Matthew Troy Moreno had a heart of gold and lived to serve other people.
While serving as a full-time Deputy Sheriff in our county, Matt decided to volunteer as a firefighter. Matt spent hours training and rose to the rank of Captain. Even that wasn’t enough for Matt: despite his other commitments, he then also elected to become an EMT. He sailed through training, and soon became a part-time employee with the Trinidad Ambulance District. Matt always kept medical gear in his police patrol unit and frequently responded to medical emergencies, often arriving long before the ambulance. Matt was a true public servant.
Matt was also known for his sense of humor and his hilarious practical jokes. He was truly one of a kind.
On the night of December 12, 2018 Matt responded to a domestic disturbance call. While en route, he was struck head-on by a drug and alcohol impaired driver, who was travelling at 96 mph. Tragically, he did not survive. The Trinidad Ambulance District asks that Matt be recognized posthumously for his exceptional public service.
Matt is survived by his father, Ed Moreno (JoAnn); mother, Christine Dagnillo; daughters, Summer Moreno and Morgan Moreno; son, Jared Klipfel; ex-wife, Eva Moreno; sister, Karli (Casey) Michael; nephews, Kaleb Hargraves USMC, Gavin Hargraves, Ayden Michael; nieces, Maddie Michael and Kimber Michael; and girlfriend, Niccole Cordova.
Law enforcement, fire service, EMS; Matt selflessly served our community in every capacity. Matt is greatly missed, and we are all deeply saddened by his passing. Rest easy, brother. We’ll take it from here.
Justin Rowe is described by his colleagues as humble, kind, thoughtful, supportive, and dedicated. According to many, Justin is a superb team player who understands the responsibility of delivering prehospital care to the citizens of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Justin takes a great deal of pride in working with the NET team and delivering excellent care to the patients and the families MEDIC serves. Justin works not only to meet the Agency’s standards of behavior for providing outstanding care, but he exceeds expectations by displaying professionalism and compassion towards every patient. Justin’s outstanding patient care frequently results in families requesting him by name.
According to his supervisor, “Justin is, by far, one of the hardest working employees we have at MEDIC. His dedication to our patients and departments is of the highest caliber. I frequently rely on Justin to make sound operational decisions and to mentor others without prompting.”
Justin began his career with MEDIC as an EMT in June 2007. He quickly moved up to function as one of the first BLS team leaders on the Non Emergency Transportation (NET) team. He then pursued his Paramedic certification. When the ALS NET team was transitioning from HP to solely ALS NET, he was one of the few that remained on NET. He spoke very positively of the mission of the NET team, inspiring other team members to stay instead of going back to 911. In September 2016, Justin stepped up to become a full-time crew chief without question or hesitation.
Justin has also worked closely this year with Special Operations during large-scale events. He assists crews who are less familiar with the UTVs, trouble shoots tablet connections, helps determine the best access points to patients in highly congested areas, and is familiar with the Command Center. Lastly, Justin also worked with Logistics during a time of reduced staffing, simply because he wanted to help his colleagues. Justin learned how to support the department by checking out gear and narcotics to incoming and outbound crews.
In addition to his work in the field, Justin has taken on a variety of additional responsibilities at MEDIC. For example, Justin is a safety instructor and trains new employees to operate MEDIC vehicles. He also mentors new staff as they transition to working in the field. The work Justin has done and continues to do has been vital for the success of our new agency driving program. Justin also dedicates his time off-the-clock working as an instructor for the Safe Teen program, which works to educate young adults on the responsibility of safe driving.
Justin is very humble and would never shine the spotlight on himself. Over the course of his career at MEDIC, Justin has worked hard to better himself as well as to being the best care provider possible. For these many reasons, MEDIC is proud to recognize Justin the 2019 Stars of Life award.
After nearly two decades at Alumax Mill Products as both union president and a finishing operator, a family accident inspired Shon Matthews to change career paths. In 2003, Matthews was out of town when he learned his son had been injured in a serious ATV accident and taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Listening to his wife and brother-in-law discuss the incident, Matthews realized communities need more people to get involved to save lives.
Shortly after, Matthews joined the Booker Bridge Volunteer Fire Department in Miller County, Arkansas as a first responder. Shortly thereafter, Matthews also became part of the first responder team at the mill where he worked full-time. Through training at the mill, Matthews met a LifeNet EMS Paramedic who told him that he was a natural fit for EMS. Matthews attended EMT school, then began working for LifeNet EMS part-time in 2007 as an EMT while continuing his education to become a Paramedic.
In March of 2009, Matthews joined LifeNet full-time, and a few years later, he was promoted to a Field Training Officer (FTO) role. He quickly proved himself an asset in that position, and in May of 2013, when one of the company’s Operations Managers was deployed overseas, Matthews was selected to temporarily fill that role for nine months.
When it was time for Matthews to return to his role as a field provider, the LifeNet Air medical helicopter in Texarkana needed coverage for a flight medic who was going out on short-term disability. Matthews was asked to fill-in as a flight medic during that time period. After his term as a flight medic ended, he was asked to help his family start a business. Matthews briefly stepped away from a full-time career in EMS. For the next six months, he worked only call-in-relief for LifeNet as a Paramedic for both the ground and air operations. Matthews eventually realized that his heart was not in the family business, and he made the decision to return to mobile healthcare full-time.
In June of 2016, Matthews was offered a full-time role as a flight medic on LifeNet Air, his dream job. Less than a year later, a full-time position opened for an Operations Manager role. Since August 2016, Matthews has served as full-time Operations Manager for LifeNet EMS in Texarkana, while also continuing to work as needed on the LifeNet Air medical helicopter. It is this dedication and commitment to doing whatever is needed to care for our patients and to serve the community that inspired his colleagues to nominate Matthews for the Star of Life award.
One coworker noted, “Perhaps the thing I have been most impressed by when watching Shon in action is how he is received in the community. As part of my initial training, I made rounds with Shon at three area hospitals. Shon was not only greeted warmly by the staff, but he was also known as a friend at every place we went. I have yet to repeat the experience I had with Shon with any other crew member. Shon has a natural ability to have conversations, build relationships, and represent us in the community in a way that people relate to.”
When Matthews is not working full-time in one of his many roles, he endeavors to educate the community on safety and to build the next generation of EMS professionals. In addition to teaching local first responders for LifeNet Air, Matthews also teaches BCLS, ACLS, ITLS, PEPP, and pediatric first aid. Additionally, he is an instructor in the EMT and Paramedic program at Texarkana College.
When he is not busy fulfilling his EMS duties, you will find Matthews spending time with his wife, Jennifer, and their children, Nicole and Derek. Matthews is an active member of Fairland Holiness Church where he serves as a Sunday School teacher.
Timothy Couillard joined Bell Ambulance as a Critical Care Paramedic in November of 2010. Since joining the team, Tim has dedicated himself to sharing knowledge with less experienced mobile healthcare providers.
Tim excels in all facets of EMS but has a special passion for teaching. It didn’t take long for Bell to recognize this talent, and he was soon promoted to the rank of Field Training Officer, a role he quickly embraced. In addition to mentoring new EMTs and Paramedics, Tim teaches CPR, ACLS, and PALS to most of the Bell Ambulance staff. In 2016, Tim’s capable leadership earned him a promotion to Supervisor. Never complacent, Tim also became an EMD-certified dispatcher in 2017.
When not serving at Bell, Tim enjoys family time with his wife, Toni; his three daughters, Sierra, Julie and Lily; and his two dogs, Otto and Ranger. Tim is also an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hunting, fishing, and time on his 4-wheeler.
In addition to receiving numerous Service Awards over the years, Tim was honored with the 2018 Bell Ambulance Employee of the Year Award. Now, we are proud and excited to celebrate Tim as a 2019 Star of Life.
David DeTray, or “Bubba” as he is known in Trinidad, is Trinidad Ambulance District’s most senior employee. David is proud to have dedicated over 15 years of service to our community.
In addition to his work as a Paramedic, David is also a Fire Chief, a member of our Rescue Task Force, and our driving instructor. David is one of the most compassionate and caring Paramedics you will ever meet. His sense of humor is without equal, and he is quick to share a joke with his patients, colleagues, and hospital staff.
David has spent many years as an ALS provider at the Intermediate level. David wanted to earn his Paramedic certification, but there were many obstacles to doing so, not the least of which was that the closest Paramedic school was three hours away in Denver. Despite serving as the Fire Chief for a fire district in our neighboring county and on top of his full-time schedule with Trinidad, David sacrificed so that our community could have another much needed Paramedic in our ranks.
This dedication to providing high-quality mobile healthcare to his community makes Trinidad Ambulance District proud to call David DeTray a Star of Life.
Dean Rush holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management from the University of Arkansas. Rush came to mobile healthcare with an impressive track record from his previous career in sales and marketing. When Rush returned to school as a seasoned professional to earn his Paramedic certificate at the the University of Iowa, he started a new chapter in his career that would positively impact multiple communities across the nation.
Rush began his EMS career when he became a volunteer EMT with Humboldt Ambulance Service in 1998, shortly after his family relocated to Humboldt, Iowa. The decision to move was necessitated by his job as a marketing specialist for the textile industry.
Shortly after moving to Humboldt, the local ambulance company asked Rush if he had ever thought about becoming involved in the medical field. They gave Rush a pager and told him to drive to the hospital if it went off. Just 15 minutes after receiving it, the pager went off. There was a snowmobile wreck directly across the street from the hospital involving two 16-year-old kids. That call would inspire Rush to work towards his Paramedic certificate.
In 2001, Rush was named the National Marketing Representative of the year at his full-time job. On the morning of September 11th, his family was getting ready to fly to San Diego to accept the award when they learned all flights had been canceled due to the terrorist tragedy. That events of that day deeply impacted Rush and guided him further towards mobile healthcare.
A few months later, Rush was offered a position working full-time as a Paramedic at Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Rush left his corporate career behind to work full-time in an industry where he could truly make a difference in the lives of others.
In 2012, Rush became a flight medic for LifeNet of the Heartlands, a division of AirMethods. Rush also taught as an adjunct professor at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa. That same year he received the Hero of the Heartland Award.
When his three children were out of the house, Rush and his wife, Brenda, decided to leave the snow of Iowa behind and head south. Rush became a street Paramedic for the City of New Orleans.
A few years later, the duo—who had met while they were both students at the University of Arkansas—decided to relocate to Arkansas in order to be closer to their children, all of whom had decided to attend their parents’ alma mater. After the move, Rush joined LifeNet EMS in 2016.
A certified Critical Care Paramedic, Rush currently serves as a Field Training Officer and a fill-in Operations Manager for LifeNet’s Hot Springs Division. Additionally, Rush is an instructor in the Paramedic program at National Park College.
His colleagues say, “What best describes Rush is his consistently positive attitude. He is full of knowledge and is eager to share any information when you ask him a question. His work ethic and professionalism are both exceptional and impressive. Rush goes above and beyond the call of duty to help his patients and his co-workers. His patient care is very proficient, and his bedside manner is phenomenal. Rush is deeply committed to imparting knowledge upon the next generation of EMS providers. Rush is an open book, and always takes time to answer questions from colleagues.”
When Hunter Poston graduated from Perkins-Tryon High School in 2013, he wanted to dedicate himself to something related to emergency medicine; it was not until college that he realized EMS would be his career.
Poston began working towards an associates degree in Health Services Technology at Northern Oklahoma College which resulted in him enrolling in an EMT class. Poston’s education and interaction with the community fostered his passion for EMS.
As a native of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Poston dreamed of securing a position at LifeNet EMS after he earned his EMT certification. The company, unfortunately, was not hiring at that time. Determined to fill his time with EMS work, he took a job offer with Life EMS in Enid, Oklahoma. After just three months of working there, Poston seized the opportunity to work full-time for LifeNet EMS in his hometown.
Although Poston was content with being an EMT Basic, he strove for greatness. With Poston being unable to start Paramedic school until 2018, he sought to work towards his Advanced EMT in the latter months of 2017. Following this, he started Paramedic school in 2018, and is set to graduate in July 2019.
Poston’s colleagues have proclaimed, “Hunter is extremely dedicated to caring for his community and puts his heart and soul into his work.” Additionally, they praise Poston’s dedication, saying, “He is in the process of completing Paramedic school while still working full-time to further provide the best care he can to those in need and is in the top of his class.”
Another colleague echoed those sentiments through nominating Poston: “Poston is always professional and clearly loves his profession… Hunter holds himself to very high standards and simply does not know how to do a bad job at anything. He has a great ‘bedside manner’ and takes his job very seriously. Even the smallest complaint from a patient does not escape him. He studies nonstop working his way up to a higher medical license and he is always willing to help another employee. Recently, he dug through the garbage to help another EMT find her wallet. Poston always has a smile and has an amazing energy about him.”
What sets Sue Zeigler apart from other EMS professionals is that she is more than just an exceptional EMT – she is an individual that is 100% committed to the health and welfare of the community she serves. A full-time business owner and part-time EMT, Sue still takes responsibility to monitor radio traffic while off-duty. She has even driven her own vehicle to get to the location of a call to assist fellow crewmembers with a cardiac patient. Sue has also taken it upon herself while off-duty to find a partner so an ambulance can be called into service when Pierre’s two-ambulance system is overloaded. A volunteer for AMR at many community events, Sue is always looking for opportunities to educate the public and advocate the importance of CPR training. Sue cancels client appointments at her salon to help fill uncovered shifts. In addition, Sue donates her cosmetic skills to hospice and cancer patients, and is in charge of AMR’s Sentimental Journey program. Sue Ziegler’s commitment to her patients, her co-workers and the community is the reason why she is being honored as a Star of Life.”
Anthony has worked for Air Ambulance Specialists (AASI) for the past eight years as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and Paramedic. His role as a Flight RRT/EMTP has expanded into training and medical coordination. Anthony’s knowledge and training style is invaluable to both AASI and AMR Air Hawaii. He is always there to answer difficult questions. Anthony became a Paramedic in 1984 and a RRT in 1986. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine and an Associate’s degree in Respiratory Therapy. His RRT/EMTP experience includes working at many top-level hospitals including Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, CA; Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, LA; and Dartmouth Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. He joined AASI with 18 years of flight experience in both the rotor and fixed-wing environments. Anthony has also been a member of several specialty transport teams. Anthony is an outdoor sportsman including an accomplished skier, runner, and climber and he enjoys several other sports.”
Our Star of Life nominee has been in EMS for many years. During that time he has been a teacher and mentor to many. He brings an amazing energy and a high level of professionalism to every call. Michael is always willing to help any level EMT learn new skills or become more proficient in a current skill. He is patient, kind and makes learning fun! Michael is also always willing to answer any questions after a call. He truly embodies what we believe a great provider should be. Michael completed his first EMT course in the fall of 1994 and was hired part time after completing this course, and 6 months later was hired full-time. In 1996, Michael completed the EMT-Intermediate course and worked as an advanced provider until 1998 when he continued to advance his education and was accepted into the Advanced Life Support Institute where he obtained his National Paramedic certification in 2000. Michael became one of the first paramedics to provide paramedicine to the surrounding communities in District 5. Michael went on to complete the Vermont Critical Care Program and was instrumental in establishing the service to provide interfacilty transports of critically ill patients. Michael has worked for the organization he started his career with 20 years ago. He has taught countless EMT, ACLS, PALS and recertification classes, just to name a few. He has served as CALEX Training Coordinator and District Training Coordinator. It is safe to say that everyone in our district has benefitted from his knowledge. Michael also serves as a Vermont Assistant Medical Examiner and is an American Board Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator. Michael is married to his wife Sarah and has two children Colby and Lily. Michael enjoys motorcycling, snowmobiling and spending time with his family.”
Almost 11 years ago, Rosalie Willis, began her EMS career. Approached by her neighbor, Fire Chief Terry Atkins, she was asked if she would be interested in volunteering on the ambulance. Speechless at first, she began asking numerous questions. Quickly she found out what she needed to accomplish before being able to volunteer to do such an amazing thing. In June of 2003, she successfully completed her local First Responder course. Enjoying her education, she decided to continue learning and completed her EMT Basic in June of 2004. She volunteered on a rural ambulance for 5 years. In March of 2008, Rosalie was hired to work as a Full-Time employee at Bay Cities Ambulance in Coos Bay, Oregon. As a single mother of 4 young children, in the fall of 2008, she began her 4 year training to obtain her license as a Paramedic. In October of 2012, all of her hard work and dedication was rewarded, when she accomplished her goal and became a Nationally Certified Paramedic. After 2 months of field training with Paramedic’s at Bay Cities Ambulance, she was released to work within the company as a Paramedic. Since that time she has continued to strive for excellence in her work and her continuing personal education on the job. Rosalie is now happily married and devotes her spare time to her husband and children. She loves spending time at the ocean with her family. She is grateful to all of her friends, family and co-workers for their love and support throughout her career and training to become a paramedic.”
In September 2013 in Florence, Alabama, a son called 911 because his elderly father was nonresponsive. Shoals Ambulance Paramedic Leann Wiggington was first on the scene and through her quick assessment and immediate action, as well as the teamwork of Florence-Lauderdale E-911 Center, Florence Fire Department and the doctors at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital emergency department, a man’s life was saved. The son and his father were driving to the hospital when the father lost consciousness. The son immediately called 911. When Wiggington and her partner, Jennifer Hale, heard the call through dispatch, the son directed them to a car dealership parking lot. When they arrived, the father and son were not there, but, using quick thinking, they continued in the direction of the hospital. In his panic, the son had traveled a few miles to a different parking lot. The ambulance team was able to correctly determine the location of the emergency and minimize further delay of lifesaving care. Wiggington assisted in getting the father out of the truck onto a flat surface and immediately started CPR. Wiggington attached a LIFEPAK 12-Lead cardiac monitoring device to the patient, which determined he had entered ventricular fibrillation. To restart the heart, she issued a shock from the LIFEPAK device, but there was no change. Wiggington continued CPR, and the Florence Fire Department helped place the patient in the ambulance. She reassessed and after the second electrical therapy, Wiggington registered a pulse. Within 10 minutes from arriving at the scene, the patient was in the emergency department, where Wiggington presented a code summary showing a report of the cardiac trauma and that the patient was now experiencing regular sinus rhythm and lowered blood pressure. Thanks to excellent teamwork, the patient fully recovered and was able to return home.”
Jo-Ann White-Hall joined Hunter’s Ambulance Service in 2008 as an EMT. She has been actively involved with community events and has continued to encourage interest in the field of EMS (Emergency Medical Services). She has received several commendations for her dedication to achieve positive patient outcomes. Our Management Team along with other responding agencies have remarked on her ability to coordinate a unified response for the welfare of those around her and within her care. She has often taken time to provide feedback for improved performance at multiple events. Jo-Ann was recently recognized by supervision for her performance at a standby that required the triage of approximately 20 plus persons. She assessed the situation establishing treatment for those who were medically ill while activating the system which resulted in the declaration of an MCI (Mass Casualty Incident) and transport of multiple patients. Multiple accolades from supervisors and the public prove she is an asset to our EMS team. She communicates with event leadership to establish expectations. Her ability to work with and follow procedures has been reported from multiple venues such as the Durham and Berlin Fair EMS response providers. Jo-Ann is being honored as a Star of Life for her professionalism and dedication. In December 2013, Jo-Ann was honored and awarded the 2013 Hunter’s Ambulance Distinguished Service Awards for EMS-Emergency Medical Technician. Hunter’s Ambulance is privileged to have such a dedicated person as part of our team.”
William is a true Star of Life, described as a very caring individual who is dedicated to EMS and AMR. He is a CCEMT-P, Lead SCT Medic for Abbott. William is often recognized for his efforts to ensure the highest standards of care. He is a committed medial professional with a strong academic background and clinical training. In addition, he mentors his colleagues assuring consistent skills and quality patient care. His patient care reports are meticulously detailed, ensuring that our SCT patients receive the highest quality care possible.William constantly takes the SCT ambulance into the community for in-service demonstrations and hosts Scout troops on site to familiarize them on how we operate and introduce them to career opportunities. He has served as a local Cub Scout den leader for the past five years, Girl Scout advisor for the past nine years, and provides emergency foster care for disadvantaged children. One of William’s crowning achievements was to help a chronically ill veteran, near the end of his life, check a big item off his “bucket list.” William took him to a St. Louis Rams football game. While on the sidelines, the veteran was greeted by officials, players and fans, all of whom thanked him for his service to our country. William is a reliable source of information to his peers and sometimes referred to as “Phone a Friend” from his coworkers who seek his advice and answers regarding patient care challenges.”
Patrick joined the EMS community in 1993 with an Advanced First Aid certification. Due to a traumatic event, he took a step away from EMS. In 2009 he became an EMT and has forged ahead in his EMS career and is currently the squad leader for the Maddock Ambulance. Presently he is an EVOC instructor, CPR instructor and is taking the leadership academy courses offered through the North Dakota EMS Association. Pat has been a northeast director for the North Dakota EMS Association for the past year and is a committee chair as well as a member of the advocacy committee. He has provided testimony in Bismarck on behalf of EMS and is very active in the legislative process. Pat received the 2013 EMS Provider of the Year and according to the service that nominated him; “He is a natural leader for EMS in North Dakota and they are proud to nominate him for the provider of the year.”
Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services (Chesterfield, Virginia) is proud to recognize Robert Trimmer as our EMS Star of Life. Robert began his contribution to emergency medical services (EMS) in 1976 with the Lakeside Volunteer Rescue Squad in Henrico, Virginia. He has been a valuable part of the Chesterfield Fire and Emergency Medical Services (CFEMS) family since 1984. He was a participant in the first training program during the development of the Virginia State Police Med-flight program in 1986. During his service with Chesterfield, Robert has impacted our organization as the Infectious Disease Control Officer and a charter member of the Hazardous Incident Team. His attention to detail and commitment to our organization’s vision of safety is evident through his work developing ambulance specifications and monitoring manufacturing compliance and his development of our bariatric patient response initiatives. Robert manages the contracts and purchasing for our department’s entire medical supplies inventory. His fiscal responsibility is further demonstrated by his cooperative participation with our county’s purchasing department, his identification and writing of grants, and his selfless actions as a manufacturer trained medical equipment repair specialist. Conservatively, Robert saves our county and its citizens tens of thousands of dollars each year in fees and repair costs surrounding our medical equipment assets. For his efforts, Robert has received department, and county, recognition including Employee of the Year. Regionally and nationally, Robert distinguishes himself as the chairman of the Metropolitan Richmond EMS Sub-committee, a member of the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services Financial Assistance Review Committee,National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) drill coordinator, Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Chempack locality manager,Virginia Association of Hazardous Materials Response Specialists conference committee member, and safety manager with Kings Dominion (Hanover, Virginia). Robert’s expertise is respected and sought out by many agencies throughout our state and country. Robert’s nearly four decades of commitment to excellence and quality in EMS has helped our organization navigate the path to becoming a high performance EMS system.”
Wayne has been working in EMS since 1982 and has had a distinguished career. In addition to his duties as a paramedic, Wayne has been involved in almost every facet of EMS. He established what was to become McClainGrady County EMS, worked as director for Lindsay EMS, trained hundreds of people, both lay persons and EMS personnel as a BLS Instructor, In-House Instructor, ACLS Instructor, PALS instructor and PEPP Instructor. Wayne has also been a member of our local DMAT team, a federally sponsored citizens medical disaster team that responds to domestic disasters. As BLS instructor, Wayne teaches the local school faculty, local police department employees and numerous civic group members the skills of CPR and AED use. He also teaches first aid and how to react in an emergency situation to people whom have no prior training or experience to emergencies. Wayne has spent hundreds of hours writing refresher programs for the EMR to Paramedic level responders to ensure everyone involved in our local EMS system is updated in training and skill levels and meet the DOT and Health Department requirements for relicensing. During what little down time he has on shift, Wayne is the quality Assurance Administrator for our service, reviewing every run form that is entered into our computer system. Each call is reviewed and those meeting certain criteria are sent to our medical director for his review and comments. Wayne is very interested in making sure our service provides the best patient care and that each medic follows the patient care protocols approved by the medical director. Wayne has responded to numerous disasters in Oklahoma and within the continental United States. He has provided emergency medical services during tornados, floods and hurricanes. His area of response and expertise knows no boundaries.”
Corey is a superior EMT and has given the EMS profession greater than 14 years of service. He has served many years with Community Care Ambulance as our most requested EMT for transports and an amazing Community Outreach advocate. Corey functions as a mentor and is recognized for being a strong leader and well respected by his peers. He is focused and committed to doing whatever is best for the patient in the most compassionate and competent manner. Community Care receives positive feedback from patients, co-workers, and various facilities. Corey is a captivating educator, a self-motivator and displays a positive attitude making him an example of a star. For several years, Corey has functioned as the Infection Control Officer and DRIVE instructor for all new hire orientations and annual trainings. Corey has DJ’d and planned several annual company events, and has a passion for Public Relations events such as Safety Town. Corey is most proud of his family and often shares stories of his niece Molly and the fun they have. Corey enjoys musical productions and has played leading and supporting roles in many. For the few quiet moments in his day, you will find Corey and significant other Justin seeking out new food creations and watching their favorite movies. Community Care is very fortunate to have Corey and all of his talents.”
When tornadoes tore through central Oklahoma in May 2013, Melody Spruill shepherded field crews and communications personnel through the crisis. Radio and cell phone networks were overloaded, making communications incredibly difficult. During this time of intense chaos, Melody figured out a way to coordinate with external agencies and internal resources to secure and position additional response assets. Melody has a passion and intensity that sometimes catches people off-guard. Once she has taken ownership of a project, she assumes an accountability for it that is admirable and influences her peers. Melody is an EMT-Basic and has earned Emergency Medical Dispatch certification. She joined the EMSA team in November 1985.”
Luke Spillman began his EMS career in 2009. Soon after, he became EMT-I certified. Not satisfied with only being the driver on critical patient runs, Spillman enrolled in paramedic school as well as completing his EMT-I to AEMT transition course. In 2013, he started working at Coffey County EMS in Burlington, Kansas. “Luke’s attention to detail is what sets him apart,” said Coffey County EMS Director James Higgins. “He knows that the little things matter–like holding a patient’s hand while they are scared and making sure a patient is comfortable with something as simple as a pillow. Add this to his exceptional skills, and he is an all-around excellent paramedic.” Since he began working at Coffey County EMS, he has volunteered to teach quarterly CPR classes for Coffey County Hospital and EMS staff as well as to the general public. Furthermore, he recently completed his Kansas TO-I certification so he will be able to teach continuing education for EMS providers. “Luke handles himself very professionally. He is knowledgeable in all aspects of EMS and is willing to jump in and help with whatever needs to be done,” said Higgins. It is evident that Spillman is and has always been focused on becoming the best EMS provider he can be and helping his colleagues to do so as well. As he gains more experience, Spillman hopes to work part-time with a FLIGHT SERVICE within the next couple of years. “Behind my accomplishments and goals, is a true desire to help people,” Spillman said. “That’s what makes my efforts worthwhile to me.” Spillman married his wife, Erica, in June 2013. She is very supportive of his commitment to EMS. They reside in Emporia, Kan.”
