SOUTHFIELD, MI — Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Michigan, Inc. and its affiliate, the Life Support Training Institute (LSTI), hosted a ceremony on Friday, August 28, to honor 10 paramedic class graduates at Superior Ambulance’s Southfield Station.
The graduates are pictured with Superior Ambulance leadership and State Representative Denise Mentzer (D-61).
The graduates are current EMTs at Superior Ambulance of Michigan and completed 1,024 additional hours of training through LSTI, Superior Ambulance’s workforce development initiative, which trains, equips, and hires local residents for careers in emergency medical services (EMS).
As Michigan continues to experience a shortage of paramedics, Superior fully sponsored the graduates’ training, allowing employees to participate with no upfront education costs. Superior also provided scheduling support and a stipend to help offset reduced work hours.
Federal ARPA funding helped support paramedic education in Michigan through 2024, but as that funding ended and paramedic training opportunities across the state declined, Superior continued to fully fund the pathway for its EMTs. With an increasing aging population, paramedics are crucial to providing the advanced care and lifesaving interventions patients may need in an emergency.
“We are incredibly proud of these graduates for taking on the additional 1,024 hours of training required to become paramedics and making this commitment to their careers and the communities they serve,” said Kim Godden, Vice President of Superior Ambulance. “The need for trained paramedics did not end when federal funding did. Continuing to invest in this pathway is critical to strengthening the EMS workforce and ensuring our communities have skilled paramedics ready when they need them.”
“Congratulations to this group of EMTs for taking the next step in their career path and becoming certified paramedics,” said State Representative Denise Mentzer (D-61). “As our state faces a growing paramedic shortage, I’m proud of your hard work and dedication to deliver much-needed, high-quality care in communities across Michigan.”
After their paramedic certification, the graduates will fulfill their commitment to continue employment with Superior. Full-time employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement for further college to advance their education, an incentive designed to support long-term career growth.
Superior and LSTI’s education-to-career model has become a vital pipeline for developing skilled first responders, connecting students directly to employment opportunities and supporting broader conversations around workforce development and healthcare access.
