Philip R.’s journey in emergency services (EMS) began when he graduated from high school and immediately enrolled in an emergency medical technician (EMT) class at the age of 18. “I was drawn to the EMS world because you have to think outside of the box,” Philip said. “When you go into a patient’s house, you might know that they’re having trouble breathing, but why are they having trouble breathing? I liked the challenge that comes with it and the need to put the pieces of the puzzle together to try to figure out exactly what’s going on.”
“I also like the fact that you literally have the chance to affect someone’s life and make a difference in their life early on in their health care experience,” Philip shared. “Just like anywhere in health care, you can have instances where you meet people who maybe aren’t so friendly, or instances that aren’t the greatest. But then you get the one person or the one call that reminds you of why you do what you do and why you love what you do. And it keeps you moving.”
After working in the field for nearly a decade, Philip reached a point where he was ready for new challenges and opportunities, so he began exploring a career with UPMC’s prehospital care services. “I had run into EMS specialists and people from UPMC prehospital care before, and I was familiar with prehospital coordinators and what they do, and I figured that was something I’d be interested in trying,” he explained.
“I also like the fact that you literally have the chance to affect someone’s life and make a difference in their life early on in their health care experience.”
While working as an EMS specialist for UPMC Shadyside, Philip took the first step on an educational journey that would carry him even farther forward in his career. He completed his associate’s degree in emergency services, and then transferred to a role closer to his home in northwestern Pennsylvania, becoming the EMS specialist for UPMC Jameson and UPMC Horizon.
By this time, Philip had recognized a huge opportunity ahead of him because of the educational benefits provided by UPMC. “The benefits are right there in front of you,” Philip said, “and when you can get an education and it doesn’t cost you anything out-of-pocket other than sticking around with the organization and continuing to get experience, that’s a hard thing to pass up.”
“When I decided to pursue my education further, I spent a significant amount of time looking for the option that best suited me,” Philip shared. “Another great thing about UPMC is that they let you do that, and the benefit is available to you in so many places. I decided to go with Columbia Southern University, because I liked how their program was set up and the face-to-face opportunity I would get with professors.” Philip jumped in headfirst, obtaining his bachelor’s degree in health care administration before continuing on to pursue a master’s degree with the same focus.
"This place will give you everything you need to be successful. All you have to bring is the drive and the commitment.”
Philip is proud to have maximized the benefits that UPMC offered him and completed all three of his degrees for nearly no cost out-of-pocket. “If you do the research and create your schedule in the right way, it will be totally accessible to you. The only thing that I paid for out-of-pocket was the degree audit at the very end of my journey.”
For Philip, the educational experiences were just the beginning, and they paved the way for a journey of accelerated career growth. He now serves as a Director of Operations overseeing three hospitals within the UPMC network: UPMC Jameson, UPMC Horizon, and UPMC Greenville. His role allows him to translate his extensive hands-on experience into leadership and operational management across several areas of the hospitals. “My education was a huge help. It started with my bachelor’s degree, where I learned a lot of things hands-on, and then in my master’s degree, I was able to actually see why we do things the way we do.”
Each step of the way, Philip has felt the support of his leaders and the team around him. “From the Director of Nursing, to the unit director I work side-by-side with, to our vice president, everyone has been supportive and influential to me. I would be in meetings with my leadership team and we’d go through our regular agenda items, but they were always sure to check in and ask, ‘How is school going? What else do you need?’
Despite his leadership role, Philip remains deeply connected to his roots in emergency services. He continues to work a shift on the truck once a week, ensuring he stays grounded and connected to the frontline challenges and experiences. “I love my job, and I make sure that it remains my first priority. But at the same time, I still love the opportunity to go into ‘another world,’ in a sense, where all you have to do is take care of the person in front of you,” he shared. This balance between hands-on work and leadership has earned him the respect and admiration of his team.
“This place will give you everything you need to be successful,” Philip said. “All you have to bring is the drive and the commitment.”
UPMC is committed to offering a Total Rewards package that helps our employees thrive both personally and professionally. In support of our team’s continued growth and education, UPMC offers employees – and their dependents – up to $6,000 per academic year in tuition reimbursement at eligible schools, along with tuition discounts available for UPMC staff at more than 30 colleges and universities. Learn more about the benefits available to UPMC employees below.
