Maryam Dawood

Maryam Dawood is an EMT and Field Training Officer with Medstar in Metro Detroit, Michigan, whose passion for emergency medical services is closely connected to her interests in public health, education, and community service.

Maryam’s journey into EMS began in high school, when she enrolled in an EMT course. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented her from completing the program, but the interruption did not change her determination to pursue the profession. Just a few years later, at age 19, Maryam earned her EMT license through Macomb Community College and began building the career she had envisioned.

As an EMT, Maryam takes tremendous pride in providing professional and compassionate care to her patients. She values EMS because it continually challenges her to learn, improve, and become a stronger provider. That commitment to growth has also shaped her work as a Field Training Officer. In that role, Maryam encourages every student she mentors to hold themselves to high standards while never losing sight of the compassion and professionalism patients deserve.

Her experiences in EMS further strengthened Maryam’s interest in education and public health. She earned a bachelor’s degree in public health with a background in biology and used her undergraduate research to explore the importance of naloxone in communities affected by substance use disorder. Her firsthand exposure to overdose prevention through EMS helped inform her interest in the subject and reinforced her belief in the importance of education, prevention, and accessible care.

Maryam has carried that commitment into her work with a harm reduction agency in Detroit, where she provides accessible basic health care and connects people with substance use disorders to additional social care resources. Her EMS background has helped her recognize the importance of meeting people where they are and combining clinical care with education, compassion, and community support.

Maryam believes that caring for others and helping lift them up is among the highest honors a person can have. Whether caring for a patient, mentoring an EMT student, or supporting someone through harm reduction services, she puts that belief into practice.

Through her compassion, resilience, mentorship, and commitment to connecting EMS with broader community health needs, Maryam represents a promising generation of EMS professionals dedicated not only to responding to emergencies, but also to strengthening the communities they serve. Medstar is proud to recognize Maryam Dawood as an American Ambulance Association Star of Life.