11/13/2025
Congrats! Heidi has made a massive impact on the lives of so many in our field. Enjoy your retirement!
We are proud (and a little sad) to announce the retirement of the legendary Heidi Hess, a trailblazer for women in emergency services and an Owens instructor since 1988!
Hess taught thousands of students who are now saving lives throughout our communities. She has been the heartbeat of the Owens EMT program, caring for students and ensuring they are fully prepared. In all, she spent 37 years teaching future EMTs at Owens.
For her career, she broke into a field dominated by men and ascended to the position of fire department captain, but it was not easy. She filed two important lawsuits to fight discriminatory hiring practices toward women.
“I always say, I’m not the best paramedic in the world, I can hold my own, and I’m sure there are better instructors out there, too, but I give my students 110 percent,” Hess said, adding, “I’ve been blessed with a good career.”
Read more about Heidi’s incredible career: https://bit.ly/4oyB95v
Owens Community College Center for Emergency Preparedness
