John began his EMS career at Life EMS Ambulance in 2008 after 25 years working in another field. John began as an EMT-Basic, working in mobility and as a ReadiMedic before becoming a Paramedic. John received his paramedic license in 2009 and was promoted to a level II in 2011. Recently, John has spearheaded the new ICP role, working closely with Tandem 365 to service clients through the integrated care system. John feels that this is his most rewarding career experience to date. John said, “Seeing what EMS can be and will be has been the most rewarding experience.” John has also made LPGA standby a success the past two years.
John’s humility, actions, and performance point to his love of EMS and dedication to his career. Life EMS Ambulance is proud of John, who truly is deserving of the Star of Life award.
Brian has more than 21 years of experience in emergency medical services spanning from rural to large city services. Brian began his career working at a small rural ambulance service as an EMT-Intermediate. Brian then worked in 911 dispatch centers for Sheriff’s offices as well as the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport. After receiving his paramedic licensure, Brian started working for an ALS/critical care EMS organization. Brian came to Lakes Region EMS as the MN Operations Manager and has shown his extensive experience in many areas to help lead the organization forward.
Brian Galowitz has been the Minnesota Operations Manager at Lakes Region EMS for just over one year. In this short time, Brian has utilized his previous experience both clinically and within management to help move the organization forward; leading the organization’s second largest change, a switch-over to a new dispatch center. Brian shows leadership skills everyday through his compassion for the crews, his ability to manage multiple situations calmly, and his capacity to help make transitions happen effortlessly. Brian truly has become an integral part of our organization.
Aaron Gagnepain has been a full time paramedic with Taney County Ambulance District Paramedics (TCAD) for the past three and a half years. Aaron comes to TCAD with several years of military experience, both ground and air medical civilian experience, and experience providing EMS education across our region.
Aaron routinely demonstrates a sincere dedication to the profession, providing excellent patient care and impeccable documentation. Aaron teaches, coaches, and mentors both new and experienced providers. Aaron has shown a high level of self-awareness and maturity, making difficult decisions that positively impact patients’ lives. Aaron is always striving for improvement and displays a willingness to help make those around him better. Aaron is a role model for his fellow providers and in 2016 was voted by his peers as Paramedic of the Year. TCAD Paramedics is proud to name Aaron Gagnepain as a Stars of Life nominee.
David has been in EMS for five years and part of the MedStar team since 2015. As a child, David spent a lot of time in hospitals and knew from an early age that healthcare was the career for him. While living in Alaska, David enrolled in a paramedic program that had a clinical affiliation with MedStar and did his school internship in Fort Worth. David decided MedStar was where he wanted to be. Once David was accepted for the paramedic position, he moved to Texas, and the rest is history.
David’s favorite aspect of EMS is helping people. It is because of David’s willingness to serve others that he was chosen by his peers as a Star of Life nominee.
Bridget started at LifeCare Ambulance Service in 2001, working first as a paramedic and now in the dispatch center for the past six years. Bridget also received her Instructor/Coordinator license, and has been teaching the MFR/EMR course at Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) for the past three years.
Bridget first discovered her interest in EMS while taking the Medical First Responder course as a prerequisite for her then chosen field of Physical Therapy. Bridget soon decided that EMS was her real interest and never looked back. Bridget went on to enroll in the EMT program and paramedic courses at Kellogg Community College.
Bridget’s co-workers and supervisor nominated her for a Star of Life as a result of the extra efforts she has put forth in improving LifeCare Ambulance Service’s dispatch operations. Bridget recently created and implemented LifeCare’s new dispatch training manual as well as a new training and orientation program for the dispatch team. Part of this orientation includes a presentation Bridget put together for new field staff to see during their training. Bridget has also been hard at work improving employee recruitment and retention.
Bridget is always willing to help others, and take the lead when needed. Bridget works diligently to make sure our patients are happy with the service they receive. This means going the extra mile to make sure we have the documentation needed to get a patient’s ambulance transfer covered, or working with the hospital and facility staff to get transfers scheduled. Bridget is always looking for ways to help and LifeCare is proud to nominate her for a Star of Life Award.
Darick has been a paramedic for six years, and is currently Madison County Ambulance District’s (MCAD) Chief Medical Officer. Darick is the go-to person for Madison County, and is truly phenomenal at his job. Darick manages MCAD’s Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement to ensure ongoing excellence.
Darick mentors fellow staff and continually helps improve their performance. Additionally, Darick serves his community in number of ways. Darick is MCAD’s CPR and first aid instructor for the local police department, fire department, and home health staff. Darick also works with MCAD’s Chief to provide AED training to churches and community centers that have AEDs on their premises.
Madison County Ambulance District is truly proud to have Darick as an integral part our team and to nominate him for a Star of Life award.
Lieutenant Ken Cook, EMT-B, began his career at LifeCare Medical Transports in 2013, and was quickly recognized by his supervisor as a born leader. Initially promoted to Sergeant of LifeCare’s Salem/Roanoke, Virginia station, Ken was again promoted to Lieutenant in 2015. Now, Ken is the operational supervisor for LifeCare’s entire Southwest Virginia region.
Ken’s employees appreciate his 24/7 availability and “can-do” attitude. There is no job too big or too small for Ken, in fact, Ken can frequently be found behind the wheel of a wheelchair van to ensure that all transports in his region, no matter the level of acuity, are handled in a timely manner. With a large geographic region to manage, Ken travels each week between his stations to ensure all of his employees have the tools they need to do the best job possible, and that all company policies and expectations are being met or exceeded.
Ken is a well-respected representative of LifeCare at the facilities served in his region. Ken has worked hard to dramatically increase business, and rally the necessary resources to handle the huge workload that the region demands.
Ken is calm and unassuming; however his background and training tell another story. Ken received his Bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Penn State, and his Master’s degree from the Medical College of Virginia in Health Administration. Ken puts his education to use on a daily basis as he works to ensure all details are addressed while at the same time, still remaining focused on the big picture.
Ken’s commitment to excellence in clinical care and customer service are exceptional. Ken’s high standards set the bar for his employees to follow, and his hard work, calm, and professional leadership, are the reason his employees choose to follow.
Danielle Cohen began her EMS career at the age of 18 as a volunteer for Port Jefferson Ambulance. In 2001, Danielle began working at St. Clare’s Hospital in the Hell’s Kitchen area of Manhattan and was among the first EMS crews to respond to the tragedy on September 11, 2001. In 2002, Danielle began her career at Northwell Health where she has worked both in the field, and in Communications. In her private time, Danielle volunteers to help victims of pediatric cancer, a cause very close to her heart.
Danielle was selected as a Star of Life nominee by her peers for consistently going above the call of duty. Danielle is always available to help her co-workers, both in and out of work. Danielle also volunteers on committees such as Adopt a Family and Bring Your Child to Work Day.
Benjamin “Ben” Cohen left a career as a heating and air conditioning mechanic to pursue his dream of serving in the medical field. Ben began his medical career as a phlebotomist working in a busy emergency room. While observing the ambulances constantly moving in and out of the ER, Ben decided that was where he wanted to be. Ben obtained his EMT certification in 2013 and began working at Northwell Health CEMS shortly thereafter.
Despite Ben being in the early years of his EMS career, he has developed a reputation for being a role model to others and someone who always has a smile on his face. Ben is a leader who always demonstrates the highest level of compassion for his patients. Ben seeks ways to help his department, accepts assignments without hesitation, and consistently maintains a friendly demeanor. Ben was overwhelmingly chosen by his peers as a Star of Life nominee.
Jeff Cloutier is a nine year veteran EMT and Field Training Officer at Taney County Ambulance District (TCAD) Paramedics. Since obtaining his EMT license, Jeff has worked in the streets providing high quality healthcare to his community. Jeff is active within the training department, teaching new hire personnel as well as EMT students how to function as a basic level provider in EMS. In addition to his full time job with TCAD Paramedics, Jeff volunteers his time as a Captain with the Protem Fire Protection District. In 2016, Jeff was voted EMT of the Year by his peers for his dedication and outstanding work ethic.
Jeff is a dependable, well-rounded EMT who displays the courage and fortitude necessary to succeed in EMS. Jeff’s level of dedication to our profession and to those he serves is top notch. Patients say, “Jeff is so kind and professional. Jeff is there when you need him most and we know he will always put us first.” TCAD Paramedics is proud to nominate Jeff Cloutier for this year’s Star of Life Award.
Donald “Don” has been proudly working at Jackson Community Ambulance (JCA) as a paramedic since 2012. Since 2011, Don has also served his community by volunteering on the Columbia Township Fire Department as a paid-on call firefighter. Don’s is well known for his conscientious work ethic; something he has developed because of his very close family and five years of service at JCA.
Don is a shining example of what a paramedic at JCA should be. Don’s character and outstanding work ethic make him an easy choice for this award. Don is selfless and his supervisors know they can always rely on him to go the extra mile to get the job done.
One fall afternoon, Don was in quarters waiting for that next call to come in. Soon the tones went off and he was called to the residence of a local woman with difficulty breathing. Upon arriving, Don found the first responders working hard on a woman who was only breathing four times a minute. Don and his partner immediately began to assist with ventilations and gave the patient medications to help open her airway. After placing the patient on CPAP, she began to have purposeful movements and was transported to the hospital, where she went on to make a full recovery.
Harlan Brock has worked for Metro West Ambulance for over 11 years. Whether delivering babies or mentoring new paramedics and EMT’s, Harlan’s passion and dedication to EMS and Metro West Ambulance are demonstrated through his hard and tireless work.
Harlan always leads by example and embodies Metro West’s core values of teamwork and dedication. This was demonstrated recently when he served as a volunteer member of a regional search and rescue effort to locate a missing girl in the Columbia River Gorge. Harlan reached out to local companies to coordinate supplies and resources needed for the search.
Recently, Harlan and his partner were cleaning the ambulance after a transport to a local emergency department. All of a sudden, a shiny new Tesla came screeching into the emergency department bay. Harlan heard an ED technician shout, “There is a woman in labor in that car!” and sprang into action. Harlan quickly put on a fresh pair of gloves, safety glasses, and grabbed an obstetrical kit as he followed the technician to the passenger side of the Tesla. Soon after Harlan began his assessment, he recognized the patient was going to deliver soon. Minutes later, a healthy baby girl was delivered in the front seat of the car. Harlan is able to quickly assess and respond to situations with the resources necessary, to assure optimal patient outcome. Calm, professional, and caring, Harlan continuously demonstrates high-level, compassionate, clinical care to all of his patients.
Harlan is loyal, honest, and committed to both his company and profession. Harlan rarely misses a day of work, fills in when necessary for his fellow medics, and continuously volunteers his time to make a difference. Metro West Ambulance is proud to honor Harlan as a 2017 Star of Life nominee.
Jessica Berscheid has been an Emergency Medical Dispatcher with Taney County Ambulance District (TCAD) Paramedics for five years. Jessica is an integral part of TCAD’s communications team and oversees a training program for new employees. Jessica is an EMD-Q and plays an important role in TCAD’s quality improvement process. Jessica is always looking for ways to improve communications and our delivery of service.
Jessica is currently working towards her Master’s in Psychology with an emphasis in Play Therapy. This degree focuses on interaction with children and assisting them in coping with their own illness or a family member’s. Jessica’s graduate studies are an example of her kind and compassionate spirit for helping children. Jessica’s love for helping people is what makes her such a successful and reliable team member. Jessica is an amazing coworker and friend; who can cheer anyone up on their worst day. TCAD Paramedics is proud to nominate Jessica Berscheid for this year’s Star of Life Award.
Jonathan “Jon” started his career in 2011 in the Sunstar warehouse/materials management department. After completing EMT school, Jon quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a preceptor in 2013 and a field training officer in 2014. Jon consistently displays a great attitude when dealing with both new employees and EMT students, and receives great reviews from all of his trainees. Jon is a CPR/BLS instructor, and has taken an active role helping in the Sunstar training center, especially during renewal season when the company renews over 200 employees in a very short window of time. Jon has also expanded his role to the safety and risk department, becoming one of the most reliable and expert EVOC instructors. Jon holds national certification as an EVOC instructor, and is always making sure that our employees are driving safely.
It is with great pride and pleasure that Sunstar Paramedics nominates Jonathan Balzer for the 2017 AAA Stars of Life award. Jonathan and his partner, James Walker, Sunstar’s nominee for Florida Paramedic of the year, are both integral clinicians in our system and have repeatedly demonstrated high performance in multiple departments. Jon previously received the Gold Star Care award, which is achieved through repeated positive feedback from patients, hospitals or other clinicians. Jon is also a two-time recipient of the Care Plus award, a monthly award for outstanding customer service and great patient care.
In June 2016, Jon and his partner were dispatched for a person experiencing an altered mental status. Upon arriving on scene, Jon found the patient in the care of the fire department with the police assisting. The only information Jon received from the assisting agencies was the patient’s name and a phone number. After the other agencies left, Jon and his partner continued their assessment of the patient. Jon discovered the patient had dementia and the phone number was her husband’s. After being very persistent and calling the number six or seven times, Jon finally spoke with the patient’s family. After speaking with the husband, Jon found out that the patient had walked out of her house a couple hours prior. The patient had been reported missing and had been called in as a silver alert. The family arrived at the scene and was able to take the patient home safely. Due to Jon’s quality care, patience, and concern for what was best for the patient, Jon was able to reunite the patient with her family, and keep her from further harm. Jon is committed to going above and beyond the call of duty.
Andrea began her career in EMS in 2005 as a dispatcher for local Police, Fire, EMS, and Town Services. However, her goal was always to become a Paramedic. Following graduate school, Andrea started her EMS career with a transport company in Woburn, Massachusetts, and completed her Paramedic studies in 2013 with an A.S. in Paramedicine and a certification of NRP. Andrea now proudly serves as a Paramedic for Cataldo/Atlantic Ambulance Service. Born and raised in the City of Newburyport, it has been a lifelong dream for Andrea to serve her community.
Andrea’s passion for teaching began in 2015 when she taught her first class for Cataldo/Atlantic. Since then, she has begun teaching at local colleges and to a local police department, where she instructs the officers on how to properly use Narcan. She has repeatedly stepped forward to be a leader in the community; especially in the education of our citizens. Specifically, Andrea conducts courses on opioid overdoses, and has educated thousands of people within the community on the use of Narcan through live demonstrations, classes, and community outreach on cable access television. Andrea has even marched alongside other community leaders in remembrance of those who have lost their lives to drug overdoses.
Andrea has proven herself to be a true professional who is compassionate, street smart, and has a true heart of gold. She has a genuine concern for the community and the citizens she serves. Being a Paramedic is not just a job for Andrea, but a passion. From her interactions with survivors, family members, and loved ones, Andrea goes far above and beyond her title of Educator. Andrea’s impact within the community is immeasurable and she truly deserves to be nominated for a Star of Life Award.
William “Bill” Bailey began his career in EMS in June of 1991 when he first received his EMT certification. It was during those initial clinical rotations that Bill knew he wanted to become a paramedic and do more to help those in need. Bill began working at Lenox Hill Hospital Northwell Health in Manhattan in 2000, and was one of the many first responders who answered the call on September 11, 2001. Bill is proud of his profession and believes that answering the call to help those in need is a truly noble endeavor. Bill is also a six year veteran of the United States Coast Guard.
Bill was selected as a Star of Life nominee by his peers for his patience and kindness towards both his patients and co-workers. Thinking not only about his own career progression, Bill has served as an invaluable mentor to countless new medics.
Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA) is delighted to nominate Paramedic Julie Anderson for the AAA’s Stars of Life Award. Julie began her career with RAA in August of 2007. Over the next two years, Julie decided to expand her knowledge in the field becoming a Paramedic in December of 2009. Julie is well known around RAA for a positive attitude that is contagious and constant bright smile. Julie states that “[her] favorite thing about EMS is helping people in their time of need—even if it’s not medically related. Just a kind word or a smile helps.” Julie sets the bar for dedication to her peers, with perfect attendance and frequent commendations. During her time at RAA, Julie has been a strong leader and voice for the employees on RAA’s Shift Bid Committee. In 2016 Julie received the Operational Medical Director’s Award, Paramedic of the Year.
Julie is a Hanover County, Virginia native, and has resided in the Richmond area her entire life.
Mark Adams, Wheelchair Technician, has worked at Community Care Ambulance in Ashtabula, Ohio for two years. His coworkers are honoring Mark for his self- motivation, his helpfulness to colleagues, his ability to note areas for improvement, and his enhancement of the workplace for everyone with whom he comes into contact.
Mark goes above and beyond every day for his patients and coworkers. He shows his dedication through helping clean units, spending extra time and attention with his patients, and assisting with PCR routing. No matter the situation, Mark is always polite and professional, and is the ideal representative of everything a Star of Life should be.
When not working, Mark spends his time with his family and chasing all things that swim in the water. Mark had a long career in hospitality until he made a life decision to change career paths to fulfill his passion for helping people.
Marc and Robert Gutierrez 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.
From the start, Luis Barrera has proven himself to be mature and wise beyond his years. In a relatively short period of time, these traits helped Luis earn a place on MEDIC’s SWAT team after only being a Paramedic for a few years. Shortly after being named to the SWAT Team, Luis was promoted to Field Training Officer, where he displayed his innate leadership talents. This position is only bestowed on the Agency’s highest performers. After being named as a Field Training Officer, Luis made the decision to become a Relief Operations Supervisor. Composed of talented men and women responsible when a full time Supervisor is out, Relief Operation Supervisors set an example to their fellow employees.
He is smart, calm, and considerate. Luis treats every patient with kindness and respect, and provides incredible medical care. Luis never fails to lift the spirits of a coworker with a kind word or to take extra time to ensure a coworker really understands MEDIC’s goals and their role in helping attain them. Luis is a very strong clinician who works hard to mentor and provide advice and guidance to his fellow employees. Finally, Luis has exceeded all expectations by participating on improvement projects and is making a huge impact with his insight, input, and work. He has developed into a well-rounded, high performing employee who manages to balance the interests of our patients, our people, and the Agency. Not only can he be relied on to put his best foot forward every day, but he continuously strives to make MEDIC a better place to work.
