3 Careers of service: Longtime HEMSI employee retires to become a nurse

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A Huntsville Emergency Medical Services Inc. (HEMSI) is retiring after 28 years, but she’s not out of commission yet.

Cindy Wilson’s career as a first responder spans over 30 years and in retirement, she plans to work as a nurse.

“I thought it would be a great way to get back to patient care, bedside care, [and] take care of people again,” she said.

Wilson began her career in the army where she served as a combat medic for three years. She said that when she saw the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing on television, she felt moved to become an EMT.

“I was watching it on TV and I felt very powerless about the whole thing,” Wilson said. “Within a day or two I called UAH and looked into the EMT program. It was that fast.”

Wilson said her love for people and serving others is the common denominator between her three careers.

“Day-to-day engagement, day-to-day interaction with patients, taking care of them and their families, that’s very exciting for me,” she said.

Wilson has worked as both a first responder and in administrative positions within HEMSI. Most recently, she worked as its Training and Education Coordinator. She said the HEMSI staff she worked with and the community she served kept her coming back every day.

“The favorite part of my job has always been the people I worked with and the people I worked for,” she said. “I’ve always said it’s the kids in the blue shirts that matter. They’re out there when it’s cold, it’s hot, all the time, and it’s brought me back day after day.”

HEMSI Community Relations Officer Don Webster said he’s watched Wilson grow into a leader over the years they have worked together.

“I admire her for taking this step in her life during this time in her life and I’m very proud of her,” he said. “ I know she’ll do well and she’ll bring a lot of compassion and help other people as she moves forward into her nursing career.”

Cindy said she’s spent over half of her life working for HEMSI and now that she has one week left, she’s sad to say goodbye but excited to continue to learn and grow in her new position.

“[It’s] something different, something challenging,” she said. “A couple options presented themselves and I thought it would be a chance for me to ride off into the sunset in a pair of scrubs I suppose.”

Cindy recently completed nursing school and already accepted a job as a nurse. She said she’s thankful for her mentors and coworkers at HEMSI and will still stop by to help out as needed.

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