New Faces at the Ruby Valley Hospital – Kelsey Cooksey
The impressions we make on people, especially in emergency situations, can change their lives. Kelsey Cooksey was in a serious accident at the age of 15 and the emergency staff left a profound impact on her family and herself. After recovering from the accident, Cooksey started riding along with her local fire department. “I knew right away that this is what I wanted to do,” says Cooksey.
While Cooksey was still in high school, she became a certified EMT. She attended college in Wyoming, initially focusing on nursing and completing Certified Nurse Assistant training. Although she returned to emergency medicine after earning her CNA, this training provided financial support for her ongoing education ambitions. Cooksey recalls, “I worked on the Neuro floor of the Wyoming Medical Center, which wasn’t emergency medicine, but I really got some valuable experience there. I’m very glad I did it.” Cooksey has earned degrees in Fire Science (2014) and Paramedics (2016). She is a Nationally Registered Paramedic and is also certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Advanced Medical Life Support and Pre-Hospital Traumatic Life Support. She plans to complete critical care paramedic training. Cooksey is confident that she has found her life’s work in emergency medicine. “It's about being there to help somebody at their worst time. Showing up in the middle of someone’s emergency and being able to affect the outcome.”
Cooksey is originally from a small town in Wyoming and completed all her medical training in Laramie and Caspar. “Wyoming is my home base. Most of my family still lives there and I visit when I can,” says Cooksey. After a brief stint working in North Dakota, she heard of a job opportunity Sheridan, Montana. The beauty of the Ruby Valley and mountains that surround it stole her heart. She had missed the mountains of Wyoming while working in North Dakota. “The Ruby Valley does not have that problem!” exclaimed Cooksey.
When she is not working with the Ruby Valley Emergency Medical Services team, Cooksey is outdoors hiking in the summer or downhill skiing in the winter. She also really enjoys reading and her favorite book so far is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Cooksey also has a passion for Greek mythology, particularly The Iliad and Antigone.