July 7, 2009

PARK HILLS – Emergency medical services instructors traveled from far and wide to attend a national course at Mineral Area College recently.

May 15-17, MAC hosted the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) Instructor Course, which was only the second time the course has been offered in Missouri. More than 30 attended, including MAC’s own EMS education director, Dean Meenach, and adjunct EMS instructor David Stark.

"What I really valued from the course was sharing challenges and finding solutions with the other instructors," Meenach said. "Because EMS education can be a very taxing profession, it’s important to renew your passion every once in awhile. Where you find your passion, you will find your purpose."

The course was attended by veteran and new instructors as well as people from across the country. "We even had a participant from California," Meenach said.

Stark said the course was "incredible."

"I was a little concerned about being a new instructor surrounded by such veteran experience," he said, "but interacting with the participants really maximized my learning."

NAEMSE is the professional organization for EMS instructors that promotes educational excellence and lifelong learning. The instructor course involved 20 hours of online learning prior to the intense three-day interactive course. Some of the topics of instruction included learning styles, the domains of learning, teaching critical thinking, and legal and ethical issues.

The Paramedic Program is offered through Mineral Area College department of Allied Health. The next class begins in August.

For more information about training in Emergency Medical Services, including the EMT-B and Paramedic programs, contact Dean Meenach, Director of EMS Education, at 573-518-2113.

Please visit their website at

www.Mineralarea.edu.