The Retriever Emergency & Disaster Health Pathway (REDHelP) is a program to support high school and college students through education, professional training, and certification for a career in the field. The UMBC Emergency Disaster & Health Systems department (EDHS) partners with the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) and Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS) to provide students, starting in their junior year of high school, with academic support, career training, experiential learning, and industry credentials. REDHelP participants can continue their education at UMBC toward a bachelor’s degree in EDHS, with the opportunity to transfer 6 course credits earned through the program, and graduate with career support including job placement and advancement into leadership roles.
Scroll down or click the links below to see the process:
Phase 1: High School Foundation
Phase 2: Undergraduate Degree & Pathway Training
Phase 3: Graduation & Job Placement
Phase 1: High School Foundation
Junior Year HCPSS
- Recruitment: Recruitment begins, and applications open for Pathway fall/spring semester when students are identified as interested in the Academy EMT program
- Onboarding/Intake in spring semester
- Academic Obtainment: Health Professions Academy programming
- Experiential Learning: Pathway program to provide experiential experience/Kick-off
Senior Year HCPSS
- Academic Curriculum: Complete 6 UMBC college credit hours.
- Credentialing: Successful completion of the Maryland/National Registry EMT (NREMT) certification during senior year.
- Experiential Learning: Initial clinical rotations and observation shifts coordinated through local healthcare partners.
- Pathway Elements: High school bridge advising to ensure college readiness in math and sciences, as well as career readiness training.
- UMBC application fee waiver, UMBC admissions guidance, transfer up to 6 credits
Phase 2: UMBC Undergraduate Degree & Pathway Training
Academic Experience
- Major Focus: Emergency health systems, disaster preparedness, planning, and crisis management.
- UMBC Wrap-Around Services:
- Academic Support: Dedicated EDHS faculty advisors and peer-led study groups for core science and management courses.
- Career Training: Professional development workshops focusing on leadership, public speaking, and emergency service administration.
- Experiential Learning: Credit-bearing internships where students apply classroom theory to real-world disaster simulations.
- Industry Credentials: Support for maintaining NREMT status and obtaining FEMA-level ICS (Incident Command System) certifications (100, 200, 700, 800).
- Mentorship: Students are paired with veteran Fire/EMS officers to learn the culture and operational standards of HCDFRS.
- Skill Advancement: Eligibility for Paramedic training tracks or specialized rescue certifications during the summer bridge periods.
- Physical Fitness: Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) test prep (PDF)
Phase 3: Graduation & Professional Career Entry
- Final Credential: B.S. in Emergency and Disaster Health Systems from UMBC.
- Employment Transition: Job Placement support
- Career Trajectory: Advancement into leadership roles such as Lieutenant, Captain, or Emergency Management Director.
Potential Job Paths
Graduates from our emergency & disaster health programs find employment in a range of sectors and positions or continue their education. These are roles found across local, state, and US government agencies, as well as the private and non-profit sectors
- Emergency Management Specialist, Director, or Chief
- Public health and medical preparedness managers
- Health services managers
- Healthcare emergency manager/planner
- Management leader
- Disaster assistance specialist
- Emergency planner
- Public Health Preparedness Officer
- Disaster Recovery Planner/Specialist
- Emergency and disaster analyst
- Emergency and disaster management consultant
- Federal, state, county, city government emergency operation or health management roles
- Paramedic in municipal/county EMS Flight or critical care paramedic
- Hospital/transport paramedic
- Supervisory, educational, or administrative positions
- Pathway to PA, medical school, or graduate programs