Healthcare Scholarships Fuel Paramedic’s Dream

In the wilds of Ravalli County in the Bitterroot Valley, Craig Martynn of Missoula puts his skills to use helping injured hunters, travelers in car wrecks, and others.

“When you’re in Darby, when you’re driving to the remote reaches of the county, you never know what you’re getting into,” he said. “There are a lot of critical thinking skills that come into play.”

Craig is furthering his skills with help from a Benefis Foundation scholarship presented in memory of paramedic/firefighter Paul Erickson, who died at age 33 in a 2007 Mercy Flight crash with pilot Vince Kirol and nurse Darcy Dengel. Paul began his career as an emergency responder answering emergency calls with the Belt Valley Fire Department at age 16. With his friend, he was the youngest in the state to be certified.

Craig is in the paramedicine program at Missoula College. He also has a wildlife biology degree from the University of Montana. His last semester at the university was spent online amid the COVID outbreak.

“I felt there was a greater need for medical people, especially trained in field medicine, caring for people in these overwhelmed systems,” he said.

That led him to volunteering with the local fire department and becoming an EMT. He enjoyed working on the ambulance crew and saw the need for his services. His long-term goal is employment in Montana as a firefighter/paramedic or flight medic.

Scholarship Deadline is June 1

To apply for a Benefis Foundation scholarship to further your healthcare education, visit Benefis.org/Scholarships.

Add additional page content here

Craig is among 38 students who shared $75,750 in healthcare scholarships from Benefis Foundation in 2023.

“Getting the scholarship was a huge benefit to me,” he said. “I’ve been more successful in school because I didn’t have to work every second I wasn’t in class. This is often an underpaid occupation, and it’s difficult to juggle working full time and taking classes.”

Craig said he hopes Paul would be proud that his legacy also includes helping Montana paramedics get a foothold in the career he loved.

“This is a job that has risks, and the people who choose this occupation decide the risks are outweighed by the benefit of making a difference in someone’s life,” he said. “I’ve read about Paul, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to receive this scholarship in his honor. Though his life was cut short, I’m sure he was proud of the work he did.”