EMS Program Director Recognized At TEMSEA Annual Conference

Photo caption (right): Dr. Dave Cauthen (right), Columbia State EMS Program Director, was selected by his peers to receive the Leadership in Adversity Award for 2010. The award was given out at the Annual Conference of the Tennessee Emergency Medical Services Education Association (TEMSEA) in Gatlinburg in July. Cauthen is shown with EMT Coordinator Tim Crabtree (left). For more information, please visit http://www.columbiastate.edu/ems.

At the Annual Conference of the Tennessee Emergency Medical Services Education Association (TEMSEA) in Gatlinburg in July, Dave Cauthen, PsyD, EMT-P, IC, was selected by his peers to receive the Leadership in Adversity Award for 2010.

Dr. Cauthen is program director for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Education at Columbia State Community College. In addition to classroom and skills lab responsibilities with both Paramedic & EMT-IV students, Dr. Cauthen represents the Health Sciences Division on the Faculty Senate, is involved with numerous college-wide committees, frequently volunteers for Right Start advising for first time college freshmen, and is active in both his church and community.

"Dr. Cauthen establishes high performance standards for himself, the EMS faculty team, and students," said Kae Fleming, Dean for Health Sciences at Columbia State. "He provides leadership for EMS Education at Columbia State, including the continuous improvement, program accreditation, and mentoring of full and part time faculty, many of whom continue to work actively in emergency services across the region. In recognition of the challenges commonly encountered during changes in program leadership, Dave was the ideal candidate for the award this year. Under his direction, the program successfully completed the re-accreditation process and saw increases in both retention and first attempt success on the registry examination taken by graduates."

Following an extensive self study, peer review, and on-site visit, Columbia State's EMS program recently received confirmation of "Continuing Accreditation" status from the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

"Underneath his sometimes 'gruff' surface, he's is a very passionate individual who has a deep love for his profession, his peers, and certainly his students," said Sarah B. Glenn, BA, EMT-P, I/C, EMS Officer with Franklin Fire and Region 6 Representative to the TEMSEA Board.

Classes are offered each semester for students interested in entry level EMT-IV (Basic) training. Current EMTs who desire to expand their skills and advance in the profession have the opportunity to apply to the one-year EMT-Paramedic program each spring with new groups starting in the fall term annually. For more information about any of Columbia State's EMS Education offerings, visit http://www.columbiastate.edu/ems or contact Dr. Cauthen, Program Director at 931-540-2686, or Instructor Tim Crabtree (EMT Coordinator) at 931-540-2792.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.