To help address Michigan's shortage of emergency medical professionals, the West Bloomfield Fire Department will provide more than $328,000 to cover tuition costs for 131 students enrolled in Oakland Community College's (OCC) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic programs beginning this fall.

The initiative is funded through a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) EMS Workforce Development grant awarded to the West Bloomfield Fire Department to strengthen the state's emergency medical services workforce.

"We appreciate that MDHHS is investing in EMS education and we were excited to invest it those dollars where it could have the greatest long-term impact for our residents," said Blake Belsky, Deputy Chief of the West Bloomfield Fire Department. "By removing financial barriers for students, we're helping develop the next generation of EMTs and paramedics for the West Bloomfield Fire Department while strengthening the workforce throughout Oakland County and southeast Michigan."

David Ceci, Executive Director of Emergency Services Academies at Oakland Community College, said the investment reflects the strong partnership between OCC and the West Bloomfield Fire Department and will help address the growing demand for EMS professionals.

"This opportunity is transformational for our students and our program," Ceci said. “It reflects the West Bloomfield Fire Department's commitment to developing the next generation of emergency medical professionals while helping meet a critical workforce need."

Removing financial barriers 

OCC EMS Program Director Lisa Vala said many prospective students struggle to afford training because EMT and paramedic programs require significant time away from work.

"Financial challenges prevent many qualified people from pursuing careers in EMS," Vala said. "Covering tuition costs removes one of the biggest obstacles for students and will allow more people to enroll in our EMS programs, ultimately benefiting communities across our region."

Vala said the EMT training is 15 weeks and the tuition is around $1400 per student, while the Paramedic program encompasses one additional academic year and tuition costs around $5000 per student.  

“The West Bloomfield Fire Department could have sent their students to many other institutions, but they selected OCC's EMS Program because of our long-standing partnership and our reputation as one of the premier EMS education programs in the state,” Vala said. “Our program has consistently demonstrated excellence and earns annual recognition from MDHHS, and we are grateful to West Bloomfield for its continued support of our program and our students.” 

Building Michigan’s EMS workforce 

As part of their education, OCC EMS students complete clinical rotations and internships with the West Bloomfield Fire Department. While the department hopes many graduates will choose to join its team, participants are under no obligation to work there after completing the program.

"We're currently staffed below our authorized EMS positions, and upcoming retirements will create additional opportunities," Belsky said. "Expanding the number of well-trained EMS professionals benefits not only West Bloomfield but communities across Oakland County. Whether graduates choose to work with us or another department, everyone wins."

A partnership with lasting impact

Ceci said the program's impact extends well beyond a single community.

"This investment highlights the collaborative partnership between the West Bloomfield Fire Department, Oakland Community College, and MDHHS ," he said. "By supporting our students today, they're helping ensure communities throughout Oakland County have access to highly trained emergency medical professionals for years to come.”

For more information about the West Bloomfield Fire Department, visit Fire Department.

Visit Emergency Medical Services for information about OCC’s EMT and Paramedic programs.  

About West Bloomfield 

The West Bloomfield Fire Department responds to over 10,000 incidents each year in the communities of West Bloomfield, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake Village, and Sylvan Lake.  The department is staffed with full-time firefighter/paramedics operating out of 6 fire stations.  West Bloomfield Fire Department is an “all hazards” response agency providing fire suppression, advanced life support, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, surface marine and ice rescue, fire prevention, public fire safety education, and CPR training.

For information on careers with the West Bloomfield Fire Department, visit WBFD Recruitment West Bloomfield Township or call 248-409-1505.

About OCC      

Oakland Community College (OCC) has educated over one million students since 1965. OCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs and is committed to student success with affordable tuition, support services, flexible class options and top transfer opportunities. The College serves more than 20,000 students annually while advancing our community through education, training and career support. OCC is nationally recognized as Michigan’s top online college, and seventh in the U.S., by Newsweek’s  America’s Top Online Colleges 2025. Learn more at  oaklandcc.edu.       

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Media Contact: Marketing & Communications | (248) 341-2020 | contactus@oaklandcc.edu