Medical Shuttle Lends a Helping Hand

by The Cowl Editor on November 7, 2019


Campus


by Max Waite ’21

News Staff

For about five years, Ernie Adamo has been helping the Providence College community by providing shuttle rides around campus to those with physical ailments.

Adamo, along with his wife, had worked in the alumni office here at PC for 18 years prior to taking his latest job. 

Instead of heading into retirement, he gave the office of Public Safety a call to see if there was anything available for him. Adamo explained, “I can’t stay home. I just like to be working.”

As it turns out, he was given the opportunity to drive students around campus who could not walk on their own. Additionally, Adamo and his team of shuttle drivers get to drive six students off-campus for their student teaching positions at nearby schools.

Jake Murray ‘21 is another shuttle driver who drives student teachers to their schools off-campus. Murray says, “I like driving the vans on/off-campus because it is a work-study job where I can connect with other PC students in a different setting other than the classroom. Driving around the local communities around the PC campus has given me insight into the Rhode Island community and the people associated with PC. I wouldn’t trade the job for any other one on campus.”

An interesting part of the shuttle drivers’ is how drastically the College’s campus has changed since Adamo started driving for the school just five years ago.

Since the College closed off part of  Huxley Avenue, it has been much safer for students traveling across campus. Adamo describes, “The traffic patterns are much better, and students are much safer by not having to cross a busy street.”

Currently, Adamo and his team drive about 14 students around campus with two vans. The larger shuttle is wheelchair-accessible and can fit four people, while the smaller van is not wheelchair-accessible and can fit six people. 

Up until three years ago, the College only had the six-passenger van, which was especially difficult for those in wheelchairs.

Steve Joyce ‘21 has ridden on the shuttle since the start of the semester due to an injured leg. Joyce said, “I honestly have not had a ride in the shuttle that wasn’t a good time. I am extremely thankful for all the shuttle drivers, and I hope to be back on my feet soon!”

What the drivers have found especially difficult to juggle has been the fact that there are only two vans to take students both around and off-campus. Adamo also wants to caution students to look both ways before crossing the streets on-campus for their own safety. 

Despite that, the PC community applauds Adamo and his drivers for their job well done.

PC’s medical shuttle fleet includes a wheelchair-accessible van.
Jay Willett ’20/THECOWL