Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City has been working towards its goal of safe staffing for emergency medicine services professionals and respiratory therapists and improving patient care in Obion County and its surrounding communities. The program, which is funded by the Rural Public Health Workforce Training Program grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), provides financial support to students to attend Dyersburg State Community College’s Emergency Medicine program (basic EMT, advanced EMT, paramedic training) and Jackson State Community College’s Respiratory Therapy program. The program covers students’ tuition, uniforms, books, licensure fees, and an annual stipend. 

Students get hands-on experience in EMS and respiratory care career tracks by learning to use ambulance simulators and intubation mannequins. Additionally, Baptist Memorial Hospital has created internships that provide opportunities for students to experience an actual day in the life of a healthcare professional. 

Both programs have achieved the highest enrollment numbers in their history. Students who previously did not know about EMS and respiratory care professions are now working towards a career in these in-demand professions.

Through this hospital and education collaboration, we have helped over 50 emergency medicine students complete the program and several of them now work in northwest Tennessee. The first graduating class of respiratory therapy students will graduate in May 2025. 

Northwest Tennessee’s healthcare workforce has reduced vacant positions and improved staffing at Baptist Memorial Hospital and rural ambulance services in Obion County and surrounding counties.

Andrea Austria Escudero

School: Murray State University

Program: Biology/Pre-Med

"Ever since I was young, hospitals and doctor visits were a regular part of my life—not for myself, but for my younger brother, who was born with Crouzon syndrome. I remember sitting quietly in the corner of exam rooms, watching doctors explain procedures to my mother while she tried to stay strong. I often had to translate medical terms into Spanish for her and explain things in simpler terms. It was in those moments that I realized how deeply healthcare professionals’ impact not just the patient, but the entire family. As I grew older, those experiences became my motivation. I wanted to be the kind of person who could help children like my brother feel safe and heard, and support families like mine during difficult times. My bilingual background, my ability to empathize, and my desire to care for others all pointed me toward becoming a pediatrician."

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