Anka Mischel

33 years ago, Anka Mischel was searching for a night-shift job, that would allow her to pay for college while earning her bachelor’s degree. She found that opportunity as a dispatcher for a local emergency medical services (EMS) operation in San Francisco, California.

After college, she moved to Tucson, Arizona, yet she never left the EMS industry, working for ambulance companies, Rural Metro and Kords/Southwest, before they were acquired by American Medical Response (AMR). Unaffected by the transition, Anka remained committed to a meaningful, lifelong EMS career and gladly accepted every hands-on opportunity.

“I am a paramedic,” Anka says with pride. “I’ve also been an EMT, a preceptor and an instructor for various certifications medics are required to hold. Many other positions became available too, but I truly love helping people and being in the field most of all.”

Anka’s commitment to AMR Tucson and the community it serves reached new heights when she went beyond keeping up with new and evolving procedures, taking the initiative to learn Spanish too. Recognizing that many of her patients spoke the language, Anka wanted to ensure she could communicate effectively and offer equal care and comfort to everyone she served.

With that level of dedication, it’s no surprise that Anka earned Paramedic of the Year twice during her career. Her advice for anyone considering a future with AMR is simple: Llearn and practice your skills to the best of your ability. It’s a mindset that has guided Anka throughout her career and helped her make a lasting impact on the patients and communities she serves.

Anka reflects, “I’ve learned to trust my instincts, and [because of that,] I’ve been able to establish a strong rapport with the area I serve as well as with the health partners, fire chiefs and law enforcement agencies with whom my EMS partners and I interact regularly.”

We are truly inspired by Anka’s outstanding compassion, grateful for her decades of service and we hope that those interested in a like-minded career choose to pursue one of the many diverse opportunities EMS has to offer.