PULSE Magazine | August 2019 Issue PE

Meet-A-Medic: Rance Marion, Clinical Specialist

I’m Rance Marion and I am a paramedic currently assigned to Recruiting at ATCEMS. My career as a paramedic began 25 years ago and I never looked back. My life outside of EMS involves a passion to see the world, weekend camping get-a-ways, painting art, biking, and time with my two grown children.

Where are you from originally and what brought you to Austin?

I was born and raised in the Rolling Plains of Texas in a small farming/oil production town. After attending college at Texas Tech University I completed my paramedic and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. I was a firefighter paramedic there for 7 years and I always said if I ever move back to Texas that Austin is the only option. So here I am 17 years later and I still enjoy living and working here.

What inspired you to become a medic/What attracted you to this career choice?

Like a lot of medics I stumbled into it. My senior year in college I decided to take an EMT-Basic course two nights a week while completing my degree. I thought it would be good knowledge to have if I was ever faced with an emergency. My first day of class I was hooked as I realized it was an opportunity for me channel my desire to help people. After college I went straight through the paramedic program in Lubbock and obtained my license.

How long have you been with ATCEMS and what motivated you to work here?

I started my career at ATCEMS 17 years ago in 2002. Prior to applying I noticed that ATCEMS was featured on the cover of the Journal of Emergency Medical Services magazine. It was right there on the corner of the coffee table in the fire station practically begging me to look through it. So I picked it up and read about the department and remember thinking that I really wanted to work there. After reading it, I

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