A community-driven workforce pathway program is opening doors to local firefighting and EMS careers in Dane County.
The Madison Fire Department (MFD) is using a Wisconsin Partnership Program grant to develop a new Fire/EMS Pathway Internship for local students interested in the fire service. MFD is partnering with Dr. Michael Spigner, an assistant professor in the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, as an academic partner on the career pathway program, which is now midway through its two-year pilot.
The full-time, paid internship combines hands-on field experience, structured mentorship, academic advising and tuition support. Interns work alongside Madison Fire crews while progressing toward an associate degree at Madison College, gaining both practical skills and professional credentials.
By the end of the program, the four interns currently participating in the pathway will be well positioned to enter competitive, full-time Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) roles — helping address workforce needs while supporting their transition into stable, mission-driven careers.
A capable public safety workforce is essential to community health and safety, said Spigner, a board-certified emergency medicine physician and EMS medical director, and depends on trust and close relationships with the communities served.
“Pathway programs like this internship can effectively support local applicants from diverse entry points and help develop future leaders,” he said. “This approach allows public safety organizations to uphold high, merit-based standards while building a workforce that reflects the communities they serve.”
Today, the Fire/EMS Pathway Internship stands as a model for how academic medicine, public safety organizations and community partners can work together to strengthen the emergency response system and improve health and safety outcomes across Wisconsin.
This article was adapted from a release by the Wisconsin Partnership Program at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, published on December 10, 2025.