Ashley Heintjes of Woodbridge, New Jersey, never planned to be a paramedic. About 12 years ago, the New York City Fire Department rescue paramedic changed her plans in order to care for a sick parent.
It was a choice that led her to discovering a new unforeseen passion and ultimately to being named Columbia Southern University’s 2025 Outstanding EMS Professional of the Year.
“When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, I needed to adjust my life to make sure I could get her to her treatments,” she said. “The community college I was attending at the time was offering an emergency medical technician class in the evenings. I initially thought of it as a bridge semester, but I immediately fell in love with the profession and haven’t looked back,” explained Ashley.
Ashley was nominated for the award multiple times by her peers. Indeed, it was her love for the job, her empathy and desire to help others that was the resounding sentiment.
“Of the many things I’ve learned and pass along to my intern paramedics this may be the most important: empathy, compassion and advocacy are universal. They transcend language, religion, race, sex, gender, culture and creed. Meeting your patient on the most basic level of one human being caring for another lays the foundation for their care experience,” she said.
Ashley added that she was humble and appreciative of the award for Outstanding EMS Professional.
“I have found myself at the mercy of imposter syndrome before wondering if I was really making a difference or contributing to our field, like many other members of the EMS community. For this reason, to have been nominated for this award by my peers is truly its own reward. I would not be the paramedic I am today without the guidance and support of my family, mentors and partners.”
Ashley also spends her time mentoring new paramedics and says teaching new paramedics a new and useful skill is “incredibly rewarding.”
“I’m always seeking to be the mentor I needed when I was in their position,” she said.
Ashley was also the recipient of CSU’s 2024 FDNY Scholarship which allowed her to revisit the original plan of obtaining a bachelor’s degree in EMS administration after her mother’s medical diagnosis.
“It felt hopeless to even begin trying again,” she said. “Then I found CSU, a community of adult learners, many of whom were trying to restart educations they had to leave behind for their own reasons.”
Ashley decided to pursue a degree after one of her partners was killed in an ambulance accident in 2015. Unfortunately, limited skills were available to EMS employees at the time, and that was an issue she aimed to change.
“I decided to pursue this degree so I will have done everything in my power to ensure I have the tools I need to serve in a supervisory position, if not for me than for those who deserve what my partners and I never got,” she said.
Ashley is expected to graduate from CSU in 2026.
As a leader in public safety education, CSU established the Outstanding EMS Professional of the Year Award to recognize students and graduates serving in the EMS field for their commitment to saving lives, professionalism and their accomplishments in the field. Each year, the award is bestowed upon a new winner during National EMS Week in May.
Disclaimer: These testimonials may not reflect the experience of all CSU students.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes.
CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
