EMS Pioneer Letha M. Camp Inspires Next Generation at Galveston College
Among Galveston College’s notable benefactors is Ms. Marianne Duncanson, a senior lubrication engineer with ExxonMobil Corporation. In the last two years, she created the Letha M. Camp Emergency Medical Services Memorial Fund to support the rapidly expanding Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program at Galveston College (GC).
In spring 2020, Ms. Duncanson’s commitment to Galveston College as a leading provider of Emergency Medical Services in the Gulf Coast region grew to include a new Emergency Medical Services certificate and alternative Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program for paramedics seeking to advance in their careers. The 21-credit-hour EMS Professional certificate is designed to prepare certified paramedics for entry into management, education or supervisory positions in EMS and fire organizations. The
program is a completely online professional course plan. In this program, not only are the paramedics able to achieve their AAS degree, but also obtain certifications in Critical Care, EMS Instructor, Supervision/Management, EMS Safety and Disaster Response.
Ms. Duncanson attributes her desire to invest in Emergency Medical Services educational opportunities to a friend and colleague, Letha M. Camp. Those who knew her best remarked that Letha, in the 1970’s blazed the trail leading to this new generation of medics.
According to Ms. Duncanson, Mrs. Camp was “a member of Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary where she and other wives of the volunteer medics saw the need to staff the ambulance in the daytime. In the beginning, EMS just provided basic patient care and transported patients to the hospital. Letha was part of the exciting transition that saw medics start IVs, treat severe trauma, administer drugs, and provide cardiac interventions – all in the field. This next generation of medics that graduate from GC can look to Letha for inspiration.”
Vice President for Instruction Dr. Cissy Matthews remarked, “It is a great honor to have the Letha M. Camp Memorial EMS Scholarship here at Galveston College. Mrs. Camp, along with her daughter Chief Lisa Camp for the City of La Porte Emergency Medical Services, also served the Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department and are renowned across the state of Texas for their work advancing emergency medical services as a profession."
Dr. Matthews said, “Marianne Duncanson, a paramedic herself, is a great supporter of EMS education as demonstrated by establishing this scholarship and program funds in Letha’s memory. Marianne’s generosity will help provide for the current and coming generation of
EMS professionals in the tradition of Camp family public service.”
In August, the Letha M. Camp Memorial Scholarships were awarded for 2020-2021 by Brian Ayres, director of the EMS program at Galveston College. Recipients included Tammy Walker, Kayla Jordan, Caitlin Brewer, Aubrey-Kae Morales, and Daniela Alvarado.
Ms. Duncanson said, “Letha would be proud to see the new classes of EMTs and paramedics. The scholarship recipients are enthusiastic, dedicated and knowledgeable. Because of the great education they received from Galveston College, any one of them are competent to go out and save lives.”