James (Jim) McCans has more than 45 years of experience in emergency medical services. He served as a paramedic in the City of Chester, chief paramedic in Haverford Township, a member of the University of Pennsylvania’s PennSTAR critical care helicopter team, and a tactical paramedic on a federal SWAT team.
His experiences in the field often left him asking, “How did this happen?” and “What can I do to prevent this from happening again?” Those questions led him to PCOM’s Master of Science in Forensic Medicine program, where he graduated as part of the 2004 inaugural class.
After graduation, McCans accepted a teaching position in PCOM's MS in Forensic Medicine program. His teaching interests include the evaluation of injuries associated with weapons and the identification and investigation of clandestine graves. Among the highlights of his career at PCOM was his partnership with Stache, a PCOM-sponsored cadaver dog that earned numerous awards, including the ASPCA Presidential Award in 2008.
McCans has used his PCOM education to help solve homicide cases, improve EMS systems, develop a patented device for medical care, and provide expert witness testimony.
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