Getting to know Supervisor AJ Wilder
October 2, 2023 | Category: Article, Uncategorized
Cetronia Ambulance Corps has four supervisors to lead two platoons. AJ Wilder is one of the newest to be promoted into an open position.
We did a little Q&A to find out more about AJ Wilder…
Q: How long have you been working at Cetronia?
A: I have been working at Cetronia for five years.
Q: Where did you work before Cetronia, if applicable?
A: Before Cetronia I was with Bushkill Emergency Corps.
Q: Before Cetronia, where did you go to school, and what did you study?
A: I first started at ESU with a biochemistry degree, came down to the Lehigh Valley, and worked as an EMT at Cetronia while going through Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences paramedic program. I am currently back in school working on an Animal Health and Behavior degree.
Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: When I was a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian.
Q: Can you walk me through your career path from entry level position to your current position?
A: I first obtained my EMT certification in my senior year of high school at 17 years old and was with Bushkill Emergency Corps as well as the East Stroudsburg Fire Department while I was in college at ESU. I left ESU and came down to the Lehigh Valley to work for Cetronia Ambulance Corps in 2018. I worked as an EMT throughout the year of 2018-2019 while obtaining my Paramedic Certification. After obtaining my certification in 2019 I was the float paramedic before settling in our Upper Macungie Station for a little over two years before becoming a supervisor.
Q: What’s really fun about your job, and what’s really challenging?
A: One really fun thing about my job is being able to mentor others. I enjoy being able to teach with peers and take students, both EMT and paramedic, on ride alongs and help them find their own path as a provider. One challenge about this job is maintaining a good work and life balance. Working 12 hours shifts on rotating days can be difficult sometimes to work around, but that is the nature of the job.
Q: How has your job here allowed you to grow personally and professionally?
A: My time at Cetronia has challenged me to be the best provider that I can be. And that means so much more than just treating injury and illness. It means being empathetic, kind, and patient.
Q: What might surprise people about your job, or what’s one thing people don’t know about your position?
A: One thing that might surprise people about my job is how much of it relies on teamwork. No single provider can thrive alone, whether it’s a good partnership or a strong leadership team, we all need each other to succeed.
Q: What advice would you give to a young professional searching for a job like yours?
The best advice I have is to never get comfortable. Keep learning, keep growing, and always strive for more.
Q: What is your dream job?
A: I have always known that I want to work in medicine, but I also know I can’t do it forever. Burnout and compassion fatigue are very real. When that time comes for me, I’m planning to work in canine behavior research related to reactivity and aggression rehabilitation.