Laura Hooker has served as an Emergency Medical Technician in Berrien County, Michigan, for seven years, and worked for Medic 1 of Benton Harbor before joining Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service (SMCAS).
Laura has established herself as a positive force in our EMS system and is one of our go-to community-outreach people, driving the cause of EMS in our area through impassioned cultural development.
Practically, Laura has helped redesign inventory control processes, including a “speed loader” program that makes sure crews have the supplies they need while also improving the efficiency of the stocking procedures.
In the field, she and her team members were recognized recently for their exemplary performance in resuscitating a prominent figure in our community.
When Laura is not providing outstanding care and service to Southwestern Michigan, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Patrick, and daughter Anna, gardening, fishing, and “glass hunting” on Lake Michigan’s sandy coastline.
While we are proud of the outstanding service all of our team members provide the people of Southwestern Michigan, we are proud to call Laura Hooker our 2018 Star of Life.
Brandt Hiler has always had a passion for helping others. In fact, as a teenager, he began volunteering for a local fire department. Brandt began his career with Muskogee County EMS in 2004 as an NREMT-Basic, and in 2007 he received his certification as an NREMT-Paramedic. Brandt has served the citizens of Muskogee County for 13 years.
Brandt is known for his compassion, hard work, and dedication. He remains calm under pressure, and he shows true leadership by quietly going above and beyond and never asking for acknowledgment or recognition.
In 2015, Brandt became a Field Training Officer. He says he enjoys helping new employees and co-workers, whether they are beginning their EMS career or transitioning to a new licensure level. It’s the perfect assignment for him, as he is well-known and respected for taking the time to explain procedures and educate others.
Brandt’s service and professionalism have been recognized several times with honors and awards. In 2016, Brandt was honored for his service to a pediatric car accident victim. The physicians at the pediatric rehabilitation facility said, “Had it not been for the care that the patient received on the scene of the accident, the patient would not be alive today.” Last year Brandt also received awards for saving the lives of two patients, and he was voted Paramedic of the Year by his peers.
Brandt is admired by all who know him, most especially by his wife, Angela, and his children, Kaben and Kendall. When off-duty, Brandt enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, fishing, hunting, and flying.
Because of Brandt’s outstanding professionalism and his exemplary performance, Muskogee County EMS is honored to endorse Brandt Hiler for the American Ambulance Association Star of Life Award 2018.
Tracy Sims has held the position of lead medic for only two years now, but has been able to do so much in that short amount of time. Tracy quickly became a problem-solver and was recently promoted to Field Training Officer in November of 2016. Tracy has taken his passion for helping others and used his skills to help new employees that are struggling with becoming a lead medic in our organization. Tracy takes time to recognize weakness and has mastered the art of connecting with new employees on a personal level to explain deficiencies in a way that quickly leads to a resolution. Tracy has always led by example and never shies away from a challenge. His eagerness to provide patient care and help others has been a great example for others to follow. The impact Tracy has on his community is measured not only by those he has helped but also by all those that he has trained.
Cody was nominated for recognition through his employment at Medstar, and was selected from other Medstar candidates through a peer nomination process. The nomination stated “Cody is always looking for ways to positively represent Medstar, his fire department and first responders, and our community. He cares about the patients that he serves, and takes extra time to make sure that patients are well cared for in the hospital, as well as assisting family members during admission.”
Cody entered public service through scouting, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. After completing his Eagle Scout Project by adding to and updating the playground at the Metamora Lions Club, he joined the Lions as an adult member.
He has been involved in EMS since 2010. He has been a full-time Paramedic with Medstar for two years, and was recently promoted to Field Training Officer. He previously served as an EMT with Lapeer County EMS for four years. Outside of his time on the ambulance, Cody is a paid-on-call firefighter/first responder for the Metamora Township Fire Department and a volunteer for community CPR and AED programs in Lapeer County with Medstar. He also assists with the Medstar Special Operations Teams, and teaches first aid and safety in local scout and church programs.
“I’m humbled to be nominated for this award by my peers, and proud to represent Medstar and the residents of Lapeer County in Lansing in D.C.,” Medlock said. “I’m grateful to work for an organization that encourages its team members to excel in compassionate clinical care as well as community involvement. I work with an incredible group of people at Medstar, and I’m proud of our service in Lapeer County.”
Cody holds two bachelors degrees from the University Of Michigan, with minors in chemistry and psychology, and is currently enrolled in a nursing education program.
“I’m not surprised that Cody was nominated by his co-workers, and I’m happy to see him receiving recognition,” said Kolby Miller, Medstar Chief Executive. “He brings to life Medstar’s organizational commitment to clinical excellence, safety, and community engagement. In addition to great clinical care, I can always count on his assistance or leadership on community projects that our Lapeer County Operations are involved in, whether its CPR and AED training, assistance with elderly residents in their homes, or connecting our community donations with residents and civic organizations who are in need of support.”
Mary was nominated for recognition through Medstar, and was selected from other candidates through a peer nomination process. The nomination stated “In an world of critics and cynics, Mary is always positive, happy, and encourages others to do the same. The time and effort that she put into the ‘smile’ program at Medstar, simply to remind people to appreciate what we have and be happy, is a great example of how she not only maintains a positive outlook, but works to share it with everyone.”
Mary has been with Medstar for three years, and is a certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher through the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch (NAEMD,) and has recently completed the EMT program at Medstar.
“I can’t believe that I was chosen. I work with so many good people, in the communications center and on the road, I’m just overwhelmed,” Archie said. “I’m proud to work with the Medstar team, and serve our patients and communities. Being a part of this team and the amazing work that they do is better than anything I’ve imagined, and I look forward to coming to work for every shift.“
Mary is currently pursuing a business degree, and plans to remain in the EMS or healthcare field upon completion.
“Mary really is an inspiration to all of us. Our communications center is often a pressurized environment, but Mary maintains her positive outlook and interaction regardless of the situation,” said Kolby Miller, Medstar Chief Executive. “Her idea for the smile buttons is a great reminder that we get a lot more out of our work and personal lives if we concentrate on being happy, rather than focusing on the stressors and negatives around us. Rather than just talk about making things better for people, Mary acts…every day. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with her.”
Jennel began her career in EMS as a volunteer firefighter and EMT at Lane Co. Fire District (now Lane Fire Authority), in 2008, and is now a Paramedic with Metro West Ambulance. Jennel truly values the training, experience, and support she received during her five years as a volunteer. Throughout her time as a volunteer, Jennel was awarded the EMT of the Year in 2010 and Public Educator of the Year in 2011.
Jennel became a Paramedic in 2013 and was hired by Metro West Ambulance in January of 2015. She was chosen as this year’s Star of Life recipient for Metro West Ambulance Eugene-Springfield because of her commitment, dedication, and passion for growth. Jennel is not afraid to step up to the plate and accept extra duties. On top of her ambulance and FTO duties, Jennel also helps with interviewing, hiring, and training new employees. She became an ACLS instructor late last year, with plans of obtaining additional instructor training in the near future. Jennel hopes that people can look up to her as a role model, and she enjoys helping those around her succeed.
Jennel believes her own personal success is in part due to those around her. Her superiors at work, her parents and siblings, and her husband and kids, all help make her into the outstanding Paramedic she is today. Jennel’s husband is also a Paramedic, and having that support is invaluable to her.
Heather Roy is the epitome of the axiom “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Heather is a “pint size” provider that out-performs her larger size peers.
Heather was hired in September 2006 within our Special Transportation Division transporting students with special needs. In March 2007, she transferred to the EMS Division as an EMT. Heather excelled in this position and has great respect for her peers, partners, hospital staff, and fellow first responders.
Heather is truly a patient advocate. She surfaces issues for patients that may not be of a medical nature, but are impacting their quality of life, so that they can be addressed.
Always willing to improve herself through reflection after each call she completes, she was the perfect candidate for a Field Training Officer position. Heather has great interactions with the new employees she is assigned. In particular, because of her solid technique, Heather has become the company’s ”lifting guru” for any new employee needing additional lifting assistance in this area.
Heather has also recently accepted and trained to become one of Hunter’s first Certified Car Seat Technicians. She provides proper installation and instruction of car seats for those in need in our community.
Heather is a positive role model for our EMS staff and a great advocate for our organization.
Dennis Dougan was hired as an EMT on December 15, 2008. While working for Hunter’s, Dennis continued his education by going to Paramedic school. In November 2011, Dennis was granted his Connecticut State Paramedic license, then obtained his medical direction in January 2012.
Dennis is a solid Paramedic who exercises self-control and solid scene management, bringing calmness to the most chaotic scenes. Dennis has been able to pass some of this along through his precepting of new Paramedics. We have received positive feedback from those he has mentored and evaluated through the process.
Dennis has had several commendations from the public. Here are a couple of excerpts:
“We would like to thank you very much for all that you did for my brother-in-law.”
“The treatment (both physical and emotional) that we received from the Hunter’s Paramedics was exceptional! These Paramedics provided us with the expert care while also keeping us informed of our situation.”
“Being from out of state with no family or friends close by, the smart thinking of this team was a comfort and a true blessing.”
“You have two of the finest human beings working for you, and I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how much we all appreciate them in their kind heartedness.”
“Your crew should be complimented for the manner in which they performed, especially in the face of a very difficult task.”
Dennis is a fantastic representative of what EMS is about and we are proud to have him as part of our team.
REACT EMS is proud to recognize Galen Hankal as a Star of Life 2017. Galen is a Field Supervisor and Paramedic for REACT. With 11 years of experience, Galen is a true leader to all personnel and a reliable leader on the most challenging calls.
In addition to his daily duties, Galen is the primary leader to manage and help EMTs and Paramedics looking to join our REACT Team. Galen shepherds the applicants from the first visit through our testing and interviews to selection and orientation, preparing them to be strong assets to our mission.
Galen and his wife, Lezlie, are the parents of Collin (9) and Liam (6). They are an avid baseball family and go fishing with the boys during the off season.
Galen has always shown compassion for his patients and the patients of his crews. Recently, Collin was injured in an ATV accident while visiting at his grandparents’ home. Suddenly, Galen and Lezlie were the family of an EMS patient. Collin was rushed to a rural facility and soon transported by air EMS to the Childrens’ Hospital for his internal injuries. Collin recovered completely, but it was a challenging experience for the whole family. Galen values the role of out-of-hospital providers even more, and his compassion for the families of our patients is even stronger.
Galen is an excellent example of the great EMTs and Paramedics working at REACT. Again, we are proud that Galen Hankal is our Star of Life for 2017.
REACT EMS is proud to recognize Matthew Bradshaw as a Star of Life 2017. Matt is a Field Training Officer and Critical Care Paramedic who has spent seven years with REACT.
Matt is most appreciated for his tireless efforts to work with new Paramedics, developing them into skilled practitioners. To a person, Matt’s mentored Paramedics compliment his ability to help them identify areas to study as well as his ability to help them understand material to a level that enhances their patient care skills. Matt takes great pride in each of his charges, but never seems to overwhelm them with his expectations. A sign of a true leader is one that makes others around him better. Matt Bradshaw is a perfect example of that characteristic.
Matt was Active Duty military for six years, and spent four years in the Reserves. He served in the Air Force, Army, and Navy. He started his EMS career as his military career ended. He has worked for a variety of EMS organizations, and has been benefiting REACT since 2008.
Matt and his wife, Shannon, are the proud parents of five children, ages six weeks to 20 years. Needless to say, they stay busy. Hunter is a junior at Baylor in the School of Nursing. Noah (7) and Jakob (5) are both playing baseball and have plenty of practices and games to attend. Carson likes to go along to baseball games and to the farm to ride the four-wheelers and feed the chickens.
The REACT family and all of our patients have benefited from Matt being an important part of our team. We are proud to recognize him as our Star for 2017.
Derek Weinkauf knows no strangers – or doesn’t for long. During his four-plus years at EMSA, Derek has earned a reputation as always having a smile on his face, the team’s mission on his mind, and his patients’ best interests at heart. He has received numerous kudos during his career for providing excellent care on critical calls and demonstrating incredible compassion when interacting with suicidal subjects and patients’ family members. Derek shows consideration and respect to everyone he meets.
Derek is an accomplished Field Training Officer. His approach to teaching new recruits is simple yet effective: don’t expect perfection, but rather strive for excellence.
Derek was inspired to become a public servant by his grandfather, who was a long-time member of the Tulsa Fire Department.
Shane Vargas began his career with the Rural/Metro Fire Department more than 15 years ago. A strong proponent of personal growth and development, Shane became a Fire Captain nearly six years ago and earned his Paramedic certification last year. He has his sights set next on becoming a Battalion Chief.
In December, Shane and his crew responded to a working house fire. Upon arriving on scene, they learned a person was inside and made entry. Shane located an unresponsive woman inside the home and dragged her out, with smoke and flames hot on his heels. After transferring care to other Paramedics, Shane returned to the burning structure to search for other occupants and then worked to prevent the flames from spreading to surrounding homes.
A veteran of the War in Iraq, AMR Paramedic Supervisor Mike Turcio is passionate about supporting and recognizing others who have served in the armed forces. Mike organized a ceremony last year to honor veterans working in his operation and designed a special challenge coin for veterans in Connecticut’s EMS industry. Mike also regularly leads efforts to create and send care packages to soldiers deployed overseas.
Mental health for first responders is another of Mike’s passions. Mike has been part of several panel discussions related to identification and treatment of first responder stress, and has organized team meetings with Yale’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team. Mike makes a point to check in with colleagues who have responded to critical incidents and to connect them with the initial and ongoing support they need.
Melinda Toy demonstrates excellent clinical skills, but it’s outstanding “people care” that sets this Paramedic apart.
Mindy and her partner were recognized last year for saving the life of a cardiac arrest patient. Not only did Mindy perform critical medical interventions, but she kept the patient’s husband fully informed of what was happening and comforted him until his family could get to the hospital. Mindy provided the same mix of deep compassion and excellent care to another patient who wanted to talk about his recently deceased wife. Mindy held the man’s hand and listened intently to his story; his heart stopped at the hospital, but Mindy was successful in helping resuscitate him.
Mindy provides a safety net for her neighbors who have special needs and has volunteered to ring bells for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign.
During her 15-year career, Paramedic Katrina Scaife has made a huge difference in the world, one life at a time.
Last fall, a woman contacted a local newspaper about the kindness and compassion Trina and her partner showed to the woman’s sick, elderly father. After transporting the man and his daughter to a hospital 150 miles from home, Trina returned to the hospital with a change of clothing, toiletries and money to help with their transition. Trina did something similar for a homeless man who lost his few possessions and nearly drowned after a flash flood.
The “den mother” of her shift, Trina is known for educating co-workers and students on the qualities of a well-rounded caregiver. She is a role model for and frequent mentor to women who are new to the EMS field.
From the greatest tragedy rose the inspiration known as Deborah Rath.
In 2004, Debbi’s teenage son was killed by a drunk driver. Debbi arrived at the scene of the fatal accident shortly after it happened; instead of turning away from the tragedy, Debbi decided to lean in and has dedicated her time to drunk driving prevention programs and other community efforts.
Debbi is a regular speaker for the Every 15 Minutes and Mothers Against Drunk Driving programs. She also donates her time to a non-profit organization that provides funeral services for abandoned newborns.
Last year, Debbi was honored by the Sonoma County Paramedic Association for her part in a cardiac arrest save. She was also part of an AMR team sent last year to Trinidad and Tobago to provide ALS pre-hospital instruction to Global Medical Response crews.
When terrorists attacked our country on September 11, 2001, Paramedic Chris Page – then a high school senior – petitioned his principal for an early diploma. Two days later, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Chris served two years before suffering a devastating injury in Iraq that ended his military career. He spent several months recovering, and a few years doing odd jobs, before finding his way into EMS about four years ago.
Last winter, Chris responded to a call for an extremely premature baby who was born at home, with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. The baby was unresponsive and had a slow, weak heartbeat. Chris removed the cord, provided chest compressions and successfully intubated the 1-pound patient. By the time they arrived at the hospital, the baby had a strong heartbeat. She is continuing her recovery today.
Paramedic Supervisor Jeff Odenthal’s EMS career spans nearly two decades. A lead Field Training Officer and prolific classroom instructor, Jeff jumps at the opportunity to teach new generations of EMTs and Paramedics. Jeff has a knack for instilling confidence in students and bringing calm to distressed patients. He is an effective and trusted leader who skillfully meets the needs of crew members under his supervision and the managers to whom he reports. Jeff’s colleagues say that he shows equal respect to everyone he encounters and treats his patients like family members.
In 2012, Jeff spent several weeks away from home, supporting the Super Storm Sandy response and recovery effort. His willingness to sacrifice for others is noticed and appreciated.
Susan Mohammed is passionate about health care. She joined the Global Medical Response team at its inception in 2005, having worked previously in public health. Early last year, Susan – who’d been working as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher – began her Paramedic training. She never missed a shift in the Communications Center while pursuing her professional development aims. Now a Field Paramedic, Susan relishes the opportunity to be involved in direct patient care.
Susan frequently mentors her peers and makes friends with everyone she meets. Her peers admire her strong work ethic, respect her expert opinion, and appreciate the shining example she sets. In addition to her multiple EMS certifications, Susan holds a National Nursing Certificate and works part-time as a registered nurse.
Sheryl Maia promotes a positive attitude everywhere she goes and is dedicated to her career and her colleagues. Eight years ago, Sheryl started her EMS journey as a call taker and later became a dispatcher; today, she is a Dispatch Training Officer.
In her role, Sheryl is responsible for dispatching multiple county divisions and ensuring that communications personnel consistently follow protocols and procedures. Sheryl also coordinates reviews of high-level emergency calls and is actively involved in quality improvement activities. Sheryl played a pivotal role in the Portland Communication Center’s successful re-accreditation bid last year.
As a member of her agency’s Angel Team, Sheryl helps provide meals, groceries, babysitting, and other materials to EMS colleagues enduring family emergencies and other crises. Sheryl also participates in a program designed to educate parents about the danger of shaking babies.
