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Archives: Stars

Anna Ailstock

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Anna Ailstock has been a Paramedic since 2006. She began at Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA) in 2008, and is currently a Paramedic Field Training Officer and chair of the RAA Clinical Services Committee. Prior to moving to Richmond she enjoyed a teaching position with Arlington County Public Schools as an assistant EMT-Basic instructor and was an active volunteer with Arlington County Fire Department for 4 years. Anna has also worked as a Paramedic Tech at Mary Washington Hospital ED and with the Department of Defense as a contracted Paramedic at Fort Belvoir. Anna is the 2014 recipient of the RAA Medical Directors Award. This prestigious award is presented annually to a paramedic that has demonstrated superior clinical abilities and who has dedicated personal time effort to ensure RAA remains clinically on the cutting edge of mobile healthcare in the City of Richmond, as well as an EMS leader in the region, country and internationally as they continue to provide World Class EMS. Anna was selected specifically because of the leadership she provides the clinical services committee. She has dedicated countless hours of time and service to lead this committee as they worked meticulously to develop a new competency based perception manual for our new employees. Additionally, she worked diligently to ensure exceptional training was provided to each student assigned to her for their field internship and through her guidance her students had a 100% first time pass rate through our paramedic clearance process, chaired personally by our Operational Medical Director Dr Joseph P. Ornato. Anna is a delight to work with and is an outstanding representative of Richmond Ambulance Authority. She exemplifies the very essence of the AAA Star of Life.”

William Adams

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

It was with great pleasure that Nature Coast EMS of Citrus County, Florida, nominated William Leigh Adams as our “Star.” William began his career with Nature Coast EMS five years ago. In the beginning he served Nature Coast EMS as a volunteer where he immediately impressed all those who worked with him. William continued to mature in his knowledge and skill becoming more diversified in his abilities to assist in various departments of our organization. While still working as a volunteer, William demonstrated the utmost dedication, caring and professionalism as a seasoned team member working in the field for years. After three years, William attended EMT school and obtained his EMT certification. At the first available opening,William was hired as a full time employee where has continued to excel as a dedicated and engaged team member. William always places Nature Coast EMS and the citizens we serve, in the forefront. He is a dedicated team member and offers support to other team members when needed. William continues to help with our volunteer program assisting with special events and supporting the EMT training division. The Nature Coast EMS mission is “Serving with Excellence & Compassion.” Our vision is that “Nature Coast EMS will be the national leader in patient centered care and health services.” William Leigh Adams exudes all this and more.”

Chris Roser

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Gold Cross, the paramedic service of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is proud to honor Chris Roser as a 2018 Star of Life.

Chris began his career with Mayo Clinic in 1981. Hed says there is a simple reason he has dedicated nearly four decades to mobile healthcare, “I like helping people at a time when they need it the most.”

Chris has served patients in a variety of roles during his tenure. He has applied his training and skills as a flight paramedic on Mayo Clinic’s helicopter and airplane as well as his current role as a ground operations paramedic. While Chris says he recalls many highlights as he reflects on his career, one special period of time was when he had the opportunity to work alongside his son on calls as paramedics together.

When he’s not working, Chris enjoys water-skiing and has been on a competitive ski team since 1995. He also enjoys playing hockey, traveling with his wife, and spending time with his three sons and their families.

A colleague wrote this in support of nominating Chris for the Stars of Life award, “Chris has all of the qualities and values that Mayo Clinic appreciates. He is respectful, caring, and has a positive effect on everyone he comes in contact with—patients, emergency services colleagues, and coworkers. He is just the kind of person that a new employee can learn so much from.”

Chris’ advice for the next generation of paramedics coming into the workforce is to, “do your best, be kind, and treat patients like you would want your family member treated.”

 

Marisol Puerto

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

“I would recommend Marisol Puerto for this recognition.  Marisol and I were partners on Medic 98 (now M920) prior to my promotion, where I had the pleasure of witnessing, first hand, an individual that is dedicated to the EMS profession.  She has earned the respect, the admiration, and the trust of her colleagues within the HCEC family. Marisol is dedicated to continuing her education both professionally and academically. I have had the pleasure of interacting with numerous students through my background at Texas A&M University and with HCEC; I can truthfully say that over the course of those interactions, very few have impressed upon me as much as Marisol has.  She is a solid, bright, and intelligent person that has pushed herself to achieve her goals.”

“She serves so many roles for HCEC—Field Training Officer, In-Charge Paramedic, Bike Medic, Card Class Instructor, Interview Panel participant—which only a few others can lay claim to. Marisol represents HCEC Core Values extremely well and I feel she deserves to be recognized on a national level.”

 

Shaun Kirkdorffer

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Shaun Kirkdorffer exemplifies each pillar of HCEC’s Corps Values every time he comes to work. He is a trusted professional, a trusted colleague, and a trusted member of the community. Shaun is the embodiment of stewardship, working not only as a leader at HCEC but also leading community outreach through his church.

His colleagues state that Shaun is a great example of an AAA Star of Life. He is a role model employee and upstanding citizen. He represents us well both on and off duty. He currently serves us as an FTO and In Charge. He is and has been involved with outreach ministries for inner-city youth through his church. He is well known by a good majority of the citizens in our community not only for his job duties, but also for his involvement with the community.

 

Marco Villasenor

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In January of 2000, Marco Villasenor moved from El Paso, TX to join Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS). Marco moved up the ranks and became a Field Training Officer and then Captain. For the last 7 years he has been a Designated Medical Officer (DMO) under the Clinical Performance Improvement group.

As a DMO, one of Marco’s key rolls is to evaluate the performance and provide CPR performance feedback for every cardiac arrest patient treated by ATCEMS. As a result of his work, Marco was awarded the Medical Directors Award in 2014, and he received a travel scholarship to the American Heart Association’s Resuscitation Science Symposium in Chicago of the same year. Through “Pit Crew” training and CPR Performance feedback, ATCEMS experienced significant improvement in compression fractions and resuscitation rates. Marco’s contributions in this initiative were instrumental in these improved performance measures. Today the DMO’s are part of the response matrix and are dispatched on high priority calls when they are closer.

 

Kyle Schutt

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Kyle Schutt is a Paramedic who has been employed with Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) since 2015. Kyle believes being a public servant is a rewarding job that requires hard work and dedication but comes with the knowledge that you have made a difference in someone’s life. Additionally, it is his belief that all members of EMS share a passion for going the extra mile for our patients, and that is what makes our profession special.

During Kyle’s three years at ATCEMS, he has received two Medical Phoenix Citation awards for confirmed cardiopulmonary arrest saves who were discharged from the hospital, and he has recently been promoted to the Medic II position. Kyle received his Paramedic certification from the University of Texas Health Science Center and his Bachelor’s in Exercise Sports Science from Texas Tech University.

 

Dena Morgan

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Dena has been in public safety service for 23 years. She began her public safety career as a Police Dispatcher for The University of Kansas Police Department (Go Jayhawks!). During a ride-out while working at Southlake DPS for her EMT-B training, she answered the 911 call, dispatched the responding unit, and ended up transporting the patient with that unit and its crew to the hospital. Many only ever get to experience one side or the other of a 911 call; rarely both.

Dena has been a member of the Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) team since 2009 and is grateful to be employed by an agency that believes in the values of putting our patients and community first. EMS calls are received, triaged, and dispatched by ATCEMS Communications Medics, including delivery of pre-arrival treatment instructions. The Communications Medics’ role in the success of patient outcomes is considered equally as important as the treatment that the responding Field Medics provide. This is part of our “Zero-Second Response” model, in that at the moment a call for EMS assistance comes into our call center, our community is speaking to an ATCEMS Medic at the “zero-second.”

In addition to reading and taking walks along the beach, Dena loves to quilt for her grandkids, Kaden, Brooklynn, Emma, Tristan, and now baby Peyton… please no more for now, I need to get caught up!

 

Brendan Cluskey

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Brendan Cluskey emigrated to the United States of America from Dublin, Ireland. Since arriving, he has dedicated himself to giving back to the nation that has so warmly welcomed him. “I feel that I owe a great debt of gratitude to America, so helping others in their times of need just feels like the right thing to do,” he says.

Since joining Austin-Travis County EMS in October of 2010, Brendan has excelled in all areas of Paramedicine and has now enthusiastically taken on the challenging role of Field Training Officer. During his time in Austin, Brendan has received many accolades and awards, most notably The Meritorious Service Award for bravery in 2014.

Brendan greatly enjoys family time with his wife, Joanne, and daughter, Isabel.

 

Tawny Province-Ward

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Tawny joined the Life EMS team in 2017 as an EMT/EVO, and she has been an integral part of the team since. She generously gives of her time and does whatever is asked of her unselfishly.

Tawny attended EMT-Basic training, then she went on to attain a National Registry Certification and the State of Oklahoma EMT License.

The public safety field was certainly not new territory for Tawny. Before deciding to become an EMT and pursue a career in EMS, she served as a reserve patrol and juvenile detention officer.

Tawny is married to Michael Ward, and they have a two-year-old daughter, Juliana.

Life EMS congratulates Tawny for being chosen by her fellow employees to represent Life EMS as a 2018 Star of Life.

 

Antonio “Tony” Bland

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Tony started his career in EMS in Virginia Beach, where he worked from 2004 to 2017. He earned his EMT certification there and became a life member of Davis Corner Volunteer Rescue Squad. In 2006 he applied to Medical Transport, and he was assigned to the Suffolk office.

While he was working with Virginia Beach EMS, Tony became a member of the SAR/Bike Team, and he was promoted to sergeant. In 2014, he became assistant captain at Davis Corner, and in 2015, he was promoted to captain of the Rescue Squad. 

Tony was named Employee of the Year for 2017 in recognition of his extraordinary care, passion, bravery, heroism, and genuine selflessness while rescuing a disabled resident from a house fire.

While on shift for Medical Transport, Tony and his partner were right down the street from a residential fire, so they went to help, even though they were not assigned the call. They arrived before the firefighters and police officers, and sprang into action. Tony ran in and found a patient in the kitchen then attempted to put out the grease fire. He helped the patient from the house, battling the thick smoke. When the fire reignited, Tony ran back in to save the home.

Tony is currently assigned to the Southampton County 911 (Courtland Office), and he is a member of the Metropolitan Medical Strike Team (MMST). He also works part-time for the City of Chesapeake Fire Department, giving back to the community.

Everyone at Medical Transport recognizes Tony as a standout employee and a great example of how to act. He shows constant professionalism day after day. His contributions to various organizations as well as Medical Transport go above and beyond the call of duty.

Lauren Taylor

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Lauren’s EMS career began in 2002, when she worked as an EMT and Field Training Officer. In 2006, she became a dispatcher, serving as a supervisor.

On October 1st, Lauren and her partner, Joe, received the radio call for an active shooter from the Standby crew of the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas. Community Ambulance had been contracted to supply medical services to the festival.

Lauren and Joe faced many challenges that night, including not knowing if the Community Ambulance personnel providing standby coverage would go home to their families.

Lauren and Joe worked tirelessly in those moments to bring calm to the chaos and get the needed resources to the incident and working hand in hand with our community partners. Undeniably their focus and hard work helped to save countless lives that night.

In her spare time, Lauren enjoys cooking and watching sports. She also loves animals.

Joe Schubert

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Joe’s EMS career began in 2005 in New Jersey, where he worked as an EMT. In 2006, Joe moved moved west to Las Vegas, and he received the Star of Life in 2009 while he was working at AMR. In 2011, Joe transitioned into dispatch, and he joined Community Ambulance in 2015.

On October 1st, Joe received the radio call for an active shooter from the Standby crew of the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. Community Ambulance was contracted to supply medical services to the festival.

Joe and his partner, Lauren Taylor, faced many challenges that night, including not knowing if the Community Ambulance personnel providing standby coverage would go home to their families.

Joe and Lauren worked tirelessly in those moments to bring calm to the chaos and get the needed resources to the incident. Undeniably their focus and hard work helped to save countless lives that night.

Edgar Bibiano

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Edgar was selected as Community Ambulance’s 2018 Star of Life because of his selfless service at the October 1st incident in Las Vegas.

Community Ambulance was the company contracted to provide medical services at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival, and after the attack, Edgar and his partner, Julian Ness, were dispatched to get the injured to the hospital.

Edgar and Julian were one of the first units to arrive outside the venue’s main medical tent, and without hesitation, they began making room for as many patients as they could.

During their first trip to the hospital they transported seven patients at once, including a female who was shot in the neck and another who was shot in the neck twice; a male who was shot in the spine and showed signs of paralysis; a female with a gunshot to her head; a female shot three times in the chest; a female shot in the leg; and a man who had been shot in the abdomen.

They returned to the incident two more times to transport additional patients.

Edgar has been part of the Southern Nevada community for 15 years and has served his community for over year and half. He chose to pursue EMS after realizing the impact that Paramedics made in his twin brother’s life, who lost his life to a brain tumor.

Undeniably, Edgar’s determination and bravery helped to save countless lives that night.

Julian Ness

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Julian was born and raised in Las Vegas, and he became an EMT in 2009. He then moved to Rhode Island, where he served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT for three years with Jamestown Rhode Island Fire Department, and he became a Paramedic in 2015.

In 2016, Julian returned to Las Vegas and joined Community Ambulance.

Community Ambulance was the company contracted to provide medical services at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival, and after the October 1st attack last year, Julian and his partner, Edgar Bibiano, were dispatched to get the injured to the hospital.

Julian and Edgar were one of the first units to arrive outside the venue’s main medical tent, and without hesitation, they began making room for as many patients as they could.

During their first trip to the hospital, they transported seven patients at once, including a female who was shot in the neck and another who was shot in the neck twice; a male who was shot in the spine and showed signs of paralysis; a female with a gunshot to her head; a female shot three times in the chest; a female shot in the leg; and a man who had been shot in the abdomen.

They returned to the incident two more times to transport additional patients.

Julian’s determination and bravery helped to save countless lives that night.

In his free time, Julian enjoys aviation and travel, along with watching various sports, including hockey, baseball, and football.

 

Kristen Bias

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Kristen began her career at Muskogee County EMS in 2015 as an EMT. In 2016, Kristen earned her certification as an Advanced EMT and in 2017 she became a Field Training Officer.

In 2017 while on a medical call, a shooting that was not related to her initial call occurred on scene. Kristen immediately triaged the scene to allow for the continued care and safety of her initial patient and partner while also locating the shooting victim and rendering care until another unit could arrive. This call is just one example of why Kristen is known for remaining calm under pressure and showing true leadership. Kristen did not hesitate to go to the aid of the victim even though it was an unsecured scene and her own personal safety was compromised.

Kristen has always had a passion for helping others. She is selfless, hardworking and dedicated. She is always willing to work, whether she is putting in extra shifts, assisting with Public Relations events, or teaching a new employee. She is also known for her positive attitude and smile, no matter how busy her shift has been. In 2017 Kristen was voted by her peers as the the Advanced EMT of the Year.

Kristen is admired by all who know her, most especially by her husband, Matthew. and her children Emma, Tuxie, Jacy, Alex, Caden and Addison. When off-duty, Kristen enjoys spending time with her family at sporting events and boating on the lake. Kristen also enjoys painting and playing with her dog, Lucy.

Because of Kristen’s outstanding professionalism and her exemplary performance, Muskogee County EMS is honored to endorse Kristen Bias for the Oklahoma Ambulance Association Star of Life Award 2018.

Kristen Bias is the Oklahoma Ambulance Association’s 2018 national Star of Life.

Erin O’Grady

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Erin O’Grady has proudly served as a Paramedic at REACT EMS since April 2012. A Westminster, Colorado native, he completed his EMT-Basic and Paramedic training at Gordon Cooper Technology Center after moving to Shawnee. REACT has implemented a sole-Paramedic Response unit in a large, remote portion of their response area. Erin expressed interest and was selected as his primary assignment.

Erin is deeply committed to his patients. He finds the most rewarding part of his job to be the opportunity he has “to care for patients when they are having what may be the worst day they have ever experienced.” This is especially important to Erin as he has elected to work in REACT’s South County unit, which encompasses his own neighborhood. He notes that while it is harder than he imagined to respond to calls for people he personally knows, he values deeply the trust they place in his skills.

One of Erin’s most memorable moments at REACT took place when he was called to care for an eight-year-old girl who had been stung repeatedly by wasps. The young patient was in full anaphylaxis, with hives and respiratory distress. Erin worked quickly and very effectively to stabilize her breathing and reaction while the transport unit responded from so far away. The young patient was fortunate that Erin was close, knowledgeable and skillful.

In addition to serving patients with dedication, Erin works to build strong relationships with REACT’s partners in the remote area it serves. He has worked to meet with volunteer fire fighters and others to improve their knowledge and responses to medical emergencies.

As he looks to the future, Erin plans to continue to build upon REACT’s already-stellar relationship with the public. He will do so through the continuation of our program offering routine health checks for senior citizens, in addition to new and ongoing initiatives to educate citizens about the importance of CPR and the Stop the Bleed program.

When not at work, Erin enjoys spending time with his wife, Shantel, a schoolteacher, as well and his children Ewan, Brennen, and Keira.

With his thoughtful and compassionate dedication, Erin is a leader and role model for his peers and his community. REACT is proud to recognize Erin O’Grady as a 2018 Star of Life.

Michael Gaul, Jr.

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Michael was hired by Metro West in April 2017. His new position as an EMT marked an official milestone in his life—he was transitioning into EMS following four years of service as an active duty U.S. Marine.

The transition between professions was seamless, though, as Michael applied the same levels of commitment, enthusiasm, responsibility, and dependability that he acquired while serving as a Marine. One of Michael’s most commendable traits, simply put, is his willingness to work.

Michael would begin every workweek looking for gaps in the weekly shift schedule, then he’d request to pick up the extra shifts, in addition to his own full-time schedule. If coverage was needed for an early transport or out-of-town movement, Michael was on it.

During the 2017 wild land firefighter season, Michael was constantly picking up extra shifts to provide coverage for EMTs who were either contracted out as wild land firefighters or were volunteering with separate fire agencies. It was Michael’s outstanding work ethic that catapulted him into a full-time position on a medic unit.

Michael continues to push himself as both a professional and a student as he pursues new and additional career opportunities. He earned a Tactical Combat Casualty Care certification and completed Secfor International’s challenging High Risk Medic program in November 2017.

He has undoubtedly raised the bar and set a new standard of excellence that is expected of new hires.

Michael is always quick to acknowledge the support, flexibility, and encouragement he receives from his supervisors, partner, dispatchers, family, and his new fiancée.

Metro West Ambulance is nominating Michael as a Star of Life for his incredible work ethic, consistently professional demeanor, and his adaptive personality.

 

Jason Fleming

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Jason is celebrating his 15th year working as a Paramedic Field Training Officer with Metro West Ambulance, and he is being nominated in recognition of his operational excellence and the consistency that he maintains as a field trainer.

As a field training officer, Jason is always ranked as one of the top trainers by his Paramedic trainees. They regularly comment on how appreciative they are of his professionalism, his consistency in evaluation, and the detailed clinical and operational knowledge he shares with them.

Jason is a consummate professional, focusing on listening first and then professionally guiding his trainee in the appropriate direction. This subtle yet firm teaching style has allowed his trainees to feel much more comfortable stepping into their new role of Paramedic in a busy EMS system.

Jason is also a husband, father, and dedicated sports fan. When he is not busy training new Paramedics, he will be following his favorite basketball team or traveling to the latest EMS conference seeking more EMS knowledge.

Metro West is proud to call Jason Fleming a Star of Life for 2018.

 

Erik Sonnenberg

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Erik started as an EMT in the Metro West Wheelchair Transport Division back in 2011, then in 2014 he became a Nationally Registered Paramedic.

For the past two years, Erik has worked as a preceptor, mentoring Paramedic students throughout their internships, patiently sharing his knowledge and experience. Most recently, he has been promoted and is now serving as Metro West Ambulance’s newest Field Training Officer.

Metro West is celebrating Erik as the Star of Life for 2018 not only for his professional development in the organization but, more importantly, for his dedication to patient care.

This past fall, while off-duty and on the way to work, Erik came upon a serious accident where a pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle. Erik parked his car nearby and assisted with initial patient care, and he later ended up assisting the crews with the emergency intubation and transport to the trauma center.

On that call, and through his mentoring of new Paramedics, Erik has exemplified his dedication and service to EMS. 

We are proud to have him as Metro West’s 2018 Star of Life.