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This EMT is furthering her passion for medicine at Mason

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Over the next two weeks, we will be profiling students from this fall's incoming class as a part of the series Meet the Class of 2026.

a group of EMTs outside with equipment
Incoming freshman Jennifer Owen (left) with Purcellville Volunteer Rescue Squad teammates Victoria Frank and Dave Rubal. Photo provided

Following her junior year of high school, Jennifer Owen started working in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

鈥淔or some people, it sounds a little crazy because I was a 17-year-old riding in an ambulance,鈥 Owen said.

But she absolutely loved it.

The experience in EMS has 鈥渉elped me completely decide that I like pursuing medicine,鈥 Owen said. 鈥淚 want to be a nurse. I like medicine, and I love helping people.鈥

As someone who works well under pressure, Owen鈥檚 ultimate goal is to become a critical care nurse, working on a medical helicopter or in the cardiac care unit.

For this incoming freshman, 亚洲AV鈥檚 is her next step in making that a reality.

Owen said that when a fellow EMT recommended Mason鈥檚 School of Nursing because of its advanced programs, and its role in, as she said, 鈥渁dvocating for you to become the best health care provider you can be,鈥 she was excited to attend as a major.

She is especially enthusiastic about joining Mason鈥檚 , a female-run organization focused on empowering women in the medical field and advocating for female patients and women鈥檚 health.

鈥淚 am a female, Asian, young EMT, and you never see that on an ambulance,鈥 Owen said. 鈥淚 think this group that I鈥檝e joined will try to change that or at least bring awareness to it.鈥

Owen began her EMS work at a young age as a student at the Academies of Loudoun, part of Loudoun County Public Schools.

There, she participated in the EMT program and received her Virginia EMT certification and National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification.

At the Academies of Loudoun, she also completed the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) program, and in March worked as a nurse鈥檚 aide in a nursing home.

Because she worked toward her certifications during the COVID-19 pandemic, the work was 鈥渃razy鈥 and 鈥渉ard,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e had limited clinical hours and really limited ability to do practicals.鈥

The transition to the field was even more difficult.

鈥淚 knew how to treat someone, and I knew a lot of textbook stuff, but I didn't know a whole lot about actually working in the field,鈥 Owen said. 鈥淚 had to relearn a lot.鈥

Her hard work paid off when one of her instructors, who was also the sitting executive president at Purcellville Volunteer Rescue Squad in Purcellville, Virginia, urged her to join their team in 2021, she said.

Owen has worked with Purcellville Rescue at least once a week for more than a year. She now serves as a released attendant-in-charge, which means she is primarily responsible for the provision of emergency medical care on her ambulance.

鈥淛ennifer has grown into an exceptional EMT and brings a tremendous amount of patience and compassion to her service to her patients,鈥 said Kevin Kelly, chief of Purcellville Rescue. As a volunteer, Jennifer has amazing dedication and a willingness to give her time to the community, which is exemplary.鈥

Owen said she鈥檒l continue working with Purcellville Rescue while completing her nursing degree at Mason.

鈥淚鈥檓 not ready to give up Purcellville Rescue or EMS yet,鈥 she said.