A chance encounter between two undergraduate students in August 2004 would ultimately lead them to form an organization with the ambitious goal of making the USF Tampa campus a safer place. After advertising the new organization, there was a resounding positive response. Relationships were formed with USF Administration, Student Health Services, College of Public Health, and a local ambulance company, to develop a First Responder training program under the license of the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI).

For the past 19 years, UEMSA has trained and certified over 850 First Responders – or the new classification – Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) to provide life saving care in medical and traumatic emergencies.

In 2013, UEMSA leadership met with Student Health Services to discuss a partnership in the management of all Automated External Defibrillators (AED) on the USF Tampa campus. The Campus AED Management Program (CAMP) was developed with the goal of locating and maintaining all AEDs as well as training designated USF personal in CPR and the use of the AEDs.

In early 2015, UEMSA and Student Health Services collaborated to develop a clinical volunteer program for our EMR graduates. The program allows persons with an EMR certification or higher to volunteer on campus in the Student Health Clinic. Volunteers gain direct patient care and clinical hours that they can use towards their degree program requirements.

On February 14th 2020, UEMSA, in collaboration with Student Health Services and Student Government, launched the Medical Response Unit (MRU) which would become responsible for providing free Basic Life Support medical care and transport for everyone on the Tampa campus. This free service is staffed by nationally and state certified EMRs, EMTs, and Paramedics. 

UEMSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible.