Fall 2025: “Modernizing EMS & Public Health” with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Public Safety
For the Fall 2025 semester, CPF POSC 395 Policy Research Internship students explored how different states, regions, and international models deliver Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and examined which approaches produce the best outcomes for patients. They researched and compared the structures, strategies, and funding models of EMS systems across the United States, identifying key differences in response times, workforce training, and access to care. They also studied global EMS best practices to develop recommendations that could be adapted to the U.S. They presented their extensive research and recommendations to our partner, the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Public Safety.
Jeb Wu, a senior majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, said this about their research experience:
“I am deeply grateful for this experience for allowing me to utilize my quantitative skills to potentially create change and work with like-minded students that share their own unique diverse perspectives and approach to public policy.”
Project: Modernizing EMS & Public Health
Partner: Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Public Safety
USC Students: Amy Guzman, Ariella Kohanoff, Selene Park, Jeb Wu, and Ricca Yip
Research Questions: What lessons can U.S. cities learn from non-American cities or regions of emergency medical services (EMS) to improve quality of care? And what policy recommendations could facilitate these improvements?
Read the group’s full research presentation.
Watch the video presentation on “Modernizing EMS & Public Health.”