Lake Worth, FL - Matt Keeler, director of Palm Beach State College’s Emergency Medical Services programs, has been elected to the board of directors of the Florida Association of EMS Educators. He will serve a three-year term as a director-at-large for FAEMSE, a member-based association organized to foster excellence in EMS education and training.

Keeler is the first FAEMSE board member to represent Palm Beach State College, which has one of the largest EMS programs in the state. PBSC prepares emergency medical technicians and paramedics and offers an Associate in Science degree in Emergency Medical Services.

According to their website, the vision of FAEMSE is to be the foremost resource within Florida’s EMS educational community. To that end, Keeler looks forward to increasing consistency and innovation in EMS training and contributing fresh viewpoints and ideas.

“I’m honored to represent Palm Beach State, not only my EMS programs, but the College in general, and to work with an organization that is driving change in EMS education,” Keeler said. “Being an FAEMSE board member is an opportunity to ensure that my programs, my students, and ultimately the community that we serve have input into how the EMS educational standards are going to be taught for the next number of years.”

Keeler hopes his involvement will further FAEMSE’s development of strategies to increase pass rates on the national EMT and paramedic certification exams, and he plans to contribute his recent research on the topic. He also aims to increase the participation of more Florida colleges in the organization to bring in a broader perspective, especially from larger EMS programs.

In addition to his role at PBSC, Keeler is the education representative for the Palm Beach County EMS Advisory Council. A former Lt. Firefighter/Paramedic with Boynton Beach Fire Rescue, Keeler was honored with their Paramedic of the Year award in 2021 and has since retired after over 25 years of service.

Founded in 1933 as Florida’s first public community college, Palm Beach State College has been an integral player in the growth and prosperity of Palm Beach County. Our graduates impact every industry and are community and business leaders. With more than 130 programs of study, PBSC offers bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, professional certificates, career training and lifelong learning. More than 40,000 students enroll annually in face-to-face, online, live online and hybrid classes at five convenient locations in Lake Worth, Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, Belle Glade and Loxahatchee Groves. Learn more at www.palmbeachstate.edu.