Huntsville-native Mardaisha Derrick grew up around the healthcare field and always had a passion for helping others. But in her early twenties, she felt stuck without a clear path toward that passion. She found herself on the periphery, working as a housekeeper and then floor tech at Regency Retirement Living. Then, one moment of praise gave her the faith to take a leap.

“One of the guys in the Regency kitchen said I would be a great fit for the HEMSI (Huntsville Emergency Medical Services, Inc.) EMS Academy program and I applied,” Mardaisha said. “Being around the elderly and seeing the need, brightening their day … I just wanted to branch off more and see if I could be able to care for others instead of just cleaning their rooms.”

HEMSI’s EMS Academy is a unique “earn-as-you-learn” workforce development program that helps fill a local, critical need for more trained Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and continues to support their development into Advanced EMTs and paramedics. Huntsville Hospital Main is the only hospital for critical care and trauma patients across 15 counties, and the majority of these come in via ambulance – up to 100 patients every single day. HEMSI and Huntsville Hospital are addressing this demand proactively by training students to join the HEMSI team.  

Mardaisha was accepted as one of only 15 in her EMS Academy class. That first step was just the beginning of a challenging but rewarding journey. As Mardaisha studied and did time in the field, she was also working hard as a single mom raising two amazing girls, ages five and two.

“It was not easy. It was very stressful. Being able to focus on school and them was definitely not easy, but the instructors helped me a lot and I have a great support system in my family and the girls’ dad,” she shared.

Mardaisha persisted forward and graduated from the 10-week program, but she didn’t stop there. Today, Mardaisha is working full-time as an EMT for HEMSI while also receiving pay and time to continue her training as an Advanced EMT through Calhoun Community College.

“If you had asked me five years ago if I saw myself doing this I would have said no,” Mardaisha admits. “I am shy. I have to be able to interact and talk to patients. I was not that person at first, but this has been a great experience for me. Coming from working multiple jobs and cleaning … this job is totally different. I have learned so much.”

Mardaisha’s HEMSI partner, Paramedic Jean Humphrey, praises her expertise and eagerness to continue advancing in her skills.

“Mardaisha is always striving to learn, succeed and grow,” Humphrey says. “She does this with compassion and caring for all her patients. She is constantly challenging herself to learn during stressful and dynamic calls by stepping out of her comfort zone and perfecting all components in her scope of practice.”

This drive will serve Mardaisha well as her end goal is continue advancing in Emergency Medical Services, and then continue her education in physical therapy.

“I want to help people – that is my calling. I really think this step opened up a lot of doors for me and helped me get to where I am right now,” Mardaisha said. “I would not have thought about going to college if it weren’t for the HEMSI program.”

Mardaisha is thankful for this opportunity to better her life, saying she it is now “way better than the situation I was in before.” This was made possible, in large part, by donor funding through Huntsville Hospital Foundation. The Regions Foundation generously awarded a $150,000 grant to help two classes of students, including Mardaisha, train, graduate, and pursue their dreams.

“I want to thank them for giving me this opportunity to change my life around,” Mardaisha said.