Courage and Compassion

In this episode of Flight of the Firebirds, physics teacher and EMT program moderator Mr. Paul Ditrano explores Kellenberg Memorial’s 15-year partnership with the Nassau County EMS Academy and the impact of its student EMT training program. He is joined by seniors Caroline Davide ’26 and Rima Courgi ’26, along with alumna Erin Moore-Salomone ’13, who now works as a cardiothoracic ICU nurse at Northwell Health and recently completed Hofstra University’s Doctor of Nurse Practitioner program. Together, they reflect on how EMT training served as a gateway into medicine and shaped their academic and professional paths. They discuss the value of teamwork, hands-on clinical skills beyond the classroom, and building confidence in patient interaction, communication, and vital signs assessment. The conversation highlights immersive scenario-based training, a renewed appreciation for the men and women who serve our communities, and the value of this unique, hands-on experience being afforded at the high school level.