FROM EMT TO MD: HOW RCC STARTED DR. ROSS MASTERS ON HIS PATH IN MEDICINE Taking just one class at Robeson Com- of Medicine at East Carolina Universi- with that as I would like to,’ so that’s munity College could change your life ty. He is currently serving as a medical when I decided that I should become forever. 吀栀at was the case for Lum- doctor in psychiatry in his second year a paramedic before I go to medical berton native, Dr. Ross Masters, who of residency at Vanderbilt in Nashville, school, to make sure I really liked tak- decided to try out the medical 昀椀eld Tennessee. ing care of patients.” by enrolling in the Emergency Medical “My paramedic experi- RCC was o昀昀ering a paramedic class Technician con- ence is essentially what that Masters says was “open at the tinuing education got me into medical perfect time, that was right in line with class at RCC. school,” Masters said. my schedule, so I enrolled and that was “Working in EMS is a t h a t .” “I wanted some- rewarding career path, it’s thing that was a fun, and you can use that “I didn’t know if medicine was what little more impact- experience and knowl- I really wanted to do, but I thought, ful on other people’s edge gained to make that I can at least work as a paramedic lives,” Masters said, next step into becoming a and be the person who is in charge of who had already PA, MD, or a Nurse.” decision-making and get to do major earned a degree in interventions for people. I thought it political science Masters says the program would be a good way to see if going to from UNC and was gave him insight into the med school for four years and residen- working in sales. “I medical profession that cy would be worth it.” decided I wanted to get into medicine he would not have had otherwise. and I thought the best way to do that Masters discovered that it was exactly was to get some practical experience.” “I started reaping rewards from the what he wanted to do and he devel- program, while I was in the program… oped a passion for it. It was a decision that would take him I was getting a lot of experience on the into healthcare 昀椀rst as an EMT, then as ambulance,” Masters said. “So, then I “100% personally and professional,” a Paramedic, and eventually lead him thought, ‘I’ve got my EMT basic, but Masters stated. to medical school at 吀栀e Brody School I’m not able to do as much in the 昀椀eld 8