Andrew Sweeney has worked in mobile healthcare for 12 years. His passion for working with people drove him to a career in EMS, beginning as a wheelchair van driver. In 2007, Andrew became an EMT Basic, and in 2009, a Paramedic. He has been with Action Ambulance since September of 2018, working as a full-time Paramedic.
When asked to describe the best part of his job, Andrew says, “I get to interact with such a vast cross section of the population; from the smiles on expecting parents’ faces when you tell them that it’s a boy or girl, to the comfort of holding a lonely old person’s hand at the end so they don’t face that alone. The ability to bring comfort to and help people never gets old.”
In his short time at Action, Andrew has demonstrated his willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty to serve patients. He has also shown his innate aptitude for teamwork: He is always willing to help his company and his peers. His love of people and of serving as a Paramedic is evident to everyone. Action Ambulance is lucky to call him part of the family.
Nic Heller began working in EMS four years ago after a good friend and neighbor gave him an application to volunteer for Polk County Fire District. After six months of initial training, Nic began responding to calls and was immediately hooked. He received his EMT-B certification and joined Pacific West Ambulance (PWA) two months later.
Nic is currently training to be a Paramedic while working two full-time jobs. In addition to his job as an EMT, Nic serves as a Behavior Consultant subcontractor for the state of Oregon and writes behavior plans for adults that live in assisted living and memory care facilities. He also continues to work as a volunteer for Polk County Fire District. Nic plans to attend the National College of Technical Instruction (NCTI) next year and to return to PWA upon completion of his degree.
Nic and his wife, Cassandra, have two children, Mercy and William, two dogs, and two cats. Nic enjoys spending as much time as he can with his family, as well as playing bass guitar for his local church.
Tara began her EMS career in 2001 when she joined EMSA as an EMT-Basic and an Emergency Medical Dispatcher. In 2002, Tara found her home at Muskogee County EMS, working both as an EMT and an Emergency Medical Dispatcher. She went on to become an EMT-Intermediate and an Emergency Medical Dispatcher Quality Improvement Officer. Throughout the years, Tara has dedicated herself to the Communications Department, working her way up as a Communications Training Officer, QA/QI Supervisor, and now the Communications Center Supervisor. She has focused on improving the training program and the overall culture of the dispatch center.
Tara has been married to Dave Henry for 17 years and together they have three children. Although their oldest son, Braden, has recently moved out of the house, Tara keeps busy with her two adopted children, Maddex, who is involved with the Special Olympics, and Jensyn, who attends cheerleading competitions. Tara is very blessed with her life and her family that she cherishes.
Tara loves the people that she works with and takes great pride in seeing their success. She constantly demonstrates knowledge of dispatching and company procedures, and she shares her knowledge and experiences with the employees to ensure their success as well. Tara is now taking on the challenge of re-accreditation for the Muskogee County EMS Dispatch Center of Excellence. Muskogee County EMS is honored to present Tara Henry as American Ambulance Association Star of Life.
Tara Henry is being nominated due to her phenomenal work ethic throughout her career with Muskogee County EMS. It is time for her to be recognized for all of her hard work behind-the-scenes of the Communication Center, and for her efforts related to re-accreditation for Muskogee County EMS Dispatch Center of Excellence.
Tara Henry is being honored as a Star of Life due to her phenomenal work ethic throughout her career with Muskogee County EMS. She has been under-recognized for all her hard work behind the scenes of the Communication Center and for her efforts to meet the new challenge of re-accreditation for Muskogee County EMS Dispatch Center of Excellence.
Shannon came to Action Ambulance as a brand new EMT Basic in 2016. She is extremely bright and excels at her job, and she is always willing to go the extra mile for her patients and her colleagues at Action. As a result, Shannon has been nominated numerous times for Action’s internal STARCARE awards program.
One colleague wrote about Shannon and her partner, “I would like to nominate two EMTs for a STARCARE award. Approximately two weeks ago, my uncle—who receives hospice care—was discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital. I had Action come and transport him home. My cousin who was with my uncle stated, ‘Those two EMTs were awesome, they made us all feel so comfortable and like we had known each other for years.’ My Aunt said, ‘Oh my God those two girls were awesome. They treated him really well and were making me laugh.” I truly appreciate the professionalism of Shannon Kean. The family is going through a lot, especially that day, and to hear how comfortable they made my family just demonstrates how much of an asset they are to Action.”
While working at Action, Shannon attended the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Services in Boston. She graduated in 2018. Along with her love of helping people, Shannon also loves and competitively rides horses.
Action is grateful that Shannon chose our organization when seeking her first mobile healthcare position. Action Ambulance is proud to recognize Shannon Kean as a 2019 Star of Life.
Sunstar Paramedics is proud to honor David Grabowski as a Star of Life. David has served as a Paramedic for more than 9 years and embodies the best qualities of a mobile healthcare professional. Since joining Sunstar, David has excelled at furthering his skills and knowledge to best serve his community.
David is a member of the Pinellas County Tactical EMS team, which supports the Pinellas County Sheriff’s SWAT operations and participates in serving high-risk warrants and providing VIP escorts in addition to incident response. He has become a highly-qualified member of this team and achieved the prestigious Tactical Paramedic certification from the International Board of Specialty Certifications.
David is also a member of the CAMTS-Accredited Sunstar Critical Care Transport Team, and holds the rank of Critical Care Paramedic. As a member of this team, David cares for and transports high-acuity patients who require high levels of monitoring and intervention to and from definitive care centers. David is also recognized as a certified Flight Paramedic through the International Board of Specialty Certifications.
Although David has distinguished himself in many ways, there is one trait that cannot be certified that truly makes David deserving of recognition. He is always compassionate with his patients and supportive of his colleagues. The calm, confident, yet humble way David conducts himself is an excellent example of public service and what it is to be a member of the EMS community.
On a particularly exceptional call, David was partnered with a recently hired Paramedic, and the two clinicians were first on scene to a critical overdose. David remained calm, cool, and collected managing the patient’s care while setting the tone for the newer crew member. The patient’s outcome was a positive one, and this can be attributed at least in part to the skill, compassion, and expertise that David possesses.
As an industry we look for individuals that will perform in the ever-changing environment in which we find ourselves. It can give us hope to see people like David who are resilient to high-acuity complaints, such as opiate overdose, striving to further their knowledge in responding to dangerous and dynamic scenes with the Tactical Paramedic program. David is truly a shining example of what a First Responder should be. It is Sunstar Paramedics’ honor to recognize him as a 2019 Star of Life.
Robert has worked for Medix Ambulance since November of 2010 as an EMT Basic. Robert is very knowledgeable, which is one of the many reasons his partners enjoy working with him. Robert is pleasant and hardworking, and always goes the extra mile to perform additional tasks and assist his co-workers. He never questions an assignment, and always finds ways to achieve his goal in the simplest and most effective method possible.
Robert is married to Brenda, the Communications Supervisor for Medix. During his free time, Robert enjoys kayaking, local sports programs, and enjoying the outdoors.
Robert’s presence and cooperation are greatly appreciated. Medix believes Robert embodies exactly what a Star of Life should be and is very proud to have him represent our company.
John Large began his EMT career as an explorer with Mohawk Ambulance at the age of 13. John has now worked for Mohawk Ambulance for 31 years.
Not only does John treat every patient as if he is caring for his own family, he affords his every colleague the same respect. John is well-rounded in every aspect of emergency services. In addition to his work as an EMT, John has also been a volunteer firefighter and officer for 38 years.
John always goes a above and beyond the call of duty. When there is a serious call, John will respond from the station, or from home, and assist the crews in any way he can. John is always willing to lend an ear; should it be to crews after a difficult call or helping his colleagues with work or personal problems. On holidays, during extreme weather conditions, and just on long, busy days, John always makes sure that his crews are properly fed and taken care of. John has earned the respect of the entire Mohawk Ambulance family.
John is the ultimate team player and treats everyone with respect, regardless of rank. He is known by his peers to be dedicated, committed, hardworking, professional, and kind.
John has devoted his life to public service in EMS and as a volunteer firefighter. John has earned the utmost respect from Mohawk’s employees, our volunteer and municipal fire departments, and his patients alike. It is an honor and privilege to work side by side with John.
Candice Dickson’s first day as a paid EMT on an ambulance was September 11, 2001, with AMR Rancho Division in Southern California. A year and a half prior, Candice found herself suddenly widowed and was looking for a sense of control and security, which the challenges of mobile healthcare fulfilled. Of her experience in EMS, Candice says, “I found that I got back from it so much more than I ever expected. I found like-minded people with tons of curiosity and interesting senses of humor, people that took their skills very seriously, but didn’t have to wear their scars.”
In 2003, Candice became a Paramedic after studying at Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa, California. She received a field internship at Yucaipa City Fire, which lead to a paid position as a Call Firefighter, in addition to her full-time Medic job with AMR. Candice also began teaching in the EMT and Medic program at Crafton Hills. In order to improve her wildland fire skills, Candice also worked for a short period for the California Department of Forestry.
Candice moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 2006, and worked for South West Ambulance, before returning to the West Coast and relocating to Lincoln City, Oregon in 2008. She has been a Medic with Pacific West Ambulance (PWA) since 2009, and has enjoyed the challenges of working in a rural community with a rigorous Medical Advisor. In 2017, Candice attended and graduated from the North Lincoln Fire & Rescue Academy, which has allowed her to live her passion for EMS and serve her small community even more.
Chief Doug Lewis began his career in public safety at the age of 17 as a Bryan County volunteer. He received his EMT card in 1982, his Paramedic card in 1986, and became a National Registered Paramedic in 1994. Prior to beginning at Chatham Emergency Services in 2011, Doug worked as a Medic for MedStar Ambulance Service, Effingham County EMS, Wayne County EMS, and Liberty County EMS. In both 1994 and 1996, he was named the Chatham County EMT of the Year. Since 2007, Doug has served as a Tactical Paramedic for the Savannah Police Department. In 2014, Doug was promoted to Captain, and in 2017 he became District Chief.
Chief Lewis has many duties as a District Chief with Chatham Emergency Services. During his shifts, he is constantly running calls, backing up units on bad calls, dealing with customer complaints, and handling various other administrative duties. In addition, he oversees the SWAT Medic Program at Chatham Emergency Services, and has served as a SWAT Medic since 2007. He works closely with the local police departments, providing ongoing training and tactics to make his team as safe as possible.
Doug is one of the most dedicated leaders at Chatham Emergency Services. He is always filling vacant shifts after finishing his regular work schedule, sometimes working over 48 hours straight. Doug is the epitome of EMS excellence and his heart is dedicated to serving others.
Doug and his wife, Valerie, have six children and three grandchildren.
Jacquelynn Martin is a highly-skilled Emergency Medical and Fire Service Telecommunicator with decades of experience. She loves her work and shows great compassion for colleagues and callers.
As a Supervisor overseeing all training and quality assurance and improvement activities in her communications center, Jacki impacts virtually every medical and fire call into Sumter County’s 911 system. Jacki ensures that all new members of her team receive comprehensive but individualized instruction.
Jacki’s kindness is as legendary as her training proficiency. When she learned that a new team member could not provide Christmas presents for her children, Jacki quietly collected money, shopped for gifts, and ensured that they were delivered. When a high school student observing in the communications center said she could not afford a prom dress, Jacki and her colleagues rallied to provide a dress and cover other costs for the young lady’s prom.
Katherine Miller’s positive impact on her team rivals that of EMS professionals with decades of experience. Since joining AMR’s operation in Syracuse in August 2017, Kate has earned widespread respect from her peers and supervisors. During her short tenure, Kate has sought out additional training, demonstrated strong team management skills, and attained the ranks of Field Training Officer and senior EMT.
Kate is active in her community. She leads Stop the Bleed courses and has completed Rescue Task Force Active Shooting training to improve her knowledge and skill. Kate was quick to join AMR’s Emergency Response Team and was deployed after Hurricane Michael struck the Florida panhandle last October.
New and experienced providers alike seek out Kate as a partner due to her abilities and genuine positive attitude. Though still new to EMS, Kate is a role model and someone to watch as her career unfolds.
Last Christmas Eve, Keviette Potts and her partner witnessed a man gunned down on a city street. The shooter fled, so Keviette and her partner carefully approached the patient, ferried him to their ambulance, and began treatment. The patient had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, some of which were life-threatening. One bullet had pierced the patient’s liver and lungs. Keviette and her partner rushed the man to a hospital and had him in the trauma team’s hands within 15 minutes. Due to the care and urgency that Keviette demonstrated, the man survived.
Known for her dedication and perseverance, Keviette is a highly respected Field Training Officer whose colleagues call her “an encyclopedia of EMS.” Keviette is also a volunteer Firefighter. She is the first woman in her volunteer department to complete a term as a Fire Officer, to serve as vice president and sit on the department’s board of directors.
If there were a “Mr. Greenville, Texas” contest, Michael Sanchez would be an odds-on favorite to win it.
Last year, Michael’s coworkers and local first responders picked him as Hunt County Fire Association’s EMT of the Year. He has received this honor and mentorship award several times during his 17 years at AMR-Hunt County EMS. Michael consistency puts others’s needs first, and he helps to organize employee and community-wide EMS Week activities and first responder recognition ceremonies each year.
Michael and his partner were returning to the station last winter when Michael noticed a small boy walking in the rain on the side of the road. Something did not feel right, so Michael and his partner stopped to check things out. The boy had wandered off from school. He did not know where he was and could not remember his last name. Michael’s partner contacted law enforcement while Michael got the boy warmed up and gave him snacks. He was reunited with his grandmother soon, but the story does not end there. Michael noticed there was no booster seat in the car for the boy, who was still too small to ride safely without one, so he arranged for the family to receive one.
Katie Smith has been a Paramedic at AMR for eight years and serves as a Supervisor, Field Training Officer, and part-time Fire Medic. However, last Thanksgiving her skills and management abilities were put to the test.
The day started out normally. Katie spent time with her family and delivered a holiday meal for on-duty team members. But then a multi-vehicle accident was called in. One of the vehicles was a bus filled with college students that had rolled over. Katie dropped everything to respond. During her hour-long drive to the remote scene, Katie coordinated responding units from several different jurisdictions. Under Katie’s incident command, enough resources were secured to transport 45 patients to local hospitals. Katie also helped coordinate a warm place for the walking wounded to shelter from the snow and receive care.
As a trainer and mentor, Katie plays a huge role in molding the next generation of EMS professionals. Her expertise and dedication to her team, patients, and community are remarkable.
Headed to work on a rural road one morning last year, Courtney saw a van hit a tree. She stopped to help and, on approaching the van, noticed smoke coming from the hood. The driver was still inside.
Courtney opened the door and told the man he needed to get away fast. It was then that Courtney saw that the man was a paraplegic who drove with hand controls. Courtney single-handedly pulled the man to safety. Before the vehicle became an inferno, Courtney ran back to it and retrieved the man’s wheelchair.
Courtney assessed the driver and called 911. The man was released from the hospital shortly after the incident. The Hinds County Board of Supervisors presented Courtney, who was just 22 at the time, with its Above and Beyond Award for her actions. Courtney was also named one of 28 statewide “Healthcare Heroes” for 2018.
Courtney is a volunteer Firefighter and also works with a non-profit organization that provides horseback rides for thousands of disabled individuals.
Mentor, caregiver, and change agent are all words used to describe Lynford Lewis.
As a teacher, Lynford helps new team members acclimate to the EMS profession. He is respected by his peers for the way he approaches his job, cares for patients, and advocates for his team. Lynford demonstrates a positive attitude and solution-focused mindset. A champion for change, Lynford is involved in several organizational improvement initiatives.
Last September, when severe flooding impacted his island nation, Lynford volunteered to serve in an EMT role as part of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross response effort. During a different flooding incident last year, Lynford was dispatched to a marooned area. His ambulance was unable to reach the patient, but Lynford found and boarded a truck that was able to take him and his equipment to the patient’s side.
Lynford’s dedication to serving patients and the EMS industry are commendable.
On his first day on the job as an inter-facility driver, Scott Hutchison saved a child’s life. Scott and his ambulance were stopped at a traffic light when a man in a parking lot started shouting and waving at him frantically. The man yelled that a baby was dying and asked Scott to follow him. Scott’s EMT partner was tending to a patient and could not leave the ambulance, so Scott told the EMT to call 911, grabbed a kit, and dashed to a nearby car himself. There he found a mother holding an unconscious toddler who was not breathing. The child had an airway obstruction, which Scott managed to clear. When advanced life support units arrived on scene, the child was breathing and conscious. Scott and his partner then completed their original mission—without saying a word to anyone about the incident.
Scott will likely have many other opportunities ahead to save and impact lives. He soon will begin his EMT training.
Timothy Lambert completed his Paramedic field internship at AMR’s Hartford operation, and then joined the team in early 2018.
Last May, just two months into his career as a Paramedic, Tim and his partner responded to what they thought would be a routine medical call involving an emotionally disturbed patient. However, when Tim and his partner arrived on scene, they found a severely injured police officer. The officer had been stabbed multiple times in the neck and was losing blood quickly. Every second mattered. Tim and his partner quickly packaged the police officer for transport, and Tim began treating her life-threatening injuries at once. They arrived at the trauma center within six minutes.
The officer successfully recovered from her injuries. Tim’s rapid response and expert care in the first few critical minutes of the incident were key to the positive patient outcome.
Timothy Hoar tried his hand at several professions before joining the AMR team in February 2018. EMS seemed like a perfect fit for Tim, a U.S. Army combat veteran.
Last July, Tim’s military training proved essential to defusing an extremely dangerous situation and preventing bloodshed. Tim and his partner responded to the scene of a call involving a violent patient at a local nursing home before police arrived. Tim spoke calmly to the man to de-escalate the situation and gain his trust. However, tensions flared again and the man brandished a pistol. When he fired a shot toward a member of the nursing home staff, Tim’s military training kicked in. He swept the patient’s legs, took him to the ground, and secured the weapon. Once Tim had the patient restrained, he reverted to caregiver mode, putting a pillow under the man’s head to reduce his discomfort while they waited for officers to arrive on scene.
After the incident, authorities lauded Tim for his incredibly brave actions. The Buffalo Police Public Information Officer called Tim a hero for bravely wrestling the firearm, which contained four additional live rounds, away from the patient. There is little doubt that Tim’s actions that day saved many lives.
When two devastating events shook her community, Nicole Gonzales responded for responders. As the Ventura County Critical Incident Stress Management Coordinator and a member of the county’s Behavioral Health Task Force, Nicole is charged with ensuring first responders receive the mental health support they need after traumatic events.
Nicole provided support and comfort to her fellow AMR employees, first responders, and hospital personnel in the immediate aftermath of the November 2018 shooting at a country music bar in Thousand Oaks, California. Wildfires ignited just days later, impacting the same personnel who had responded to the deadly shooting. Nicole worked with members of the Critical Incident Stress Management coalition to create plans to satisfy the mental health needs of the community, in addition to those serving the public interest.
Day in and day out, Nicole demonstrates compassion and professionalism in helping her teammates cope with large-scale public incidents and their own private tragedies. She also continues to work as a full-time EMT and is a Field Training Officer and Lead Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor for AMR Ventura and Gold Coast Ambulance.
