For some Furman University students, living a life of purpose means keeping others alive.
Rob Duckett ’26 was certified as an emergency medical technician in high school. When he came to Furman, the psychology major wanted to deepen his social connections while sharing his passion for emergency medicine. It inspired him to revitalize a dormant student organization:Furman University Responders.
“There’s something really profound about the ability to show up at somebody’s worst moment and provide them help,” Duckett said. “I wanted other students to be able to experience that sort of feeling.”
FURMAN UNIVERSITY RESPONDERS
Furman University Responders is a student-run club with about 200 members offering training workshops and informational events for students interested in providing pre-hospital care for medical emergencies.
Duckett is the group’s president. He’s now an advanced EMT working part-time in Greenwood County when he can while studying at Furman. He’s a certified instructor for basic life support and emergency medical response — skills used by firefighters and first responders. Students who get these certifications will have a taste of what it’s like to pursue the more-involved training needed to be an EMT or a paramedic, Duckett said.
The group also organizes CLP and other events that bring health care professionals to campus to share insights from their careers. In March, South Carolina Department of Public Health experts joined a panel to discuss the intersection of substance use and STDs. Greenville County EMS Medical Director Martin Lutz visited the group to talk about work-life balance in an emergency medicine career. The club also invited State Department of Health and Environmental Control officials to host a training on how to treat an overdose by administering Narcan.
“These are things you might hear about on the news, but you don’t really think about them unless you know someone who’s dealing with it,” said Kadence Alexander ’26, vice president of operations for Furman University Responders.
THE FURMAN ADVANTAGE
Furman University Responders plays to the strengths of The Furman Advantage by helping students discover their passion for medicine and caring for others. Duckett didn’t anticipate the attention the group would get from pre-med studentswanting to explore possible career paths.
Practicing life-saving medical response techniques connects their academic experiences with practical applications, Duckett said.
Through training and meeting with current medical professionals, students also pick up on skills like “how to interact with patients and provide compassionate care,” Duckett said.
Connecting students with possible career paths was part of the group’s DNA since Duckett revived it. He learned about the previous iteration of the club from its faculty advisor, John Banisaukas, chief health careers advisor and director of pre-professional advising. His office guides students through exploring and preparing for all medical and health professions, with emphasis on developing the core competencies critical for any future healthcare professional.
“Engagement with the Furman University Responders organization naturally intersects with the majority of these core competencies, especially the development of adaptability, compassion, leadership strengths, ethical responsibility and teamwork skills,” Banisaukas said.
MEDICAL AID TEAM
It’s not unusual to run into the Furman University Responders at football games, concerts and other on-campus events. Part of the organization that Duckett said he’s proudest of is the Medical Aid Team: students in the group who put their skills to use in the field.
Since the group’s earliest days, Duckett said he worked with Furman University Police Chief John Milby and other administrators to set up appropriate protocols so students could offer basic help to people on campus. Currently, the group sets up first aid stations at events, offering bandages, water and other basic resources.
“A medical emergency can happen anywhere, at any time,” Alexander said. “At a recent concert the team helped bandage someone’s leg after they fell down.”
Students at the first aid station keep a keen eye on the crowd, but they also act as the group’s outreach by taking people’s blood pressure, talking with them about the organization and practicing their medical intervention skills at public events. Duckett said he hopes to expand this aspect of the club, with the goal of providing an on-campus volunteer EMS service to help quickly respond to medical emergencies.
All of it serves to help the members gauge their interest in doing this kind of work professionally and build skills they can use anywhere when the need arises.
“How well can you operate when you’re actually in a real-life scenario?” Alexander asked. “Try out a CPR class if you haven’t yet; you’ll learn how to do compressions. When you’re physically doing something like CPR, you learn pretty quickly if it’s something you really want to do.”
Written by Damian Dominguez, Senior Writer, Furman University.