“Not All Answers Are in Textbooks”: Students Learned About the Beauty and Challenges of Working as a Paramedic in the USA

On March 19, 2026, at the Simulation Training Center of TNMU, first- to third-year paramedic students met with Sydney Mabie, an American who worked as a paramedic for many years.

Sydney came to Ukraine from the state of Wisconsin (USA) for the second time. Her main goal was to help students learn English and share her professional experience. In addition to emergency medicine, she studied sociology, graduated from a fire academy, and worked as a rescuer and a diving and kayaking instructor.

“I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. From delivering babies to holding people’s hands as they passed away. I am grateful to have been invited to share stories of life, faith, and medical practice, and how they intersect,” she said.

With an engaging, emotional, and sincere story, Sydney immersed students in the realities of emergency medical services in the United States (EMS). She shared both positive experiences—such as successful out-of-hospital births—and tragic cases that left a lasting impression on her life.

Participants discussed important topics relevant to future paramedics:

• how to follow protocols in critical situations while maintaining humanity;
• how to overcome fear during the first emergency calls;
• how to act in situations not covered in textbooks or simulations;
• how to cope with failure and where to seek support in difficult moments;
• the importance of patient trust and confidentiality;
• teamwork and honesty with oneself as key factors in professional development and stress management.

Sydney spoke in English, which provided excellent language practice for the students. To ensure better interaction and understanding, interpretation into Ukrainian was provided by student Anna Yehorova (group Pbv-232).

Future paramedics warmly reflected on the meeting. “It was interesting to hear real-life stories and understand what we may face in the future as paramedics. It was also great that Sydney spoke English—you try to translate her words into Ukrainian while practicing at the same time,” one of the students noted.

Sydney Mabie’s visit took place within the framework of cooperation with the NGO “KEMPUS” and the charitable school “IT Space GoGoSpace.” As part of the project, a team of volunteers from the United States is conducting an English-language week for students, fostering their emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and physical development.

We thank Sydney and the partners for their sincerity, experience, and support of Ukrainian students!