While many students spend their free time playing sports or hanging out with friends, senior Kyle Podeszwik uses his time to teach the public his passion: emergency medicine.

Podeszwik teaches a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and medical training class to Fenton residents through the Southern Lakes Parks and Recreation Program. Although it is not a certification course, it allows students and residents to observe and participate in various basic medical procedures such as the treatment of different cardiac conditions and the fundamentals of stroke care.

“I started these classes because it better introduces students to the world of EMS [Emergency Medical Services]. It allows them to get a real-life feel for the job instead of just watching TV shows about it,” Podeszwik said. “This allows them to perform the skills and experience the rush. It’s very beneficial to their career choice whether it be in medicine, nursing, medical assisting, or any other health-related field.”

Podeszwik’s dedication and interest in his field stems from a deeply personal experience.

“My mother was the victim of a ruptured brain aneurysm,” Podeszwik said. “She was extremely close to death, but she ended up surviving. I was fascinated by all the work the critical care teams and emergency medical providers were doing while saving my mother’s life.”

Along with teaching his CPR classes, Podeszwik takes part in the Advanced Medical Assisting course through the Genesee Career Institute (GCI). In this particular class, students are taught basic procedures such as taking blood pressure and temperature, in addition to more complex procedures such as performing electrocardiograms (EKGs)— a recording of the electrical signals of the heart — and providing medicine and injections to patients.

“Being a Medical Assistant means you are the patient’s advocate between them and their doctor,” Podeszwik said. “The course focuses on maintaining professionalism, mastering patient interaction, and ensuring the comfort of a patient while performing or assisting with in-office procedures.”

Podeszwik has also taken other steps to educate himself in the field of emergency medicine.

“I have spent a lot of my high school years shadowing and observing in Hurley’s Emergency Room and Trauma Center,” he said. “I have also been on many ride alongs through a few different EMS services.”

Podeszwik plans to attend Northwestern Michigan College to pursue his degree in nursing, and eventually hopes to become a registered nurse.