March 20, 2019—Gifford Saravia has been named as the paramedic program manager for South Louisiana Community College’s (SLCC) paramedic program, in partnership with National EMS Academy. He was most recently serving as the education manager for National EMS Academy and has also assumed the role of paramedic program manager following the retirement of Gregory Mullen.
Saravia is a native of New Iberia, Louisiana, and has been with Acadian Companies for more than 27 years. During his career, he has been a driver, EMT, paramedic, education coordinator, National EMS Academy director, education manager and paramedic program manager.
His role includes overseeing all education coordinators located at the academy’s nine training sites, overseeing and compiling self-study information necessary for accreditation through the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP), developing and revising course content and curriculum, selecting and evaluating students and developing educational tools.
Additionally, he is in charge of establishing the program schedule in conjunction with instructors and working directly with Acadian’s medical director regarding issues with students, clinical sites and accreditation.
Saravia holds both a master of arts in adult education with a minor in homeland security and a bachelor of science in unified public safety administration from Northwestern State University, as well as an associate of applied science paramedic degree from South Louisiana Community College and an associate of occupational studies in electronics technology from Southern Technical College.
National EMS Academy offers entry-level, continuing education and refresher courses for a number of EMS career pathways, including EMTs and paramedics. The nationally accredited EMS training institution has locations in Louisiana and Texas and is an authorized American Heart Association Training Center for CPR and ECC courses.
