Name: Susan Smith-Braithwaite
Department: Health Sciences
Program: Emergency Medical Care Program
Rank: Assistant Professor
Work Phone: 828.227.7446
Work Email: ssbraithwaite@email.wcu.edu
Office Address: HHS 422
Education:
Doctorate; Educational Doctorate, North Carolina State University, Adult and Community
College Education, 2014
Masters; Master of Education, North Carolina State University, Adult and Community
College Education, 2007
Bachelors; Bachelor of Science, Western Carolina University, Emergency Medical Care,
1988
Licenses and Specialty Credentialing:
Nationally Registered Paramedic
North Carolina Paramedic
Certified Intensive Care Provider (critical care)
North Carolina Level II Paramedic Instructor
American Heart Association Instructor in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric
Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support.
National Association of EMT’s Instructor in Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support, Advanced
Medical Life Support, Safety.
Educational Methodology Instructor
Experience:
Faculty, Program Director and Department Chair of Health Sciences in the NC Community
College System.
Over 30 years as a Paramedic and Critical Care Paramedic.
Area of Expertise: Cardiac arrest resuscitation, Cardiology, Trauma, Ethics, Educational Methodology, Qualitative research
Primary Teaching Responsibilities:
EMC 240 and 241; Introduction to EMC/lab
EMC 410 and 411; Advanced Trauma Management/lab
EMC 350 and 352; Cardiology/lab
EMC 452; Critical Cardiac Resuscitation and Management
Scholarly Interests: Ethical decision-making in EMS, PTSD, cardiac arrest resuscitation, learning styles
Service Interests: Intra-professional Education, including triage training with nursing, social work, and EMC; ACLS and PALS for Nursing; and PTSD among other allied heatlh professions.
Bio:
Dr. Susan Smith Braithwaite, NRP, Assistant Professor, began her EMS career in 1988
as a paramedic in Florida. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency
Medical Care from WCU in 1988, her Master of Education degree from North Carolina
State University in 2007, and completed her Doctor of Education Degree in Adult and
Community College Education from the North Carolina State University in 2014. Susan
joined the WCU faculty in 2012 and teaches courses in, trauma, cardiology, cardiac
arrest resuscitation and introduction to emergency medical care. Her research interests
include ethical decision-making, PTSD, learning styles, and EMS education. Susan
currently serves as faculty for the National Association of EMT’s for both Pre-Hospital
Trauma Life Support and Advanced Medical Life Support. Susan is an instructor for
the American Heart Association for Pediatric, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and basic
life support. She is a Level II Paramedic Coordinator through the North Carolina
Office of EMS and a Nationally Registered Paramedic.
When not in the office, she enjoys her family (mother, two kids, husband, three dogs, and six chickens), guitars, and quilting. She also likes exploring the beauty of the Western North Carolina with particular regard for craft beers and music.