Catherine A. Parvensky Barwell

Catherine Barwell's medical background began when she became certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). She joined Good Fellowship Ambulance in West Chester, PA and began responding to emergencies, just like Tommi Lance. Realizing how much she enjoyed the emergency field, she quickly became an EMT Instructor to teach others how to do the same.

Catherine later obtained a license as a Registered Nurse (R.N.) and began working in a Pediatric Infectious Disease practice. After a few years, she moved from nursing to the world of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as an EMS Training Coordinator for the County of Chester in West Chester, PA.

Ms. Barwell then earned a B.S. in EMS Administration from Hahnemann University, graduating first in her class. She then went on to earn a M.Ed. in Instructional Systems, Training Design and Development from Penn State University. She was quickly promoted to Deputy Director of Training for the Department of Emergency Services of the County of Chester where she remained for several years overseeing all EMS and Fire service Training as well as Public Education. In 1994, she was given the EMS Instructor of the Year title by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Catherine then used her education and skills as Program Director for the M.S. in Health Care Education Technology at Hahneman University where she taught numerous EMS and technology courses. She was also instrumental in the development of the University's first online training program and developed many online courses which she used to teach students in both Philadelphia and Pittsburg EMS programs.

Catherine has contributed to more than twenty EMS textbooks and ancillary medical publications before embarking on her latest endeavor, working with children's fiction. Her first book, "Teaching EMS", was published in 1994. Her hope is to share her latest adventures with kids of all ages who may find both entertainment and lessons in learning about real life emergencies.

In addition to being an author, Catherine fills her day as owner of a website design and hosting company, Integrated Learning Technology, Inc. and as an EMT and Paramedic Instructor, Instructor Trainer, and EMT Program Director for the Good Fellowship Ambulance & EMS Training Institute in West Chester, PA. She has also assisted with EMT courses at Villanova University and Hahnemann University.

While EMS is in her blood, Catherine's greatest accomplishment and love is her three young children. They can often be heard around the house singing the theme song to Tommi Lance. When the four year old was asked "who do you like better, Dora or Tommi Lance?" she replied. Tommi Lance, because he helps people. There's no better testament than that! In addition to singing the theme song, her children can be heard in the reading of "Tommi Lance Grows Up" which can be viewed in the Reading Room of the Lanceville Bookstore.

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