Oxford Charter Township recently issued the following announcement.
Oxford Township is extremely proud of its female firefighters, paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). Every day, they protect lives and property while working in a male-dominated field. These strong women are not only putting themselves at risk to keep our community safe, they’re knocking down stereotypes and providing positive role models for females of all ages.
Oxford Township is saluting these brave and selfless women by featuring each of them on our Facebook page. This week, we’re showcasing Sarah Dieters, a paid-on-call EMT who joined the Oxford Fire Department in 2019.
Growing up in Rochester, Sarah never imagined that one day, she would be riding in the back of an ambulance, responding to emergency calls and treating patients. She thought she had found her calling in the classroom.
After graduating from Stoney Creek High School in 2007, Sarah pursued a career in education. That’s what led her to Oxford. Beginning in 2015, she spent two years teaching developmental kindergarten at Daniel Axford Elementary followed by three years teaching kindergarten at Lakeville Elementary. While working, Sarah earned a master’s degree in educational technology.
Sarah loved helping children, but she discovered that teaching wasn’t her passion. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was something missing from the experience.
Sarah thought back to when her father, Jim Dieters, had emergency quadruple bypass surgery in 2013. Back then, she spent a lot of time in the hospital watching the doctors, physician assistants and nurses work together to achieve a common goal. “I really liked the team aspect,” Sarah said. “I realized that’s what I was missing in my professional life.”
But before leaving education for the medical field, Sarah decided to test the waters by becoming an Oxford EMT and serving the community she’s called home since 2016. “It was a good way to gain some hands-on experience and see if this was really something I wanted to do,” she explained.
The result? “I fell in love with it,” Sarah said.
Her favorite medical calls are the “small ones,” the situations where she can really be a source of comfort, calm and support to patients and their loved ones.
“As an EMT, you always have to remember that what’s routine for you isn’t routine for other people. For them, it’s new and scary,” Sarah said. “I try to make a personal connection with each patient and give them peace of mind. I get to know them. I take the time to explain everything and make them as comfortable as possible. I treat every patient the way I would want my dad treated.”
Thanks to her training and experiences as an EMT, Sarah is now ready to embark on an exciting new career path. She has been admitted to the Physician Assistant Master of Science Program at the University of Michigan-Flint. Classes begin in January.
But don’t worry, she has no plans to leave the fire department.
“It really is a family there. Everyone has each other’s backs,” Sarah said.
When Sarah’s father died in September 2020, her fellow department members rallied around her.
“The support I received from the guys on shift was amazing,” she said. “They were blowing up my phone with messages, telling me how much they care about me and asking if I need anything. After I left the hospital, I didn’t go to my house. I went back to the fire station and spent the night because that’s where I feel at home.”
Overall, Sarah is quite pleased with her decision to switch careers. She encourages others to do the same if they’re not happy or fulfilled.
“It’s never too late to make a change,” she said. “Find what you’re passionate about. Put in the time and effort to determine what’s best for you. And remember, it’s perfectly OK to change careers or follow a new dream no matter how much work, time or money you put into the first one. You just have to have the courage to do it.”
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