The University of Pennsylvania Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) is a student-run service organization providing emergency medical services to the University community. The primary purpose of the organization is to complement the emergency medical care provided by the University of Pennsylvania Police Department (UPPD) and the Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) by providing professional, timely, and high-quality pre-hospital treatment. The secondary purpose of the organization is to provide training and education to students and the community. For more information on MERT, what we do, and how you can join, please visit pennmert.org.
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Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT)
HealthMedicineCommunity ServiceCIVIC ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNITY SERVICEUndergraduate
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Club Mission
FAQ
Most Recent
Question: Why join MERT instead of working for the city/a company? - Anonymous
More than being just an EMS agency, we're a student organization! We are a family of undergraduates who are passionate about EMS, and we provide emergency services to a community we're already a part of, making the experience all the more exciting!
- Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT)
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Question: Hi! I am a sophomore and was looking forward to applying to MERT/MERT's Spring EMT Class. Unfortunately, I missed the dates on the information session this fall. However, I did attend the information session from the previous year. Is there anything I could do to still apply? - Anonymous
Reach out to the membership@pennmert.org email and we have an info session recording we can provide for you.
- Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT)
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Question: Can Masters or PhD students join MERT and take the Spring course? - Maya Singh
Currently the MERT EMT Class is only open to current freshmen and sophomore undergraduate students.
- Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT)
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Question: Does mert only offer emt classes during the spring? - Anonymous
Yes, MERT offers an EMT class once a year during spring semester.
- Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT)
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Question: This is a kind of random question, but how do Mert members travel when called? Like is everyone required to ride a bicycle or is there a vehicle of some sort? - Anonymous
All MERT members respond to calls by bike. During inclement weather, Penn public safety vehicles take us to the scene.
- Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT)
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Question: Do I need to apply to and join MERT in order to take the EMT class offered in the spring? - Anonymous
The application for the EMT class is also considered your application to MERT. You are guaranteed a spot on the team once you complete our class.
- Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT)
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Question: Hi! Where can I find the application? - Anonymous
You can find the application on our website at pennmert.org under the "Join MERT" tab.
- Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT)
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Question: Are international students eligible to gain EMT certification and then join MERT as EMTs? - Anonymous
Yes, international students are eligible to take the EMT class and join MERT.
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Organizational Profile
70 Registered (50 - 100 Members)
Currently Accepting: Yes
Application and Interview Required
Both Semesters
Classification: Undergraduate
Contact
How to Get Involved
There are two pathways to join MERT:
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Reciprocity: If you have a current EMT certification from another state/NREMT, you are eligible to apply for MERT through our reciprocity pathway. If your license is not from Pennsylvania, you will also need to complete the reciprocity process to transfer your license, which you will work on with MERT after acceptance to our organization.
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To receive the application, please complete the 2026 MERT Interest Form. You will be contacted by email once the application is released.
A virtual information session for the reciprocity cohort will be held on Thursday, January 29, from 7:00-8:00 PM on Zoom. Please be sure to fill out the 2026 MERT Interest Form to receive the Zoom link.
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Applications will be released at 9:00 AM on Friday, January 30th, and will be due at 11:59 PM on Friday, February 13th. Late applications will not be accepted.
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We will reach out to schedule coffee chats and send out interview invites to selected applicants after the application deadline. Coffee chats with members of the MERT Board will occur between Thursday, February 19th, and Saturday, February 28th. Interviews are scheduled to be on Sunday, March 1st. Final decisions will be released within a few days of interviews.
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EMT Class: If you are a freshman or sophomore and would like to obtain your certification, MERT holds an EMT class held through the Perelman School of Medicine during the spring semester. Applications for the Spring 2026 EMT class are currently closed. More information about applications for the Spring 2027 EMT class will be released in August 2026.
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Questions? For more information, please visit our website and follow our Instagram (@pennmert) for updates. Please send any questions to membership@pennmert.org. For email updates about applications, please fill out the 2026 MERT Interest Form.
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