors and firefighter EMTs participating in the groundbreaking program.

Unlike traditional paramedic programs, which require firefighters to train on their own time and at their own expense, Detroit’s in-house course pays current EMT-certified firefighters to complete their training on duty. The department is excited to offer a paid, department-led pathway to paramedic certification—an initiative which can serve as a potential model for others across the state and beyond.

“This is a game-changer for the Detroit Fire Department,” said Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms. “We are creating opportunity from within, strengthening our workforce, and accelerating our ability to provide advanced life support services to Detroiters when they need it most. It’s not just training—it’s transformation.”

DFD Paramedic class pic1 — Detroit EMT and Paramedic Student Danielle Nunn practices putting in an IV in the Advanced Life Support skills lab at the Detroit Fire Department Walter P. Harris Regional Training Center.

The class, which meets five days a week, compresses what is traditionally an 18 to 24-month process into an intensive 10-month program. Once students complete 500 hours of classroom learning, 600 hours of clinical experience, and pass the national certification exam, they will be eligible to serve as licensed paramedics.

“By investing in our members and equipping them with this advanced training, we’re investing directly in patient care,” said Dr. Robert Dunne, Medical Director for the Detroit Fire Department. “Paramedics can perform many of the same interventions as hospital emergency room teams—and in many cases, they’re the first and only care a patient receives before reaching the hospital. This is about improving outcomes for our citizens.”

DFD Paramedic class pic2 — Being able to interpret a heart rhythm is something Paramedic students learn. This skill can make a huge difference in patient outcomes when responding to those experiencing cardiac emergencies.

The Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP) for the Commission of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accreditation is required to run an advanced paramedic class and can be difficult to attain for many institutions. This challenge was overcome thanks to a partnership between Wayne County Community College District and the Detroit Fire Department, allowing the DFD Regional Training Center to become an authorized WCCCD Alternate education center for paramedicine. Through the agreement, members of the Detroit Fire Department are now able to receive college credits for their Fire and EMS certifications and fast-track them to an associate degree in applied science.

The long-term goal of the program is to increase the number of Advanced Life Support (ALS) EMS units available on Detroit streets each day, ensuring more medical calls are answered by teams capable of delivering immediate, high-level care.

DFD Paramedic class pic3 — Detroit EMT and Paramedic student Peter Hurley practices inserting an IV, something that can only be done on scene by personnel using their Advanced Life Support training.

“We’ve never done this before, and we’re proud to be leading the way,” said Captain Jamal Mickles, who oversees the DFD Training Division. “Our members are motivated, focused, and determined to serve this city at the highest possible level. This program gives them the tools to do exactly that.”

As this inaugural class advances toward graduation, the department is already looking ahead at how future cohorts can continue to strengthen the quality and reach of Detroit’s emergency medical response.