Jason Goodwin began his career with LifeNet in 2000. He started as a volunteer firefighter in 1997 with the Salem Volunteer Fire Department and the Sherwood Volunteer Fire Department in Arkansas, and the Nash Fire Department in Texas. Jason received his paramedic certification in 1998.
Jason works in the Texarkana division of LifeNet and takes on the additional responsibility of the ambulance equipment layout for the Texarkana fleet. He is highly respected for his commitment to and concern for his patients. He is the first to volunteer for a task and this is shown through his pride and love of EMS every day.
To give back to the Texarkana community, Jason works alongside his wife in the animal rescue service she started in 2013. When time allows, his hobbies include working on cars, target shooting, and playing video games.
Rakesh has been a part of Global Medical Response of Trinidad and Tobago (GMRTT) for a little more than three years. He is an outstanding clinician, who often exceeds his patients’ expectations. His dedication to patient care and job excellence is evident in the level of enthusiasm he puts into each call.
In October 2015, Rakesh was honored by GMRTT at its Tenth Anniversary function. He won the “Adrenaline Junkie” award. He was resoundingly nominated by his peers, amongst whom he is well respected. He often dedicates his time to coaching colleagues and new team members to ensure their growth and success.
Rakesh is also a member of GMRTT’s Ebola Response Team, which was critical to the management of the pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago. In 2015, he enrolled in the organization’s Paramedic Training Program to advance his skills in the EMS field.
Christopher Grant is an EMT at LifeLine Ambulance Service. He started his EMS career in 2015 after becoming a Navy Corpsman. Chris has a very positive demeanor and is liked and admired by his peers. He serves as a preceptor for new EMTs and shares his military training and experiences with them; in turn they are better prepared to meet the daily challenges and provide excellent patient care.
His professionalism and energy are admired by all those who work with him as well as the patients he cares for. We are proud of his continued service to the United States Navy and are grateful for his dedication and leadership at LifeLine Ambulance Service.
Michael Griffith was born March 28, 1990 in Stratford, New Jersey. He relocated to Euless, Texas in 2005, where he graduated from Euless Trinity High School in 2009. Wanting to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, Michael enlisted in the United States Army as a combat medic. There, he was put through a six week emergency medical technician class and earned national certification as an EMT.
Shortly after his arrival to his duty station at Fort Bliss, Texas, Michael was involved in a hiking accident where he fell over forty feet, breaking his back, elbows, wrists and left ankle. After a year and a half of physical therapy, perseverance, and determination, he was unable to meet the requirements to be released for active duty and was ultimately medically discharged.
Unsure what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, Michael followed his high school sweetheart to Kilgore, Texas and secured employment with East Texas Medical Center EMS in 2013. In 2014, Michael was privileged to enroll in the ETMC EMS Paramedic program. After 11 months of intense training and clinicals, all while employed full time, he earned national and state certification as a Paramedic in February of 2015.
Michael Griffith strives to be the standard bearer for EMS. He gives 100 percent in all aspects of life and his chosen career. One of Michael’s strongest virtues is his desire to improve. Although he places in our strongest group of Paramedics with regard to clinical ability, it is his consistent, intentional efforts to improve that separate him from others.
Michael is a very compassionate person who was drawn to this field due to his caring nature. He always thinks of others first whether it is the patient, the patient’s family members, or first responders on the scene. Michael is willing to share his knowledge with student riders and first responders, and is able to do so in a manner that never comes across in an arrogant or negative fashion. His dedication to his profession and the ETMC EMS organization is obvious to all who are blessed to make his acquaintance.
Michael traveled a long way from New Jersey to Texas and we are pleased he decided to make the journey. Most of us will face a time in which we need emergency medical assistance. When your time comes and you look up to see Michael Griffith’s face and hear his calm, reassuring voice, you can rest easy as you are in highly capable hands!
Robert and Marc Archer are partners operating out of AMR’s Redlands operations in San Bernardino County. On December 2, 2015, they were among the first EMS personnel to arrive at the scene of the devastating terrorist attack at the Inland Regional Center where 14 people were killed and 21 were injured.
Upon arrival, Marc and Robert moved into the triage area which was surrounded by police personnel and protected by rooftop snipers due to concerns the shooters would return to attack first responders. Immediately, the two paramedics encountered numerous gunshot victims, and began adapting triage protocols to address the volume of victims and nature of the injuries sustained, and at times moving from patients who had succumbed to injuries to try and save others.
Marc and Robert, in addition to numerous AMR and public safety personnel, were able to rise to the occasion on this day, stay calm and focused, and do what they needed to do to save the lives of patients in a very difficult and dangerous situation.
Kristy Halter started full time at Saint Francois County Ambulance District (SFCAD) on May 26, 1998. During Kristy’s senior year of high school, she job shadowed a few hours each week here at SFCAD. She would help out with office duties and caught on quickly to new tasks. Upon graduating high school, she was hired full time.
Her first position was as our billing clerk. It was obvious that she was eager to assist with anything the service needed, even driving our non-emergency transport wheelchair van. She then became a car seat technician in addition to her billing duties. She became interested in information technology (IT) when we transitioned to laptops for electronic reporting. Kristy quickly took on the in- house role as the “IT go-to person.” In 2015, Kristy was promoted to the IT/Education Account Manager.
Kristy is an amazing employee and an all-around great person. She is the one all others run to anytime anything goes wrong, whether it be with IT or education. Everyone’s response to questions they cannot answer is, “ask Kristy,” “take it to Kristy,” or “Hey Kristy!” She always answers with “Yes.” Each day, she is pulled in a thousand different directions and always manages to complete every task that she has in front of her, without complaint and always with a smile.
Kristy has been married to her husband, Chris Halter, for 15 years, and they have two wonderful children, Carter (11), and Kendra (7).
Kristy is a very important part of our service and helps to keep it running smoothly. The staff of SFCAD is extremely proud to have her as part of our team.
Ramona Hanks was chosen as Acadian’s Texas EMT of the Year. Mona is one of Acadian’s original Texas pioneers, joining Acadian in 2006. She serves on the Employee Stock Ownership Plan Committee advocating employee ownership to her fellow co-workers, and is also on the Safety Committee and a member of the Critical Incident Stress/Peer-Support Team.
Mona also works with the Bridge City Fire Department, serves on the board of the Golden Triangle Special Olympics, and volunteers in her church. She has been honored as a previous winner of the Southeast Texas EMT of the Year award and has received the Acadian Pride award, the Acadian Spirit award and four Meritorious Service awards for exemplary service.
“I always wanted to be an EMT,” Mona said. “I love what I do. I’m the one who’s able to let the family know what’s going on. My goal is to better myself as a partner and to help with the whole picture—the patient, the family, and the facility.”
Bryan has lived in White Settlement, Texas, just a few miles away from MedStar’s headquarters, all his life. He is a volunteer with his hometown fire department and has been with MedStar for two years. MedStar was his first EMS position, and he plans on making EMS his life-long profession by attending paramedic school in the near future.
When asked about what he likes most about EMS, Bryan is quick to highlight his desire to help people, and to make every interaction, with every patient, the best it can be—even at some of the most challenging moments in someone’s life.
Bryan was selected for the Star of Life honor because of his incredible work ethic, dependability, commitment to excellence, and customer service.
Bryan is very excited about his trip to Washington, D.C. for two major reasons; to meet other Stars from across the country, and because this will be his first ever trip to Washington. MedStar is proud to nominate Bryan Harrell as a 2016 American Ambulance Association Star of Life.
“A high standard of excellence” and “commitment” are words that describe Kayla Hedlund and her work with Lakes Region EMS. She consistently goes above and beyond, surpassing expectations to advance her knowledge within her role.
Because of Kayla’s desire to advance her knowledge, in addition to being a Paramedic, she is also a respiratory therapist. These two titles combined show Kayla’s commitment to providing the best care for her patients. Each role has a unique set of
challenges that help her to progress her clinical knowledge; and if Kayla was not already pushing the envelope, she has recently taken on a new role within Lakes Region EMS. Because of her ability to translate her knowledge into a relatable and easy-to-understand format, she has been chosen to design lesson plans and scenarios for the Critical Care Program that will help teach others and lead them on the road to success.
“Success” is also a word that describes Kayla and her endeavors. She is joy to work with, and her optimism brings positive energy to the workplace. Kayla readily volunteers for any project and is up for any task. She is kind to all she meets, and has deep loyalty to the patients and staff of Lakes Region EMS.
Kayla’s excellence and dedication to all she does has made her more than deserving of this award. We all strive to surpass the expectation, push the envelope, and advance our knowledge, but Kayla has certainly mastered each of these goals.
We at Lakes Region EMS are proud to have her as a part of our family.
Cliff is the model of a homegrown made-in-Solano County success story. Cliff was born and raised in Benicia, California, which he still calls home today. EMS caught Cliff’s interest early. He went to EMT school at Solano College, then applied to work at Medic Ambulance, where he quickly became part of the family. Cliff put his time and effort into becoming the best EMT he could be, and when it was time he knew he was ready to take on the challenge of becoming a Paramedic. Cliff not only has passed that challenge but also led the way for others. Cliff is now finishing his eighth year as a Paramedic at Medic. He is a Field Training Officer, County Preceptor, and the Chair of Medic Ambulance’s Internal Quality Improvement Committee.
Cliff is being recognized as a Star of Life for his role as one of Medic Ambulance’s Community Paramedics. Community Paramedicine is a new and innovative model in providing healthcare, and Cliff is one of only 77 Community Paramedics in the state. Cliff dedicated many hours to mandatory didactic and clinical training as part of the program, all while still performing his normal job duties as Paramedic.
Cliff always takes the time to instruct, improve and create a better environment for others. Whether it is a Paramedic student or a new employee, Cliff is always there to lend a helping hand.
Cliff’s commitment to excellence shows in everything he does, and thus he has been selected for the third year in a row as Medic Ambulance’s 2016 Paramedic of the Year. Cliff was also recognized as a 2016 California Star of Life for his performance excellence in March by the California Ambulance Association in Sacramento, California.
In Cliff’s free time he loves spending time outdoors and with his son, CJ. Great job, Cliff!
Brandon was hired by Mohawk Ambulance Service in 2011 as an EMT. In just a few months’ time, Brandon’s excellent leadership skills became apparent, and in 2012 he was promoted to supervisor. In 2014, he became a Paramedic, then rose to Station Leader. Because of Brandon’s dedication and expertise, he was able to seamlessly step in for six months to cover for a Regional Manager.
Brandon was born and raised in Gloversville, New York. After an active duty tour in the military, he returned to Gloversville, which he still calls home. He received his Certificate in Paramedicine from SUNY Cobleskill, and has earned two Distinguished Service awards during his tenure at Mohawk. He likes working with others and helping people in a fast-paced, high-stress job.
In Brandon’s spare time he is a volunteer firefighter. He also enjoys spending time in the outdoors hiking, hunting, and fishing.
Mohawk Ambulance Service is proud to honor Brandon as an American Ambulance Association 2016 Star of Life.
Lance Hester perfectly embodies the spirit of EMS. His leadership appears effortless, and he is known for always finding a creative solution to problems, no matter how big or small. Lance’s talent led him to progress professionally over the years, rising through the ranks of EMT, Paramedic, Field Training Officer, Critical Care Transport Paramedic, and, most recently, overnight Shift Commander.
Last fall, Lance responded as the supervisor in charge to a mass shooting at a local Boys and Girls Club. His command decisions impacting patient care and responder safety and thoughtful actions on the scene earned the praise of many of his colleagues and fellow responding agencies. While this critical incident stands out, Lance commands the respect and admiration of all who have the privilege of working alongside him.
“Exceeds all expectations,” “nurturing,” “loves to teach,” and “nothing is too overwhelming”—that’s how Anastasia’s co-workers describe her.
In December 2014, she served as medical commander at one of Knox County’s biggest mass casualty incidents. Two full school buses collided, killing three. Several of the patients were kindergarten age. Her leadership helped to ensure that every patient was sent to a hospital which could provide the level of care needed. She also made sure the uninjured were taken to a secure, comforting location.
Called “our most accomplished paramedic field training officer,” every trainee she works with asks again and again for more shifts under her guidance. When Education Days approach, she is among the first to sign up to brief her colleagues, novice and veteran alike, about new equipment and tricks of the trade.
At scenes with more than one patient, she often takes the worst injured, in part to spare her subordinates the stress that can come with working major trauma. Anastasia provides excellent care for her patients and exceptional support for her teammates.
Rick Hyatt is originally from the small town of Aurora, Texas, where he developed his personable and kind demeanor. He joined the EMS profession in 1991.
Rick’s current role at MedStar is as our medical records coordinator. In this position, Rick helps ensure that patient care reports are correctly completed, and assists MedStar field employees in learning the best way to provide a complete medical record. What he likes most about his role is the diversity. He gets to do what he loves most; EMS, education, and problem-solving for MedStar’s team members. Prior to joining the medical records team, Rick gained experience as a field paramedic and field-training officer, and has also previously worked as a schoolteacher.
Rick was selected for the Star of Life honor because of his incredible work ethic, dependability, commitment to excellence, and customer service.
He is very excited about his trip to Washington, D.C. for two reasons, to meet other Stars from across the country, and because this will be his first ever trip to Washington.
MedStar is proud to recognize Rick Hyatt as an American Ambulance Association 2016 Star of Life.
Daniel Jackson has been employed with Hunter’s Ambulance Service since November 2002. Dan joined Hunter’s as an EMT-IV, then later successfully progressed to obtain his Paramedic license in June of 2003.
Dan possesses many qualities that are appreciated by our organization. When his supervisors were asked to describe him, they all had the same positive response: “Dan is extremely dedicated to his job, and his patients”. His is known to be “respected by patients, peers, and supervisors alike.”
In addition, Dan is a Paramedic Field Instructor (PFI) and has been critical in precepting and assisting our new Paramedic employees to obtain medical control. Dan’s recommendations while acting as a PFI are valued and trusted by all. He takes the time to critically evaluate each and every call to ensure the best in patient care.
Dan is being honored as a Star of Life for his proficiency and dedication. Hunter’s Ambulance is privileged to have such a committed member on our team.
Gregg James is a father of eleven children who serves as a Critical Care Paramedic, Lead Instructor, and Manager of Education Services for Superior Air-Ground Ambulance, the largest prehospital care agency in Illinois. Gregg is a graduate of the Oregon Health & Science University Paramedic Program, where he received an AAS with honors. He has served in EMS since 2002.
Gregg began his career as a fireman, where he was actively involved in community and firefighter education. After serving for several years with a 911 medical provider near Portland, Oregon, he moved in 2011 to the Chicagoland area and took up employment with Superior.
Gregg’s teaching style and work ethic reflect his strong values of respect and service. Since coming to Superior, he has spoken, with conviction, on the power of value-driven behavior in our industry to nearly 2,000 new employees. In 2015, he oversaw the training of over 800 EMTs and Paramedics. He has helped to develop a new field training officer program to provide novice care providers with more extensive field experience.
Gregg is presently Chairman of the Just Culture Committee, a program designed to promote both safety and personal and organizational growth in high-risk industries such as EMS. Superior Air-Ground Ambulance is proud to honor Gregg with the American Ambulance Association 2016 Star of Life.
Joe Johnson clearly found his calling when he started his EMS career 19 years ago. Through those years, he has worked as a Chair Car Driver, an EMT, and a Dispatcher. Currently an EMT for more than eight years with Armstrong Ambulance Service, Joe consistently demonstrates excellence in every interaction, whether with patients, colleagues, or facility staff.
Humble to a fault, Joe is an ideal Star of Life. He is the epitome of a team player and is always pitching in to lend a helping hand to his fellow employees. Joe consistently picks up shifts when staffing is needed, cleans extra trucks, and assists fellow EMTs. Joe has gained a reputation for being a dependable, hardworking and responsible coworker and is well respected by both his peers and the managerial staff. Additionally, Joe is known for his loyalty to his Armstrong colleagues, even going so far as to organize a fundraiser for a fellow EMT.
Joe is always looking for ways to make company improvements. He comes up with creative and practical solutions to issues and communicates them so that best practices can be implemented.
Joe has stated that the most rewarding part of his job is helping the public and easing anxiety for patients and their family members. He said he “does it all for just a smile.” Joe does the right thing, because it is the right thing to do. He needs neither accolades nor recognition.
Joe has also been commended numerous times by both patients and partner facilities. Each day he demonstrates his capability to connect with and calm every patient. Joe is always even-tempered and excels in even the most urgent situations. His ability to relate to and work with various types of people has not only benefitted the many patients he has transported, but also the new EMTs that have come on board as well. Anytime a new EMT is trained by Joe, he or she leaves with a new mentor and friend. Armstrong Ambulance is proud to honor Joe Johnson for his work in 2015 and his eight years as an EMT with our service.
Ian’s passion for EMS began more than 20 years ago when he witnessed paramedics in action treating a shooting victim. At that moment he realized that EMS was his calling.
He decided to become an EMT and subsequently, a paramedic. Ian has a true passion for EMS, and takes great pride in knowing that he can make a difference in the lives of others.
His peers at Northwell Health CEMS chose Ian as a Star of Life because he is both a role model for others and someone who demonstrates the utmost compassion for his patients and coworkers. To deepen his knowledge and skills even further, Ian plans to become an EMS instructor.
Ian and his wife, Claudia, are the proud parents to four-year-old Maria. He enjoys spending time with family and fishing.
Northwell is proud to recognize Ian Joseph as a 2016 American Ambulance Association Star of Life.
More than 30 years ago, Ray Kirby started his EMS career as a volunteer. Balancing his role as a husband, father, volunteer, full-time employee and college student, Ray became a certified Paramedic.
Embracing opportunity, Ray continued his education by becoming an instructor in several disciplines, including attaining a credential as an instructor in Pediatric Advanced Life Support. As a Crew Chief and Field Training Officer, Ray has touched multiple lives as a caregiver, mentor, and trusted colleague. Several years ago, Ray suffered an on the job injury that limited his ability to physically serve as a field employee. Ray began to question his role in EMS, and at times struggled with his future in our business. Rather than dwell in his misfortune, Ray used his injury as an opportunity to expand his role as a leader and educator by beginning to work in Central Medical Emergency Dispatch. To this day, Ray continues to serve Mecklenburg County. Recently, Ray has become a National Emergency Medical Dispatch Instructor.
In order to achieve this credential, Ray traveled to Greenville, South Carolina at his own expense. He returned to Charlotte to help teach the first ever PALS class taught to the Paramedics of Mecklenburg County. To no one’s surprise, Ray was successful in achieving this certification and is now one of only a few employees within our agency to achieve such a status. This type of commitment defines who Ray Kirby is and how he continues to contribute to MEDIC.
Leanna was born and raised in Prineville, Oregon and eventually moved to Portland, Oregon to continue her education. She graduated from Portland Community College with a 4.0 GPA, and is currently enrolled at Portland State University where she is majoring in Biology with a minor in Public Health. She discovered early that she wanted to help people and eventually become a doctor. Two years into school, Leanna explored EMT classes so she could gain healthcare experience, and never thinking that she would enjoy being in EMS with the lights, sirens, and anxiety. But not only did she enjoy it, she excelled at it!
Shortly after receiving her EMT certification in 2014, Leanna joined Metro West Ambulance (MWA) as a member of the BLS team. Leanna stepped up to become a Field Training Officer (FTO) at MWA in the Wheelchair Transport Department, which allows her to polish her patient skills. Leanna cherishes moments such as holding patients’ hands when they’re scared or making balloon animals out of gloves for a smile. A career filled with patient care and focus rather than emphasis on emergencies, Leanna believes, can get personnel through the long days, failures, and heartbreak that is inherent in EMS. Teaching providers to stay compassionate while doing the hardest jobs imaginable is paramount to Leanna.
Leanna represents the BLS division and Vehicle Service Technicians on the Infectious Disease Control Committee. She created an infectious control guidebook for all of MWA as well as a specialized quick guide to protect new EMTs. Additionally, she submitted a proposal to change EMT training in the ALS division to cultivate leadership among new medics. She has also been an Activity and Skills Provider for People with Disabilities. Leanna is a great asset to EMS, to MWA, and to the communities in which she serves.
Leanna’s long-term focus is to become an emergency medical doctor, then eventually the medical director of an EMS agency. She is completing her medical school prerequisite classes now with a 4.0 GPA, and plans on taking the MCAT during the summer of 2016. One of her future goals is to make burnout uncommon among providers by changing the focus of EMS from emergencies to patient care. In the field, she has been a major part of amazing acts of heroism, compassion, and skill, but she’s also seen the toll this industry has on providers.
