Claire Marie Teal

Claire Marie Teal, a lifelong resident of Averill Park, New York, serves as a Lieutenant Paramedic with Mohawk Ambulance, where she has worked for the past three and a half years.

Her path to EMS began with an interest in nursing. She attended nursing school and worked as a technician at Albany Medical Center for approximately two years. Through that experience, she ultimately discovered that EMS was where she felt she belonged and where she could make the greatest impact.

What inspires her most about EMS is the opportunity to help people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. She approaches each call with an important perspective: While certain emergencies may be exciting or interesting from a clinical standpoint, they often represent the worst day of a patient’s life. Keeping that reality at the forefront has shaped the compassionate and thoughtful way she cares for those she serves.

She finds particular meaning in making a positive impact on both a patient’s care and their overall experience. EMS professionals often encounter the same patients regularly because of chronic health conditions, and she values the relationships that develop through those interactions. Being recognized by a patient and seeing the sense of relief that comes from encountering a familiar, trusted caregiver can be just as meaningful as responding to the most serious emergencies.

Outside of EMS, she enjoys cooking and baking, hiking with her dog, and spending time with animals. She also operates a pet-sitting business, which gives her the opportunity to care for and spend time with animals of all kinds.

Through her compassion, clinical service, and commitment to treating every patient with dignity and understanding, she represents the values at the heart of emergency medical services. Mohawk Ambulance is proud to recognize her as an American Ambulance Association Star of Life.