John Allison ’25 arrived at Franklin & Marshall College planning to pursue a career in government, policy, or law. Instead, he found his calling in emergency medicine.

“I wanted the adrenaline that came with flashing lights, solving medical problems, and making a difference on the ground,” he said.

Allison, an advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT) with Lancaster EMS, traces the origins of his career back to his time with the former F&M QRS (Quick Response Service) program.

“I thought that I could do EMS on the side, as I had always been interested in the subject tangentially,” he said. 

What started as this side quest evolved into his primary goal.

“That began to give me the love for EMS that I have today,” he said. “EMS provides a look at life that is rarely seen and having the opportunity to begin my career with the F&M QRS was an amazing experience.”

Even as his passion shifted toward emergency medicine, Allison remained deeply engaged in his academics. While at F&M, he majored in government, minored in environmental studies, and completed a legal studies certificate. He credits the College for helping him develop the critical thinking skills and analytical reasoning that he uses as an AEMT every day.

“While my government and environmental science degree at F&M may not directly translate to my work as an AEMT, the study of systems and government plays a role in the emergency management field,” he said. “The courses I took at F&M helped me understand and navigate the complex healthcare system, and the pre-law and medical ethics classes play a day-to-day role in my treatment of patients and my interactions with various agencies.”

Allison, who grew up in Colorado and New Mexico, feels his work with Lancaster EMS and the organization’s substation at F&M empower him to provide student volunteers the same immersive, hands-on training that shaped his own career.

“The partnership with Lancaster EMS gives new students a much better experience with far higher call volumes and higher acuity calls than the old program,” he said. 

Allison emphasized how EMS provides an immersive masterclass in real-world skills. Student volunteers learn interpersonal communication, like de-escalating a psychiatric emergency; high-level decision-making, like diagnosing and treating patients in real time; and scene leadership, like directing multiple responders at a motor vehicle accident.

“It is something that I would recommend to any pre-med student or any students who have a desire to learn more about Lancaster and support the local community in a meaningful way,” he said.

Allison shared one more recommendation with F&M students: “Use this time to explore and try different things so that you can find a career that you love.”

“Through F&M, I spent a semester in Denmark, interned at the United States Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., and got my start in EMS,” he said. “Don’t lock in right away and focus only on academics and not finding what you love to do. Use your summers to explore new opportunities and take risks that you won’t get the chance to do again.”

Allison is a member of F&M’s Class of 2025. Within six months after graduation, 92% of the Class of 2025 were either employed or furthering their education. This is higher than the national average, which is typically in the mid-80% range.

Learning by Doing Is in Our DNA

Diplomats don’t simply live in Lancaster — we are intricately woven into the fabric of our community. Just like John Allison ’25, you'll discover our vibrant home city is teeming with opportunities to turn passion into practice.

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