It is a remarkable streak of success by any measure.
For the 15th year in a row, the graduating class of Cambrian’s Paramedic Program received a 100 per cent pass rate on the provincial paramedic certification exam.
Passing the certification exam allows graduates to work as paramedics in Ontario.
“I’m so proud of every student in our program this year,” said Derek McKinnon, professor and co-ordinator of Cambrian’s Paramedic Program.
“They work really hard during the entire time they are here, and these are not easy courses. I want to thank and congratulate the students on this achievement. I also want to thank our support staff, program technicians and administration for their continued support of the program.”
One of this year’s graduates is 32-year-old Jim Stefanko of Sudbury (you might actually recognize his name from his Wolves Fan Review videos carried by Sudbury.com). Five years ago, Stefanko was a bystander, assisting at the scene of a motor vehicle collision. It inspired him to leave his job in the mining sector and go back to school to train as a paramedic.
“That experience made me realize that I wanted to pursue a career in which I could directly help people,” said Stefanko, who went to work after graduation with the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
“The program was tough, especially for me coming back to school as a mature student without a background in the health sciences. But the training was invaluable and it really prepared me for how things are on the road as a paramedic.”
Cambrian College offers both a Primary Care Paramedic program and an Advanced Care Paramedic – Graduate Certificate program.
“We have students coming to this program from across Ontario, because it’s one of the most unique and certainly one of the best in the province, and this year’s results prove that again,” said Bill Best, president of Cambrian College.
“These students had some seriously big shoes to fill with 14 classes before them achieving a 100 per cent pass rate – and they did it. What a legacy Derek and his team have created here at Cambrian.”
