Central Park Medical Unit

09/04/2026

25 YEARS LATER, WE REMEMBER.
On September 11, 2001, the world witnessed unimaginable tragedy,and extraordinary courage.
These photographs were taken at the World Trade Center site on September 11, 2001 and immediately following. As we look back 25 years later, they remind us of the profound loss of that day, and of the countless acts of courage, compassion and service that followed.
We remember the nearly 3,000 innocent lives taken.
We honor the firefighters, police officers, EMS professionals and ordinary citizens who ran toward danger to help others.
We remember those who later became ill or lost their lives because of their service at Ground Zero.
And we recognize the families whose lives were forever changed.
We Will Never Forget!

08/27/2026

AN EXTRAORDINARY HONOR FOR CPMU

We are deeply honored to have been selected by Reisenbach Philanthropies to receive its 2026 Distinguished Citizenship Award.
For more than 50 years, the Central Park Medical Unit has been powered entirely by volunteers—people from many professions and walks of life who share one commitment: to be there when someone needs help.
Whether responding to an everyday emergency in Central Park or answering the call during some of New York City’s darkest hours, our volunteers have served with compassion, courage, and professionalism—without ever charging a patient for our care.
This award belongs to every CPMU member, past and present, who has staffed an ambulance, treated a patient, trained a new EMT, maintained our equipment, raised critical funds, or otherwise helped keep our mission moving forward.
We are profoundly grateful to Reisenbach Philanthropies for recognizing CPMU’s five decades of service and for supporting organizations that strengthen New York City.
We look forward to accepting this distinguished honor at the Reisenbach Philanthropies Annual Benefit on November 18.
To our volunteers and supporters: Thank you. This recognition belongs to all of you!

08/25/2026

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
One is a college student.
One is a Chief of Law Enforcement Agency
One is a Ph.D. healthcare consultant, Professor at a Medical School
One is a nurse practitioner.
One is an attorney.
One is a physician.
Today, they're all EMTs.
Every one of them is a volunteer.
Thousands of people visit Central Park every day.
Most will never meet us.
And that's exactly how we hope it stays.
But when someone's worst day arrives...
We're already on our way.
For more than 50 years, the Central Park Medical Unit has provided free, rapid emergency medical care to millions of park visitors. Every ambulance response, every bike patrol, every special event, and every life touched has been made possible by volunteers who choose to serve their community.
We don't volunteer because emergencies happen. We volunteer because people matter!
If you're looking for a meaningful way to give back, consider donating to one of New York City's premier volunteer EMS organizations.

08/20/2026

08/17/2026

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: NATHAN ROZOFF
At just 17 years old, and while still a senior in high school, Nathan Rozoff responded to his very first call as an EMT with the Central Park Medical Unit.
It was a cardiac arrest.
Without hesitation, Nathan began performing CPR. His training, composure, and determination helped save a life that day. What an extraordinary beginning to what has become an equally extraordinary record of service!
Nathan is now a student at Dartmouth College, yet he continues to return to CPMU and dedicate his time and talents to caring for others. Despite the demands of college life, he remains one of our most committed and dependable volunteers, always ready to answer the call.
Nathan represents the very best of CPMU: courage, compassion, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to service.
We are enormously proud of everything Nathan has accomplished, and even prouder that he continues to call CPMU home.
Please join us in recognizing Nathan Rozoff, an exceptional EMT, an extraordinary volunteer, and a young man whose future is every bit as promising as the lives he has already touched.
Nathan, thank you for your service. We are fortunate to have you on our team!

08/04/2026

FROM THE AMBULANCE TO MEDICAL SCHOOL: CONGRATULATIONS, DAVID!

At the Central Park Medical Unit, we have a saying:

“See one. Do one. Teach one.”

CPMU is more than an all-volunteer ambulance service. We are also a teaching unit—a place where young EMTs gain hands-on experience, develop confidence, learn leadership, and discover what it truly means to care for another person.

Many of our volunteers have gone on to become career EMTs and paramedics, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians.

Today, we are proud to spotlight one of our latest success stories: David Besprozvany.

David joined CPMU as a young volunteer during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those early calls, long shifts, and countless hours spent learning in the back of an ambulance helped ignite a passion for medicine. He went on to serve in New York City’s 911 system at Lenox Hill Hospital and later Maimonides Medical Center, while also taking on a leadership role at CPMU as our Membership Coordinator.

We are now extraordinarily proud to announce that David has begun his medical education at the NYU School of Medicine, an accelerated three-year MD program.

David recently wrote to us that CPMU gave him the clinical foundation, confidence, leadership experience, and appreciation for compassion, teamwork, humility, and service that helped make this next chapter possible.

David, the truth is that CPMU may have opened the door, but you walked through it. You showed up, put in the hours, accepted responsibility, and made the most of every opportunity.

Your journey reminds us why we invest in our volunteers and why teaching and mentorship are so central to CPMU’s mission. Every young EMT who steps aboard one of our ambulances carries tremendous potential. Sometimes that first shift becomes the beginning of an entire career devoted to saving lives.

Congratulations, David! Your CPMU family could not be prouder. We look forward to the day when you return to the Unit not only as an EMT and medical student, but perhaps, one day, as a CPMU medical director.

See one. Do one. Teach one. The next generation of medicine begins here.

, Emergency Management, Regional EMS Council of NYC

08/04/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7490205361145081856

07/31/2026

Some heroes don't wear capes. They wear blue uniforms, carry medical equipment, and answer the call without expecting recognition.
Today, we are honored to recognize Dr. Timmy Li, Ph.D., EMT, one of the exceptional volunteers of the Central Park Medical Unit.
One of these photographs captures a moment that reminds us why volunteer EMS matters. Dr. Li is seen caring for a victim in cardiac arrest a patient who, because of the rapid response and coordinated efforts of our team, survived. Every second counts during a cardiac emergency, and every skill, every decision, and every act of teamwork can mean the difference between life and death.
The other images show what Dr. Li does week after week: providing compassionate, professional emergency medical care to people experiencing some of the worst moments of their lives. Whether responding to a critically ill patient, a traumatic injury, or a public event, he brings extraordinary knowledge, calm under pressure, and genuine compassion to every call.
What makes this story even more remarkable is that Timmy does all of this as a volunteer. Like every member of CPMU, he freely gives his time to protect the millions of residents and visitors who enjoy Central Park each year. His dedication reflects the very best of public service and reminds us that the strength of our organization lies in the selfless commitment of our volunteers.
Timmy, thank you for your professionalism, your compassion, and for the lives you have touched—and, in at least one unforgettable case, the life you helped save.
We are proud to have you as part of the Central Park Medical Unit family.

02/03/2026

Snow day with CPMU!❄ The park looks extra beautiful this time of year. Thank you to our crews who braved the winter storm to be there for our patients—and for unofficial sledder safety patrol.

01/22/2026

When the weather turns dangerous, Central Park Medical Unit is ready.
As a blizzard approaches this weekend, our all-volunteer crews will be standing by—day and night—to respond to emergencies throughout Central Park.
This photo was taken during a previous blizzard, late at night in a dark and desolate area of the Park. Our volunteers arrived on scene in under two minutes, working seamlessly alongside our partners at the NYPD Central Park Precinct to assist a person in need.
Snow, cold, wind, or darkness do not change our mission. For over 50 years, CPMU has been there when help is needed most—quietly, quickly, and without charge.
To our volunteers, our law enforcement partners, and our supporters: thank you for making this possible.
To the public: please stay safe, and know that we are ready!! Learn more at CPMU.com