Send a Paramedic to the RLA!

**UPDATE** Between all of you, some generous outside funding, and a discount from the RLA, I'm SO CLOSE to making the goal!!

My name is Samantha Wilding. I'm the very first paramedic to be offered a physician-level fellowship at the Resuscitation Leadership Academy. It's a huge honor, and I need your help!

The Resuscitation Leadership Academy fellowship is a truly unique opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in resuscitation in the entire world, including Scott Weingart, Chris Nixon, Haney Mallemat, Cliff Reid, and  many, many more.

The goal of the RLA is to create master-level resuscitationists. It's a 12-month course in critical care and resuscitation medicine.

I'm the first paramedic EVER to be offered this amazing opportunity. It's a step forward for my profession, for women, and even for queer women in medicine. It's a chance to prove that paramedics can be more than what we're told we are. My success in  the RLA is the success in our profession as a whole.

But I need your help. Physician-level courses come at physician-level costs, and I make probably less than half of what most attendees earn. 

Tuition for the course is a whopping $11,000 at it's cheapest, and because of the nature of the course, neither of my jobs is providing any financial assistance. That means that I'm trying to do this on my own.

Had I not had two major financial setbacks this year, including replacing my car, and $15,000 in unreimbursed dental costs, that wouldn't have been a problem. But as it stands, I can't do this alone.

So I'm asking you to lend a hand. If I can raise the tuition costs by January 1st, I can begin the road to becoming a true master resuscitationist. 

WHAT DO I GET OUT OF SUPPORTING YOU?

My undying gratitude and affection. Quirky medical facts. Updates on all the cool things you're helping me learn.

WHAT WILL YOU DO If THIS FAILS?

If this funding fails, honestly, I won't be able to complete the fellowship. It's an amazing opportunity, but I just can't do this on my own.

The money will go to charity if I don't raise enough to afford tuition.

WHAT WILL YOU DO IF THERE'S EXTRA MONEY?
Stretch goals include the following:

$11,000 - $15,000: textbooks, and higher tiers of the course. I'm well behind the doctors who will be my peers and cohort in a lot of areas, and buying extra textbooks will help me move forward in the course. In addition, the RLA offers different tiers, with different levels of mentorship available. More funding will allow me more one-on-one time with my professors, which will help me grow and learn.

$15,000+: Donation to charity. St. Jude's Children's Reseach Hospital is top of my list, but I also have in mind the Komansky Center for Children's Health, or even helping other paramedics achieve educational goals.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION.  But moreover, thank you for your generous donations!