John Harding

Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service is proud to recognize John Harding as a 2025 Star of Life. John has dedicated more than 35 years to serving patients and advancing the EMS profession.

Throughout his distinguished career, John has taken on many roles, each marked by his commitment to clinical excellence, mentorship, and community engagement. He currently serves as an Assistant Supervisor at Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service’s Mankato location, where he also contributes his expertise to the Trauma Performance Improvement/Safety Committee and the Mankato Trauma Committee. His leadership ensures that patients and providers alike benefit from a culture of safety and continuous improvement.

John has also played a vital role in Materials Management and, perhaps most notably, in recruitment. He has become a familiar face at EMS conferences and Paramedic programs across the Midwest, where his enthusiasm for the profession inspires students and future providers. Many cite John as a defining influence in their decision to join Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service, reflecting his ability to make a lasting impact on those he meets.

John’s supervisor, Pat Holm, notes: “John has consistently demonstrated excellence in his profession. His contributions span a wide range of responsibilities, including hospital-to-hospital transfers, emergency 911 responses, mentoring the next generation of Paramedics, and recruiting new talent.”

For John, EMS has always been more than a career—it is a calling. He reflects, “I have always found this career to be extremely rewarding. I have had the privilege to work with so many incredible people in the EMS community. I have so much respect and admiration for the people we work with, including Fire, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Emergency Department personnel, and so many others who help provide EMS to our communities.”

Beyond his professional achievements, John is a devoted husband and father of two adult children. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with family and friends.

Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service is honored to celebrate John Harding as a 2025 American Ambulance Association Star of Life, recognizing his decades of service, leadership, and unwavering dedication to his patients, colleagues, and community.