What Emory EMS does

Emory EMS (EEMS) is a student-led, state-licensed collegiate emergency medical services organization operating within Emory University's Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR). Founded in 1992 as the Emory Rescue Squad and recognized as the first licensed collegiate medical first responder service in Georgia, EEMS provides 24/7 emergency medical first response during fall and spring semesters via non-transport quick response vehicles staffed by licensed EMTs, AEMTs, and paramedics. The program handled approximately 1,110 calls with a 5-minute average response time and 22,351 volunteer hours during the 2024-2025 academic year, serving Emory University students, faculty, staff, visitors, and designated Emory-affiliated residential properties across the Atlanta, Clairmont, Oxford, Decatur, and Chamblee campuses. The portfolio also includes the EMS Education Program, a two-semester ~160-hour Combined EMT/AEMT Course (the first such combined curriculum in Georgia, leading to NREMT certification), event medical standby services (46 events in 2024-2025), and a comprehensive suite of CEPAR-managed preparedness modules including a campus-wide AED network, the Emory Safe mobile safety app, multimodal emergency notification, the Emory Medical Reserve Corps, the Threat Assessment Team, the Business Continuity Program, Emergency Exercises and Drills, and National Disaster Life Support courses.

The technology stack is operational rather than digital-native: a fleet of retrofitted quick-response SUVs, high-fidelity simulation manikins for training, Stryker LifePak 15 monitors, LUCAS devices, the RAVE SMS notification system, and the Emory Safe iOS/Android app. Integrations include OPUS/PeopleSoft for emergency contact data and International SOS for international travel emergency support.

The business model is fundamentally university-funded and non-commercial at the core: emergency response services are provided free of charge to patients, with Emory University providing strong financial support for basic operations. Revenue diversification is limited to EMS Education Program tuition ($3,000 per student for ~30 students per cohort), event standby fees (variable hourly rates), AHA-certified CPR/BLS training course materials, and donations supporting financial aid and equipment. Federal grant funding flows through CEPAR via the HHS ASPR-funded Southern Regional Disaster Response System (SRDRS), but EEMS itself is not the direct recipient. The organization's customer base is entirely internal to the Emory ecosystem, with internship partnerships (American Medical Response, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, DeKalb County EMS) serving as clinical training sites rather than revenue-generating customers.

Name

Emory EMS

Legal name

Emory University - Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (Emory EMS)

Website

https://emergency.emory.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Emory EMS is a student-led, university-funded collegiate emergency medical services organization within Emory University's CEPAR, providing 24/7 first response, EMT/AEMT education, event standby, and disaster preparedness services to the Emory campus community in Atlanta.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Collegiate Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Other Schools and Instruction (6116), Fire Protection (922160)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) & Ambulance Services (BPAIAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Medical Services (EMT/Paramedic) Training (EDAOAMAC), Emergency Response, First Aid/CPR/AED & Incident Management Training (BPAKAOAJ)

Keywords

• Emergency medical services
• Collegiate first responder
• EMS education programs
• Disaster preparedness training
• Public access defibrillation

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. University Funding: Emory University provides strong financial support for basic operations of Emory EMS.
2. Donations: Emory EMS accepts donations to sustain financial aid for EMT training, send students to NCEMSF conference, purchase training equipment, and procure capital equipment.
3. Event Standby Services: Emory EMS provides standby coverage for university and community events. An hourly fee may apply depending on event type, expected number of attendees, and associated activities.
4. EMS Education Program Tuition: Combined EMT/AEMT Course tuition is $3,000 for 2026-2027 academic year. Limited scholarships available for students with demonstrated financial need.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Emory EMS is a student-led, state-licensed emergency medical first responder agency that provides 24/7 campus emergency response, event medical standby, and an EMS Education Program (Combined EMT/AEMT Course) leading to NREMT certification, all managed under Emory University's Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR). Services are delivered free of charge to the Emory community, with program funding from Emory University, donations, tuition, event standby fees, and federal grants.

Product overview

Emory EMS operates as a single integrated emergency medical services organization comprising a volunteer first-responder agency and a licensed EMS education program, both managed under Emory University's Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR). The two core offerings are: (1) the EEMS Volunteer Service, a student-led, state-licensed EMS agency providing emergency medical first response (~1,000 calls/year, 5-min average response time) and event standby services; and (2) the Combined EMT/AEMT Course, a two-semester, ~160-hour initial EMS education program leading to NREMT certification. These are supported by a portfolio of preparedness modules: the AED Program (public-access defibrillators campus-wide), the Emory Safe mobile safety app, the Emergency Notification Program (multimodal alert system), Medical Reserve Corps, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), National Disaster Life Support courses, the Threat Assessment Team, Business Continuity Program, Emergency Exercises and Drills, SRDRS (Southern Regional Disaster Response System), NETEC support, BLS/CPR/Stop the Bleed training, the Campus Preparedness Ambassador Program, and International Travel Emergency/International SOS services. The portfolio functions as a platform-plus-modules architecture: the EMS agency and EMS Education program form the operational core, while the suite of CEPAR-managed preparedness, training, and notification modules extends the organization's reach across the full emergency management lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emory EMS Volunteer Service (Emergency Medical First Responder) A student-led, licensed EMS agency providing emergency medical first responder services to Emory University students, faculty, staff, visitors, and the surrounding community. Operates 24/7 during fall and spring semesters via two quick response vehicles and a volunteer staff of licensed EMTs, AEMTs, and paramedics. Responds to approximately 1,000 calls per academic year with an average response time of 5 minutes.
• Combined EMT/AEMT Course A two-semester (Fall/Spring), ~160-hour EMS initial education program offered through the 1599 Building on Emory's Atlanta campus. The first combined EMT/Advanced EMT curriculum in Georgia, leading to eligibility for National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification. Includes classroom didactics, hands-on skills training, full scenario simulations, and field/clinical internships across 911 ambulances, emergency departments, OR, ICU, and labor and delivery. Tuition: $3,000 (2026-2027). Class size: 30 students.
• AED Program A public access defibrillation program that deploys automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across Emory's campuses in public access areas, managed by CEPAR. Bleeding control kits including tourniquets are available at all AED locations, with a detailed directory maintained across Atlanta, Oxford, Decatur, Chamblee, and Clairmont campuses.
• Emory Safe App A free personal safety mobile app for iOS and Android provided to Emory students, faculty, and staff. Features include tip reporting (text, photo, video, audio) to Emory Police, anonymous reporting option, live chat with EPD, FriendWalk virtual escort, emergency contact calling with location tracking, push notifications for safety alerts, and access to emergency procedures and health resources.
• Medical Event Standby Services Emory EMS provides standby medical coverage for university and community events. Requests should be submitted at least one month in advance. An hourly fee may apply depending on event type, expected attendance, and associated activities. EEMS representatives respond within one week of submission.
• BLS CPR, AED, and Stop the Bleed Training American Heart Association (AHA)-certified training courses for healthcare professionals and general personnel. Includes BLS Provider eBook/Manual and card, Heartsaver First Aid/CPR/AED blended learning, and free Hands-Only CPR/AED/Stop the Bleed classes. Offered by CEPAR to Emory departments and student organizations.
• National Disaster Life Support (NDLS) Courses Emory CEPAR is a Regional Training Center through the National Disaster Life Support Foundation (NDLSF). Offered courses include BDLS (Basic Disaster Life Support, 7.5 hours), ADLS (Advanced Disaster Life Support, 15 hours), and CDLS (Core Disaster Life Support, 3.5 hours). Courses are designed for healthcare professionals and emergency response personnel for mass casualty event management.
• Threat Assessment Team A multi-disciplinary, collaborative team using an evidence-based approach to identify behaviors that may indicate a threat to the safety of Emory community members. Develops intervention strategies and management plans to mitigate risk. Reports can be submitted via email to [email protected] or through the Threat Assessment Public Reporting Form.
• Emergency Exercises and Drills CEPAR designs and conducts emergency exercises following the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) format. Exercise types include workshops, tabletop exercises, functional drills, and full-scale exercises. Scenarios are based on identified hazards and test the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Partners include local community and public safety agencies in metro Atlanta.
• Business Continuity Program An enterprise-wide continuity of operations program supporting Emory University and Emory Healthcare missions. Guides business to sustain critical operations throughout disruptive incidents and facilitates expedited recovery. Guided by ISO 22301, Business Continuity Institute (BCI), and Disaster Recovery Institute (DRI) International standards.
• Emory Emergency Notification Program A multimodal emergency notification system alerting students, staff, faculty, and visitors of emergencies. Components include outdoor sirens/public address system, RAVE SMS text alerts, Emory email, web RSS, cable TV banner/messages, digital signage, Emory Safe App, and social media (@EMORY_CEPAR on X, Facebook, Instagram). Monthly tests conducted on the first Wednesday of each month.
• Emory Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) A volunteer cadre supporting Emory's public health and healthcare preparedness through education, drills, exercises, workforce augmentation, and advocacy. Open to Emory students, faculty, and staff. Volunteers must complete at least 10 hours of continuing training per calendar year. Managed by CEPAR with three tiers: basic, advanced, and advanced strike team.
• Campus Preparedness Ambassador Program A student engagement program under the Emory READY initiative where selected ambassadors serve as liaisons for CEPAR. Ambassadors attend monthly meetings, undergo certifications (CPR, bleeding control, fire safety), promote preparedness through campus events, and commit to at least one academic year of service.
• International Travel Emergency Protocol (International SOS) International travel emergency services for Emory faculty and staff including emergency evacuation, medical insurance coverage, emotional support services, medically supervised repatriation, companion ticket, repatriation of mortal remains, medical monitoring, and inpatient admission coordination. International SOS membership number: 11BYSG000003.
• Southern Regional Disaster Response System (SRDRS) A federally-funded program managed by Emory CEPAR and funded by HHS ASPR, designed to complement existing preparedness and response frameworks across HHS Region 4 (Southeast states). Integrates clinical and healthcare systems expertise into local, state, and regional preparedness structures. Partners include Georgia Department of Public Health, Augusta University Health System, and University of Georgia Institute for Disaster Management.
• National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) CEPAR supports NETEC's mission to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response across US health systems. CEPAR specifically supports NETEC activities in Education and Resource Development and Metrics Development and Technical Consultation for the emergency medical services community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-minute average response time
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 October 2021HHS selected Emory University to lead the latest Regional Disaster Health Response System (RDHRS) demonstration site. Emory CEPAR Director Alexander Isakov quoted in HHS announcements regarding disaster response leadership.
• National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEPAR supports NETEC's mission to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response. CEPAR specifically supports NETEC activities in Education and Resource Development and Metrics Development for the EMS community. Emory's Dr. Alexander Isakov serves as the EMS lead for NETEC.
• Southern Regional Disaster Response System (SRDRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmory CEPAR supports the SRDRS funded by HHS ASPR. The program aims to complement existing preparedness frameworks and healthcare coalitions in Southeast states. Emory serves as the lead institution with partners including Georgia Department of Public Health, Augusta University Health System, and University of Georgia Institute for Disaster Management.
• Georgia Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Southern Regional Disaster Response System (SRDRS), responsible for leading collaboration with regional stakeholders in HHS Region 4 states.
• Augusta University Health SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SRDRS consortium, providing clinical and health care systems operational expertise.
• University of Georgia Institute for Disaster ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SRDRS consortium, contributing to disaster management expertise and regional preparedness.
• American Heart AssociationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEmory EMS and CEPAR deliver American Heart Association (AHA) CPR classes and BLS provider courses. CEPAR staff are certified AHA BLS instructors.
• International SOSminorOthersInternational travel assistance service providing emergency evacuation, medical insurance, and support services for Emory faculty and staff traveling abroad on university business.
• SORT (Student Outreach and Response Team)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Rollins School of Public Health student organization for outbreak response and emergency preparedness collaboration. CEPAR serves as a representative on SORT's steering committee.
• Education in Medical Emergencies (EME)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUndergraduate organization focused on educating the community on responding to medical emergencies. CEPAR Executive Director Dr. Alexander Isakov serves as EME's advisor.
• Emory Red Cross ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent organization founded on American Red Cross principles, coordinating blood drives and fundraisers. CEPAR Program Coordinator Molly Hancuh serves as advisor.
• American Medical Response (DeKalb County)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternship site for EMS Education Program students - provides 911 ambulance rotation experience for approximately 108 hours of clinical internship.
• American Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmory's Red Cross Club coordinates activities aligned with American Red Cross principles and initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service (GERMS): One of the original and longest-running collegiate EMS agencies in the U.S., providing 24/7 student-volunteer BLS first response at Georgetown University - functionally equivalent to Emory EMS in operating model and service design.
• UCLA Emergency Medical Services: Student-volunteer collegiate EMS agency providing licensed first-response services on a large urban university campus, directly comparable in mission, volunteer model, and campus public-safety scope.
• Stanford Emergency Medical Services: Student-run, university-supported first-responder EMS program at Stanford, structurally similar in combining volunteer response, training, and standby services on a major research university campus.
• Boston University Emergency Medical Services (BUEMS): Another collegiate EMS agency in a dense urban academic setting with comparable quick-response vehicle deployment, training pipelines, and event standby offerings.
• Vanderbilt University Emergency Medical Services (VEMS): Student-run collegiate EMS agency at Vanderbilt with similar university-funded operations, volunteer staffing, and integration with campus emergency preparedness.

Broad incumbents

• American Medical Response (AMR): Largest private EMS provider in the U.S. and a DeKalb County partner/internship site for Emory EMS. Comparable in providing licensed prehospital care but operates transport-capable 911 ambulances commercially, in contrast to EEMS's non-transport volunteer model.
• National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation (NCEMSF): The umbrella membership organization for collegiate EMS agencies in North America, of which Emory EMS is a member. It is the most direct comparison for program structure, conferences, and shared standards.

Others

• American Red Cross (Training & Disaster Services): Partner-aligned organization through Emory's Red Cross Club and reference for first-aid/CPR/AED training and disaster preparedness education offered by CEPAR/EEMS.
• American Heart Association (Training Programs): CEPAR is an AHA-aligned training center delivering BLS/CPR/AED/Heartsaver courses. Comparable in CPR and life-support training content, though AHA is the credentialing/standards body rather than a direct service competitor.

Regional players

• Grady Emergency Medical Services: Metro Atlanta 911 EMS provider and prior employer of Emory EMS's Deputy Director. Operates the same metro Atlanta response geography as EEMS but as a transport-capable professional agency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EMORY_CEPAR
• Facebookfacebook.com/EmoryCEPAR
• Instagraminstagram.com/emorycepar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emory-ems

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Emory EMS