September 1, 2015
Story by Karyl White
Additional writing by Joe Vinduska
Courtesy Photo Submitted
Barton Community College Lead Paramedic Instructor Dean A. Dexter was recently recognized by the Board of Directors of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) for achieving 30 consecutive years as a Nationally Registered Paramedic (NRP). This national distinction is an honor held by few paramedics.
To maintain his status as an NRP, Dexter completed, on a biennial basis, the most comprehensive recertification program for Emergency Medical Services in America. By maintaining his nationally registered status and completing regular continuing education courses, Dexter is among the few Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) with the most training in pre-hospital emergency medical care in the nation.
Dexter has been a faculty member at Barton Community College since 2010. While at Barton, he has taught EMT, advanced EMT, and paramedic classes at Grandview Plaza, Great Bend, Topeka and Salina. He also teaches the only paramedic class taught in Kansas (one of only a handful of civilian taught classes in the nation) for the US Army Flight Medics. He has also held EMT, paramedic, supervisory and educational positions with EMS services and colleges in central, southwest and northeast Kansas communities.
Dexter started his EMS career as a volunteer ambulance crew member with the Midway Chapter American Red Cross Disaster Services in Wichita in 1973. He obtained his Kansas EMT certification in 1976 and his Kansas Emergency Mobile Intensive Care Technician (paramedic) certification in 1982. He obtained his National Paramedic Certification in 1985. Dean lives with his wife Diane on a hobby farm near St. George, Kan.