Penn Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT)

What Penn Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) does

Penn Medical Emergency Response Team (Penn MERT) is a student-run, volunteer emergency medical services organization founded in 2006 at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. It delivers free first-response EMS coverage to the Penn community across the Penn Patrol Zone (43rd to 30th streets, Market to Baltimore) using Pennsylvania-certified EMT-Basics deployed on specially equipped EMS bicycles, achieving response times shorter than the Philadelphia Fire Department for on-campus calls. Crews of 2–4 EMTs operate during evening and overnight hours on weekdays and 24/7 on weekends throughout the academic year, with simultaneous dispatch coordination with PFD and on-scene support from Penn Police.

Beyond emergency response, Penn MERT operates a layered portfolio of community-health products: CPR, first aid, and Stop the Bleed training led by AHA-certified instructors; standby medical coverage for Penn Recreation athletics and major University events (NSO, Spring Fling, Hey Day, Graduation); monthly virtual Narcan trainings co-hosted with Penn Medicine; first aid trainings at correctional facilities; and an EMT certification pathway run through the Perelman School of Medicine. The organization has trained 50+ new EMTs since 2004 and maintains a Reciprocity Membership pathway for already-certified EMTs.

Penn MERT is a registered nonprofit funded by tax-deductible donations through the University of Pennsylvania and direct allocations from four institutional partners: the Undergraduate Assembly, the Division of Public Safety, the Fox Leadership Program, and Student Health Services. Its Medical Director, Dr. Joshua Glick, is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, providing clinical governance. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer/community within the Penn campus and adjacent Philadelphia geography; there is no paid pricing model, no external revenue stream, and no investor or parent-company ownership.

Name

Penn Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT)

Legal name

University of Pennsylvania Medical Emergency Response Team

Website

https://pennmert.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Penn MERT is a student-run, volunteer EMS organization at the University of Pennsylvania providing free bike-based first response, CPR and Narcan training, and event medical coverage to the Penn campus and greater Philadelphia community since 2006.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Educational Support Services (611710), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAEACAO

Emergency Medical Response & On-Campus EMS/AED Programs

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Security, Safety & Emergency Preparedness Services (Campus Security, Access Control)

SECONDARYEDAOAMAC

Emergency Medical Services (EMT/Paramedic) Training

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Protective Services & Public Safety Training

SECONDARYBPABANAD

Emergency Response Team (ERT) Staffing & Incident Management Support

Business & Public Services/Facilities Management & Building Services/Emergency Preparedness and Response Services

SECONDARYBPAGAAAB

Disaster Preparedness, Risk Reduction & Early Warning (DRR)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief

Keywords

• Emergency medical services
• Volunteer first response
• CPR training
• Campus safety
• EMT certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Institutional Funding: MERT is a volunteer organization funded by the Undergraduate Assembly, Division of Public Safety, Fox Leadership Program, and Student Health Services. Donations are tax-deductible through the University of Pennsylvania.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Penn MERT is a student-run volunteer emergency medical services organization at the University of Pennsylvania that provides 24/7 campus first response via EMS bikes staffed by 2-4 certified EMT-Basics. It also delivers CPR/first aid training, Narcan training, athletic and special event standby coverage, community outreach, and EMT certification classes through the Perelman School of Medicine.

Product overview

Penn MERT is a student-run emergency medical services organization offering a unified portfolio of first response EMS services and training programs. The core offering is the Emergency Medical Response Service, which provides 24/7 campus emergency coverage via EMS bikes. Supporting services include CPR and First Aid Training, Athletic and Special Event Coverage, Community Outreach Programs, Narcan Training, and an EMT Certification Program for students. MERT operates as a single integrated service organization rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, with all products working together to serve the Penn community's emergency medical and health education needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Medical Response Services First response emergency medical services provided by 2-4 certified Pennsylvania EMT-Basics responding via specially equipped EMS bikes, covering the Penn Patrol Zone 5pm-7am weekdays and 24/7 weekends during the academic year.
• CPR and First Aid Training CPR, first aid, and Stop the Bleed training for laypeople and healthcare providers, taught by AHA-certified instructors. Classes last approximately 3 hours and cover compressions, rescue breathing, defibrillation, and treating choking victims.
• Athletic and Special Event Coverage Standby medical coverage services for Penn Recreation athletic games and major University events including New Student Orientation, Spring Fling, Hey Day, Homecoming, and Graduation.
• Narcan Training Virtual monthly opioid overdose reversal training offered in partnership with Penn Medicine, conducted on the first Friday of each month from 12-1pm.
• EMT Certification Program EMT class held through the Perelman School of Medicine during the spring semester for freshmen and sophomores seeking Pennsylvania EMT-Basic certification.
• Reciprocity Pathway Membership pathway for already-certified EMTs, including license transfer support for those holding non-Pennsylvania certifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shorter response times than Philadelphia Fire Department due to campus presence and bike-based deployment

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of Pennsylvania Police Department (UPPD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006MERT complements emergency medical care provided by Penn Police. Penn Police officers attend all MERT calls to ensure safety of EMTs, patients, and bystanders.
• Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006PFD is dispatched simultaneously with MERT and provides patient transport when necessary. PFD responds to larger West Philadelphia area.
• Perelman School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMT certification classes are held through the Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Joshua Glick serves as Medical Director and is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
• Student Health ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with MERT founders in early development. Funding source for MERT operations.
• Penn MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with MERT for monthly virtual Narcan trainings on the first Friday of each month. Collaborates on opioid overdose reversal trainings and community health initiatives.
• Wellness at PennmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with MERT for community outreach and public health education initiatives, including opioid overdose reversal trainings.
• Penn RecreationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMERT provides medical coverage for Penn Recreation athletic games and events.
• Correctional FacilitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMERT leads first aid trainings at correctional facilities as part of community outreach.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Boston University EMS (BUEMS): Student-staffed EMS at Boston University delivering campus response, event coverage, and training programs under state-recognized protocols. Operates under a similar volunteer/collegiate EMS framework.
• Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service (GERMS): Student-run volunteer EMS organization at Georgetown University providing 24/7 campus emergency response, CPR training, and event standby. Closely comparable to Penn MERT in mission, operating model, and collegiate volunteer structure.
• Harvard CrimsonEMS: Student-run volunteer EMS organization at Harvard College providing campus emergency response, event coverage, and CPR training. Directly comparable mission and operating structure.
• Tufts Emergency Medical Services (TEMS): Tufts University's student-run volunteer EMS service providing campus response, CPR training, and event standby. Direct comparable in scale, mission, and collegiate volunteer structure.
• Cornell University EMS (CUEMS): Cornell's student-run, New York state-certified Quick Response Service providing campus emergency response, event coverage, and CPR training. Mirrors Penn MERT's collegiate QRS model and volunteer staffing.
• Columbia University EMS: Student-operated EMS at Columbia providing emergency response, event coverage, and training across the Morningside campus. Comparable to Penn MERT in operating model and urban university setting.
• Princeton University EMS: Student-run volunteer EMS at Princeton University delivering campus response, training, and event coverage under New Jersey state recognition. Closely parallel collegiate QRS model.

Others

• American Heart Association (CPR Training Programs): Certifying body for the AHA-certified CPR instructors used by MERT and a leading provider of community CPR/First Aid training content. Comparable on the training-program dimension of MERT's service portfolio.
• National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation (NCEMSF): Industry/association body that supports collegiate EMS organizations like Penn MERT through training, conferences, and advocacy. Relevant as the umbrella ecosystem for peer comparison.

Regional players

• Drexel University EMS: Philadelphia-area university EMS organization operating in the same city as Penn MERT with a similar student volunteer framework and city-university operating context.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UPennMERT
• Instagraminstagram.com/pennmert
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/penn-medical-emergency-response-team-mert-

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Penn Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT)