Lifesaving Skills. Confidence to Act. A Passion for Teaching.
PGCPR was built from a simple belief: lifesaving skills should feel approachable, practical, and possible for everyone to learn.
It Started With an Opportunity to Teach
While working for an agency, Patricia Jean Gilles learned that the organization's CPR instructor was leaving. Her employer believed Patricia would be a natural fit to step into the role because she was a fast learner and, more importantly, loved teaching.
That encouragement to become a CPR instructor eventually led to the creation of PGCPR in 2020. What wasn't originally part of Patricia's business plan soon became something much more meaningful.
What started as an opportunity quickly became a passion.
As Patricia began teaching CPR, she became fascinated by how skills that can be learned and practiced could potentially make such an important difference in the critical moments before additional help arrives.
Over the years, that passion has only grown. Through her work as a nurse, Patricia has seen firsthand how important emergency preparedness can be—not only in healthcare settings, but in homes and throughout the community.
For Patricia, CPR education is about more than completing a course. It's about helping people recognize that they can learn practical skills, build confidence, and be better prepared to respond when someone needs help.
That belief also extends to children and young people. One of the parts of PGCPR Patricia values most is creating opportunities for children to learn CPR skills and understand that even at a young age, they can begin learning how to respond in an emergency.
Today, PGCPR continues to grow from the same idea that started it all: give people practical skills, teach them with care, and help them leave more confident than when they arrived.
What began as an opportunity to teach became a mission to help more people feel prepared to respond.
Meet Patricia Jean Gilles
Patricia Jean Gilles is a nurse, CPR instructor, educator, and founder of PGCPR. Her experience in healthcare and passion for teaching shape the way she approaches CPR education: practical, supportive, hands-on, and focused on helping students understand not only what to do, but why their response matters.
For Patricia, teaching CPR isn't about intimidating people with medical terminology. It's about breaking lifesaving skills into understandable steps, giving students opportunities to practice, and helping them leave class with greater confidence in their ability to respond.
“Sometimes simple steps can give someone a chance. I want more people to know that they are capable of learning them.
More Than Certification
PGCPR is built around education, preparation, and confidence. Whether someone needs training for a healthcare career, workplace requirement, school, family, or simply wants to know what to do during an emergency, the goal is the same: make lifesaving education understandable and meaningful.
Teach Clearly
Break important skills into practical, understandable steps.
Practice Hands-On
Give participants opportunities to practice applicable skills with instructor guidance.
Build Confidence
Help students feel better prepared to recognize an emergency and respond.
Strengthen Our Community
Make lifesaving education accessible beyond healthcare settings.
Starting Lifesaving Education Young
Children hold a special place in the mission of PGCPR. Patricia believes lifesaving education shouldn't begin only when someone enters the healthcare field.
Young people can begin learning how to recognize an emergency, call for help, understand what CPR is, and appreciate the importance of taking action. Early exposure can help make emergency preparedness something they grow up understanding rather than something they first encounter as adults.
That's why PGCPR is committed to providing free CPR education opportunities for children as part of its community mission.
Little Learners. Lifelong Skills.
From Healthcare to Home
PGCPR serves people at different stages of life, education, and work—all connected by a desire to be better prepared.
The Mission Continues
What started with one opportunity to become an instructor has grown into PGCPR—a training business focused on helping healthcare professionals, students, workplaces, families, and community members build practical lifesaving skills.
As PGCPR continues to grow, the mission remains simple: teach clearly, practice together, and help more people understand that they can make a difference when someone needs help.
Learn the Skills. Build the Confidence. Be Ready.
Whether you're training for your career, your workplace, your family, or yourself, PGCPR is ready to help you take the next step.