Courtney Koch

DuBois native Courtney Koch is a young mom with big career aspirations. Currently an emergency medical technician (EMT) student at NPRC, she hopes to continue her training and eventually become a certified paramedic. Her reason for pursuing this career pathway came from a personal experience of her own.

A couple years ago, Koch was pregnant with her fifth child. While it was a normal pregnancy, the delivery was far from ordinary. She was unable to make it to the hospital and with the help of her mom, she successfully gave birth at home while waiting for public safety professionals to arrive. This experience made her think about how she could make a difference in her community.

Koch had previously worked in different positions in healthcare, and this experience inspired her to return to the industry, this time as an EMT.  “I love to help people and have been passionate about the medical setting for as long as I can remember,” shared Koch. “We have amazing professionals and volunteers around us, but there’s a genuine need for more of them in rural Pennsylvania. My dad helped me contact the Brockway Ambulance, and they recommended the program at NPRC. My stepdad and mom also supported me financially by paying for the course. I appreciate them all for helping and supporting me. It’s been a great experience so far.”

Koch is able to balance her role as a mom by being a remote student. The EMT program at NPRC provides remote lectures and scheduled times for in-person clinical and lab training. Koch also schedules time at Brockway Ambulance to complete hands-on training that will help prepare her to provide care to individuals in need. Alongside her EMT course, Koch has also attended various continuing education courses over the last several months to help her learn more about public safety. She’s attended courses on emergency vehicle operations, caring for diverse patients, and EMS safety. “These opportunities have been very meaningful for me and Dave Pelachik is a great instructor. He’s very down-to-earth and his experience in the industry is amazing. If we don’t understand something, he explains it again and takes time to help each of us the best he can. His knowledge doesn’t just come from a book, but it also comes from his experience.”

Koch is also grateful for the support she's received from her parents and children. Her kids have continually shared how proud they are of their mom for pursuing this career pathway. She also carries the support of her late grandmother with her as she works towards her goals. Not long after she registered for the course, Koch’s grandmother passed away. But she passed knowing that her granddaughter was getting ready to take this next step. She shared how proud she was of Courtney or pursuing something that could make a difference in her life and community.

Being an EMT student at NPRC is far from easy and requires some early mornings and late nights to ensure she has the time to study and continue progressing in the course. Along the way, Koch also received a diagnosis that brought both clarity and relief. She was formally diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and is now on medication that’s been genuinely life-changing in a positive way. It’s helped her in many regards, especially in reaching her potential in the classroom and as a public safety professional.

Recent years have certainly been filled with challenges for Courtney Koch, but with support from her family and the team at NPRC, she’s changing her life and brightening her future. At the same time, she is working toward a career that will allow her to make a difference in her community through healthcare and public safety. “I have nothing but great things to share about my NPRC experience so far. They’ve helped bring renewed faith and some stability to my life. I know I can become a great provider with the help of NPRC. This is a gem of a program, and I hope more people will realize that, despite what they may have going on, this program makes it possible to become an EMT because it is flexible and accessible due to the hybrid format. The staff has also been nothing but helpful to me. Hopefully more people will realize this is a great option from my area in DuBois,” she said.

We are #NPRCProud of you, Courtney! Keep up the great work. We cannot wait to continue supporting you as you become an EMT and work towards becoming a paramedic one day.