Course INSTRUCTORS

Amy Sanderson, RI #11706 | amy_sanderson@brown.edu (she/her/hers)

Amy, a RI AEMT-Cardiac, has worked at Brown EMS since 2002 and has led the department since 2007. Other EMS experience includes the Warren Fire Department, where Amy served as a Rescue Lieutenant for more than seven years and was also active with the Special Hazards Unit and the Marine Rescue Unit. Before EMS consumed her, Amy taught high school English, middle school English, and adult education courses for many years, so you may notice a few random literary quotes inserted into the course content. Amy has also taught as an Adjunct Faculty in the Paramedic Technology Associates Degree Program at New England Institute of Technology. She is currently in the process of learning and becoming a wildlife rehabilitator and spends free time volunteering at the RI Wildlife Clinic, hiking, and gardening.

Camilo Ramirez | camilo_ramirez@brown.edu (he/him/his)

Camilo Ramirez is a BEMS BLS Supervisor who just graduated from Brown (ScB in Biology with a track in Immunobiology).  This year, Camilo served as the BEMS Training Officer and worked closely with our Medical Director, Dr. Asselin, to develop Case Reviews and other training events for our ambulance corps. He is originally from Central Falls, Rhode Island--about ten minutes from campus, but his family is from Colombia.  Camilo grew up speaking Spanish as his first language and loves to visit family in South America.  Camilo thinks of himself as a sneakerhead, has a great sense of humor, and is very excited to lead the Skills Instructors this summer as he continues his clinical work at BEMS. 

Saadhya Bahudodda | saadhya_bahudodda@brown.edu (she/her/hers)

Saadhya is a rising senior who is studying Biology. She has been an EMT since 2020 and spent the past year working at BEMS, where she has recently joined the Officer Board as a Training Officer. Saadhya played the oboe for 8 years, loves finding new restaurants and cafés in Providence, and enjoys plant-based food options! Saadyha loves her work at BEMS, where she is continuously learning.  She hopes to pass on some of what she's learned and is excited to be our Curriculum Lead.

Evan Ren | evan_ren@brown.edu (he/him/his)

Evan is a rising junior (class of 2025) studying Biomedical Engineering.   He started as an EMT at BEMS during our final group of "pandemic recruits" who onboarded during strange and unsettled times for our service.  Evan is from Spanish Fort, Alabama, but was born in Canada. He brags that he can name 75% of all Ariana Grande songs within the first three seconds of playing, and if you don't believe him,  please challenge him because we would all like proof of this.  Evan is excited to work with EMT students, especially in his role as the Simulation Lead!  

Helena Bates |helena_bates@brown.edu (she/her/hers)

Helena is a rising senior studying Public Health, French, and Francophone Studies.  She came to BEMS after working for Professional Ambulance last summer and spent the past semester studying abroad in Paris. Helena has found it fascinating to learn about the stark differences between and the French and American healthcare systems, including how different the respective EMS systems are. Because French EMS systems often include many specialists and/or physicians, EMTs have a much smaller scope of practice and their primary roles are to drive the ambulances. Helena looks forward to sharing some of her knowledge of the French healthcare system and diving back into EMS as an EMT and course instructor this summer. 

Finja Scholz |finja_scholz@brown.edu (she/her/hers)

Finja is a rising senior studying Biomedical Engineering.  From Wilmette, Illinois (just north of Chicago), Finja actually moved here from Germany and is fluent in German. She started at BEMS with our inaugural First Responder class and subsequently became an EMT.  Finja has a leadership role with the BEMS community emergency response team has been helping to onboard new First Responders.   When she is not at BEMS, you might find her working in her research lab designing a cell-based cardiac implant, or re-watching Lord of the Rings for the 179th time.   Finja claims to hold two world records along with some of her high school classmates, but it is unclear if this has anything to do with Ariana Grande. She is looking forward to spending her second summer here on the east coast, and teaching this course.

Selena Sheth |selena_sheth@brown.edu (she/her/hers)

Selena is a rising senior studying Medical Anthropology and Biology.  Before heading away this past semester to study abroad in Copenhagen, Selena worked as an EMT at BEMS and also with the Warren Rescue Squad here in RI.   She is from Dallas, Texas, so is very happy to be in Providence, escaping the heat this summer.  Selena's fun fact is that she starts to cry when she laughs really hard, so be ready for that... EMS is fun and we laugh a lot.   Selena is excited to be teaching this course and laughing/crying with you all!

Jasper Yeh |jasper_yeh@brown.edu (he/him/his)

Jasper is a rising senior who is studying Public Health and has been an EMT at BEMS since the beginning of 2022.  Jasper also loves to take anthropology courses and enjoys writing. Being from Taiwan, he has been heavily involved in the International Mentoring Program and  absolutely loves the international student community at Brown. Jasper is also a tour guide for Brown, and can share some fun facts (or objectively funny jokes) about Brown or help you navigate campus. When the weather is nice, you can find him taking aimless walks around the city or exploring running paths such as the East Bay Bike Path and Blackstone Boulevard.  Strangely, Jasper has a growing collection of giraffe plushies of varying sizes, and his airpods case is also a giraffe.   There may be a good story behind that, and Jasper will be excited to share it with you as he helps you become an EMT--one of his most rewarding experiences at Brown.

Danielle Whisnant |danielle_whisnant@brown.edu (she/her/hers)

Danielle is a rising junior from Berkeley, California studying APMA-Bio and IAPA.  She joins BEMS from Georgetown EMS (which is not GEMS; it is actually GERMS)! At Georgetown, Danielle worked as an EMT and training instructor before coming to Brown. Danielle loves her cats (two adorable ones) and reading. Her favorite book is The God of Small Things, and she looks forward to sharing more about that as well as her EMS knowledge during the summer!