KVFD Spotlight: How Service Shaped Alessandra Breen’s Career and Community
When Alessandra Breen returned home after college, she knew she wanted to serve the community where she grew up.
Raised in Wheaton and a high school graduate in Kensington, Alessandra earned her bachelor’s degree in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from Creighton University and worked for a private ambulance company in Omaha. When she returned to Maryland, she was eager to experience EMS in a fire department setting.
The opportunity appeared at Taste of Wheaton in 2018, where she spotted a Kensington Volunteer Fire Department table. “I walked over and began the process of joining,” Alessandra said.
More than eight years later, Alessandra is an EMS Lieutenant at KVFD, overseeing EMS operations and scheduling. She continues to ride as an EMT and recently completed the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) as she works toward her next goal: driving the ambulance.
Finding Her Place in Volunteer EMS
Alessandra’s path into KVFD was different from that of many new volunteers. She arrived with a paramedic license from Nebraska, which meant navigating the process of transferring her credentials and learning Maryland’s state and local protocols.
At the same time, she was considering returning to school for nursing and ultimately decided to transition from her paramedic license to an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification. “I was trying to figure out how best I could contribute clinically at KVFD, and also what I wanted to do career-wise,” she said.
Today, those two paths complement each other. Alessandra has been a nurse for nearly six years while continuing to serve the Kensington community as a volunteer EMT.
Growing as a Provider and a Leader
Alessandra joined KVFD with clinical experience. What she didn’t expect was how much volunteering would help her grow as a leader.
“Through training, I have learned how to transition into a leadership role,” she said. “I came into Kensington not having any idea that I would progress to an EMT Lieutenant.”
She has also found that her experiences at KVFD and in her career as a clinical research nurse strengthen one another. “I appreciate how I can learn something at work and then a clinical situation arises at KVFD, and I can draw upon my experience,” Alessandra said.
Calls at KVFD have also influenced her nursing practice. “I’m grateful that there are those opportunities to promote and develop not just as a provider but also as a leader.”
A Culture Rooted in Service
After eight years, Alessandra says it’s both service and the people around her that keep her coming back. “I think that the overall culture of KVFD is rooted in service,” she said.
KVFD brings together volunteers from all walks of life and careers, and each shift develops its own personality.
“We may have one shift known for training late, or another for their weekly pancake breakfasts,” Alessandra said. “Everyone is unified in the dedication to service.”
Those fellow volunteers have also become some of her closest friends.
“Once you have embraced volunteering, you cannot simply leave your own community you built,” she said. “When you surround yourself with people who hold the same values, leaving doesn’t really come to mind.”
Making Volunteering Part of Life
Between nursing, KVFD, family and friends, Alessandra has learned to make volunteering part of her routine. A paper planner helps, but so does having a support system that understands how important service is to her.
“My dad always encouraged service growing up,” she said. “I think having a family behind me who is supportive really helps.”
Her friends understand the commitment, too.
“Riding with KVFD is a non-negotiable for me,” Alessandra said. Outside of KVFD, she enjoys dance classes, swimming, traveling, road trips and spending time with friends.
Interested in Volunteering? You Don’t Need Experience.
Alessandra came to KVFD with an EMS background, but she is quick to point out that prospective volunteers don’t need one.
“I think that the beauty of volunteering is we will give you the tools you need,” she said. “If you have the willingness to learn and work, then you will excel at KVFD.”
KVFD members work in fields ranging from healthcare and engineering to IT, radio and the service industry. The department provides the training volunteers need to prepare to serve their community.
After more than eight years, Alessandra is grateful not only for the clinical and leadership experience, but for the relationships she has built along the way.
“I am so grateful that KVFD has allowed me to maintain clinical skills, develop as a leader, and challenge me to be the best provider I can be,” she said. “I am also so grateful for the lifelong friends and connections I have made.”
Find Your Place at KVFD
Alessandra walked up to a KVFD table looking for a way to continue serving in EMS. Eight years later, she is an EMS Lieutenant, a stronger clinician and leader, and part of a community she can’t imagine leaving.
And you don’t need Alessandra’s EMS background to get started. Whether you’re interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, EMT, or administrative member, KVFD provides training and opportunities to find your place on the team. Learn more and apply today.
