RCC’s EMS program integral part of Jarrett Oxendine’s path to Physician Assistant When you hear the words It was probably With his thoughts on studying “Robeson Community one of the biggest emergency medicine, Freeman helped College” being spoken, you decisions of his guide his decision on his next steps. most likely wouldn’t think life and it wasn’t immediately that it’s a place something he “Eric Freeman convinced me to apply where you could build a could just decide to the degree program for Emergency path to become a physician overnight. Medical Science,” Oxendine said. “So assistant. But for one that’s what I did.” local man from Robeson A昀琀er talking with County, RCC is the place Eric Freeman, who 吀栀e EMS program provided Oxendine where he did just that. at that time served as with valuable experience that not only the program director helped him get into PA school but also Meet Jarrett Oxendine. of the EMS program helped him with his current role in the He’s 30 years old. He is originally from at RCC, Oxendine realized that his goals ER in dealing with emergencies and Pembroke, but now calls Fayetteville his were well within his reach and that trauma-related injuries. home. He grew up in Robeson County becoming a physician assistant would and loves being able to give back to the give him the greatest 昀氀exibility, granting “I primarily did this to gain experience community that helped raise him. He him “portability” within the medical and get into PA school,” Oxendine currently works as a Physician Assistant 昀椀eld. said. “But the EMS program gave me a in the Emergency Department at UNC broad knowledge and also set a good Health Southeastern in Lumberton. It’s a “If you become a medical doctor, you foundation in medicine with hands-on job that he loves, and it’s one he’s worked need 4 years in medical school, and patient care that I couldn’t have received hard to achieve. then you have to apply to residency in a anywhere else.” speci昀椀c specialty,” Oxendine said. “I graduated from UNCP in 2016 with Oxendine graduated from Robeson a B.S. in Biology,” Oxendine said. “I “With becoming a PA, you are broadly Community College in 2018 and always wanted to practice medicine, but trained over all subjects giving you a became a licensed, certi昀椀ed paramedic. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to become a baseline that you can excel anywhere, in medical doctor or a physician assistant.” any specialty with most of your training “I worked full-time with the Robeson taking place on the job.” County EMS and part-time with rescue 2