Hank Pfister has been providing care as a LifeCare Medical Transports Paramedic for over five years, serving those in need in the Southwest Region of Virginia. His excellence in patient care and customer service earned him the position of ALS Field Training Officer.
Hank is truly a staple at LifeCare. He is a go-to provider for any question about policies and protocols, and his peers look up to him as a gentleman who always goes above and beyond the call of duty. A hard-working, loyal employee, Hank has earned the respect of not only LifeCare’s employees, but also the staff members of the hospitals and residential facilities in the region. They can count on his clinical competency and compassion.
Hank is the gentleman who will help out a friend or stranger in need without the expectation of thanks. That is why his fellow providers have chosen to nominate him as a Star of Life award recipient.
Larry Pickens currently serves as Creek County Emergency Ambulance Service District’s Special Projects Manager. He was hired by Creek County in 2001 as an EMT-B. Larry served as a street basic until becoming a supervisor in 2006. In 2008, Larry became part of the office staff, serving as a “go to guy” for computer problems. Larry has kept the company current with the Oklahoma Emergency Medical Service Information System (OKEMSIS), has filled in for Creek County’s billing department when someone is on vacation or sick, and has kept the service’s technical programs running during severe weather or disaster events, as well as during many upgrades. Larry has frequently been called off duty to address issues with the company’s servers, and has responded without complaint, even at 3:00 AM. As a result, his file is always full of positive comments from other medics and patients.
In 2013, Creek County Emergency Ambulance Service District was exploring ways to be more involved within the communities it serves. As Larry was already a car seat technician, he developed Creek County’s only child safety seat program. In addition, Larry has been appointed to ten different committees that involve supporting and improving the health and wellness of the community. He currently serves on the Creek County Partnership Committee, the Creek County Healthy Living Program, the Substance Abuse and Prevention Committee, the Blue Ribbon Dash (a child abuse prevention committee), the Community Baby Shower (which supports young impoverished mothers), the TSET Committee (which supports smoking cessation), and the Sooner Success Committee, which promotes healthy living. Larry also serves on the Creek County Literacy program board.
In just two years, Larry has become the face of Creek County Ambulance in the community. It is therefore our pleasure to recognize him as a Star for 2016.
Robert Piernock was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1955, then moved to Massachusetts in 1970. He is married to the former Ruth Carter and has three children; Michael, Jason, and Katherine. His youngest son, Michael, is a source of immense pride to him, as he is also an EMT on the squad and is currently training to become a paramedic. Bob has a varied background ranging from Laboratory Technologist to Project Manager to Web Application Developer, and also has a master’s degree in Business. He has now returned to his roots as a Laboratory Technologist at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington.
Bob initially trained as an EMT-Basic in 1985, and then as an EMT-Intermediate in 2013. He recently attained the level of Advanced EMT in 2015. Bob currently volunteers over 24 hours a month staffing the squad’s ambulances, and was recently nominated by his peers to the squad’s Board of Directors. This year, Bob is being recognized by his peers and Southern Berkshire’s Board of Directors as the Southern Berkshire Volunteer Ambulance Squad’s Volunteer of the Year.
Bob is also being nominated as a Star because of his commitment to the squad and his exemplary leadership. For many years, Southern Berkshire had been struggling with problematic staffing, internal strife, and poor response times. Through his vision, leadership, and tenacity Bob brought the service to a new level of professionalism, and upgraded the level of care from EMT-Intermediate to Paramedic. Bob saw the upgrade through by hiring a new full-time Director of Operations to manage the service, added another ambulance to the fleet, and hired seven full-time paramedics. These actions enabled Southern Berkshire to successfully provide full-time paramedic emergency and non-emergency ambulance transport and paramedic intercept services to the largest service area in Southwestern Massachusetts. Previously this area relied on paramedic services from another city over 30 minutes away.
In his time off, Bob enjoys playing his guitar and working with computers, but most of all, enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering for Southern Berkshire. He is truly deserving of this recognition. Bob is a true Star and represents one of the best that Massachusetts has to offer.
Pafford EMS of Oklahoma is proud to nominate Kim Poindexter as an American Ambulance Association 2016 Star of Life. Kim has been a very loyal and productive employee both on and off the truck.
Kim began her EMS career 12 years ago after watching a close friend pass away before her eyes, unable to provide any assistance. She decided at that moment that she never wanted to be in that position again, and enrolled in the next EMT course she could find.
For 12 years, Kim has served the citizens of Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, the past 10 of which have been with Pafford EMS of Oklahoma. In those ten years, Kim has proven to be an invaluable asset to both the company and her peers.
Most EMS providers look at their peers in EMS as an extension of their immediate family, and Kim is hardly an exception. She often takes this family approach to unforeseen levels. Kim goes out of her way to ensure the crews who are working on holidays are invited to her home to enjoy a warm holiday meal and fellowship with her family. Whenever her peers face difficult times, on either a professional or a personal level, Kim has always been the first person to come to their aid, offering them any support she can provide, whether it be a shoulder to cry on, a warm meal, or just simply letting them know that she cares.
When natural disasters strike, such as widespread wild-land fires, or tornadoes, Kim always rushes to the aid of the front-line personnel, firemen, or first responders. She has been known to purchase pallets of bottled water and cases of snacks, and to deliver them to these responders to ensure they have some simple necessities to continue their work.
Kim has always been the kind of EMT that takes her peers into consideration, often volunteering to take emergency calls, inter-facility transfers, or posting assignments, just so other crewmembers can catch a break, or get something to eat.
Kim has always strived for excellence in everything she does. She is passionate about her job and peers, compassionate with her patients, and is a model person and employee.
Darlene has been working as an EMT for 24 years, 12 of which have been with Action Ambulance Service. Throughout her tenure at Action, Darlene has proven to be a highly valued member of the team. She is an asset when it comes to mentoring new employees and truly cares about her job, patients, and co-workers.
Darlene became an EMT because she grew up watching Emergency, with Squad 51. “Ever since that, I was interested in doing the same, which I did, and this will always be the best job that I have.” Darlene likes the uniqueness of the people she works with and the sense of community within the service. She says, “No one from the outside can truly understand what we go through, and why we do it. We do our job because we like it, and certainly not for the money. I like helping people, and I also like making a difference in their lives.”
Darlene also offered her talents in Texas during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and claims that was one of the highlights of her career. “We left with little notice, and just focused on getting there, not knowing what to expect. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to venture out beyond our comfort zone and work in another area of EMS.” Another highlight for Darlene was the first baby she delivered. “A firefighter and I were going shoulder to shoulder, and trying to push each other out of the way. Of course, I won, and I delivered a very healthy baby boy.”
Darlene has earned her associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies, and just received her real estate license. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her grandsons.
Alex Rose has been working in EMS for eight years, three of which have been with Action Ambulance Service. In the time Alex has been with Action, he has truly proven to be a shining example of its values. Alex is being awarded the Star of Life for his level of compassion towards his patients and fellow co-workers. He says he decided to become a medic because he “thoroughly enjoys helping people. I wanted to make a positive difference in the world.” Alex does just that as he goes above and beyond to care for patients, both clinically and also with regard to their emotional wellbeing. He has been known to go back to hospitals to see if his patients’ family members needed anything, and has even picked up items to help keep a child busy while the child’s mother was being cared for in the E.R. Alex is an incredible resource of support to his coworkers, whether it is taking a new medic under his wing or just being there when a co-worker needs him. Alex says his “favorite thing about the job is being there for somebody when they need it most.”
Outside of work Alex likes to play sports, play guitar and hang out with his family. His future plans are to continue his career in EMS by making a difference, day by day.
Allison Salamoni was chosen as Acadian’s 2016 EMT of the Year for the Louisiana/ Mississippi operations. Allison has been employed with Acadian since 2012 and is stationed in Plaquemine, Louisiana.
Allison received her EMT training through Acadian’s National EMS Academy. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University’s Fire and Emergency Training Institute, where she received firefighter and hazmat training which she put to use while working as a firefighter with the Port Allen Fire Department. Allison also graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a bachelor’s degree in General Studies and a minor in Family and Consumer Sciences.
In her first year with Acadian, Allison and her partner were dispatched to an older man’s house for a fall. They assumed they would just be helping the patient back up, and would then carry on with their day. Instead, they ended up walking into any patient’s worst nightmare. The patient lived alone, and his neighbor had not seen him get his mail in a few days and decided to check on him. The neighbor found him wedged between his bed and nightstand, and immediately called 911. The patient had been stuck there for three days, incapacitated, on the floor. Allison and her partner assessed the patient and found him to be severely dehydrated. Allison cleaned him up, and got him into the best position of comfort she could at the time. She and her partner began to transport and pushed through the morning rush-hour traffic of Baton Rouge. Allison say she will forever remember this call, as all she could think about was her own family as she cared for him. This is one of those calls that reminds her day-in and day-out of why she does this job.
Acadian can count on Allison to represent the team in the most professional manner. She has served as one of the Governmental Relations Coordinators for the Baton Rouge area. She has also been a champion for wellness and fitness and serves on the safety committee. She genuinely cares about her patients.
Allison is an avid runner and competes in marathons. Her other hobbies include strength training and cooking.
“When you want something all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” — Paulo Coelho
Tiffany Samuels was born in January 1987 in Brooklyn, New York and moved to Richmond, Virginia with her family at the age of ten. After graduating high school she was briefly employed in the banking industry before beginning her EMS career with the Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA). In 2008, her EMS career started in an entry-level position within the Logistics Department as a Vehicle Service Technician. She has worked very conscientiously, taking each step up with an undeniable passion. Tiffany has proven herself confident and proficient at each certification and skill level before progressing through the organization to her position as a Paramedic – Field Training Officer. In this role she takes great effort and shows immense pride in teaching new employees how to provide “World Class EMS.”
She has contributed to the agency’s success in each position she has served along the way, including Vehicle Service Technician, EMT, EMT – Field Training Officer, Paramedic, Paramedic – Corporal, and currently Paramedic – Field Training Officer.
She continues to be a valuable asset to RAA with not only her dedication in carrying out her normal day to day duties, but also her many contributions while serving on various committees. She helps shape the clinical direction of the agency by serving as Chairperson the of Clinical Services Committee, and is an advocate for her fellow EMS providers while participating on the Wellness Committee. Tiffany has presented many creative ideas to the Scheduling Committee, resulting in a schedule offering a greater work/life balance.
As a result of her leadership, hard work, commitment to clinical excellence, and her many contributions to the Richmond Ambulance Authority, Tiffany was selected as the 2015 Medical Director’s Paramedic of the Year.
Bill is a Paramedic and Field Training Officer for AMR in Hartford, Connecticut. He is receiving the Star of Life award for his life-saving actions during a cardiac call in 2015. He responded to the “unknown medical” call and found himself evaluating a young female patient who was in an unstable arrhythmia. His calming demeanor and connection with the patient immediately gained her trust. Bill then prepared the patient both physically and emotionally before successfully cardioverting her into a normal rhythm.
Bill is a compassionate and patient-focused professional who has earned a reputation among his peers as a strong clinician committed to improving the quality of emergency medical services in his community. Bill exhibits strong clinical skills and is highly dependable; however, it is his deep compassion that sets Bill apart. He is described by his peers as both a leader and someone who displays utmost confidence that puts both patients and trainees at ease.
After a long and successful career in retail management, Rick made a career change and found his way to Armstrong Ambulance as a Chair Car Driver. Throughout his six years at Armstrong, he has touched many lives and treated hundreds of patients with kindness and compassion. Rick looks at each and every one of his patients as unique and they leave their transport with him feeling truly special.
During his Armstrong career, Rick has been the epitome of dedication and loyalty. He is routinely commended by his patients for his patience, kindness, and excellent care. He takes pride in his work and positively influences everyone he interacts with throughout each and every day.
Rick is extremely respected by his peers, which is one of the reasons he was promoted to Chair Car Supervisor. Rick has always taken the time to listen to each and every one of his fellow chair car drivers, and works diligently on coming up with solutions in order to make processes more efficient and employees more engaged. Rick is constantly looking out for all of his colleagues and goes so far as to make sure that they have all that they need, both professionally and personally.
Rick has made an incredible impact on transforming Armstrong’s Chair Car Division and has been an exemplary leader. He puts customer service above all and will not leave for the day until the last chair car call is complete. He takes pride in his entire fleet of chair cars and makes sure that they are all clean, well-stocked, and in the appropriate condition to represent the legacy of Bill Armstrong.
Rick has the ability to form lasting and honest relationships with both his patients and employees in a constructive way that only a true leader could do.
When he is not working, Rick enjoys spending time with his wife, Cathy, of 28 years and his son, Michael.
Matthew Seely is a Paramedic with Cataldo Ambulance Service. He is a consummate professional in all his interactions with his colleagues and other first responders. He is easy to work with and is always available as a resource to everyone on staff.
During one particularly difficult response, Matt had the lead for medical control for a man entrapped in a piece of machinery. The man’s arm was stuck in a piece of equipment and it was entangled to the point where extraction was extremely difficult without there being a good chance of loss of life or limb. Due to Matt’s professionalism, leadership, and support of all the first responders, the man’s arm was successfully extricated. This is just one example of the many reasons why Cataldo Ambulance Service selected Matthew Seely as a 2016 American Ambulance Association Star of Life.
Jerome “Jerry” Senturia has been instrumental in introducing many people to the EMS field in the last 18 years, and has assisted others as they progress to higher levels of certification. Between starting a first responder program in his town, and assisting another town with the organizational framework and a model to start their own EMS squad, it is safe to say that Jerry truly loves EMS and helping his community. He has served many roles within the EMS community, including EMS Captain, Training Officer, and Secretary for his department, as well as a CPR instructor. He is currently
an active member of the Green Mountain Critical Incident Stress Management Team. Jerry has also led the effort to get AEDs on all of the fire apparatuses in his town. In 2003 he was named Vermont’s EMT Basic of the Year.
In light of the values for which the AAA Star of Life award is based, Caledonia Essex Area Ambulance Service, Inc. is proud to nominate Jerry Senturia to receive this distinction.
Eric, who started his career in EMS while in the military, was involved in two very high profile incidents where his courageous and noble actions were highlighted. He now often provides guidance to fellow team members that have experienced difficult calls about how to best cope and move forward in a positive manner. Also, Eric’s communication with patients and families exemplifies the standards of an EMS provider by ensuring both are comfortable and confident that the best care is being rendered.
One area that stands out when talking about Eric is how he was so determined to adjust to civilian life and overcome the challenges of his time in the military. He hopes his experience will help others that are returning home and addressing similar challenges. Eric is currently pursuing his paramedic certification with the same determination and dedication that he has shown in all other aspects of his life.
Robert found his calling in EMS when he began volunteering at a small rural fire department. He was immediately intrigued by the fast-paced environment, and set upon the path to becoming a Paramedic.
Now, with eight years of experience in the field, he is able to share his experience and wisdom with others. Robert is always happy to train new employees, and leads by example to instill in new team members the core values of teamwork and dedication. “I truly enjoy helping new employees become familiar with the system,” says Robert.
Robert’s wife, Jennel, who is also a Paramedic, is a source of deep inspiration for him at home and at work.
We are honored to nominate Greg Sorensen as a 2016 Star of Life for his dedication to EMS, as well as for his instruction of the art and science of prehospital medicine to numerous EMTs and Paramedics entering the field. His 32-year commitment to caring for his community is deeply commendable.
With a 10 year start in EMS, Greg began his career at Metro West Ambulance in June of 1999 and became a Field Training Officer in 2004. Greg also fills in as an Operations Supervisor, co-chairs the QI Committee, and is a member of the communication center’s QI Committee. Greg is an outstanding example of personal integrity, dedication, and compassion in EMS – qualities everyone strives for in their own EMS careers – and truly represents the gold standard of prehospital emergency care.
Greg works with various EMTs, Paramedics, and potential new hires on developing their skills in the field and teaches them the past, present, and future of EMS. Greg knows the future of EMS is built on teaching these individuals to be the best medical providers possible.
In his spare time, Greg helps facilitate volunteer projects for the needy in the community he lives in, and he helps facilitate yearly volunteer projects for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
These are but a few reasons why Greg Sorensen deserves the honor of being an American Ambulance Association 2016 Star of Life.
Kari has worked for the Rural Metro Fire Department for thirteen years, and has been a mentor and instructor for many new and transitional fire academies and classes. She is a 1403 Live Burn instructor and holds many EMS instructor certificates, including CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMT, PHTLS and AMLS. She is currently going through the Regional Technical Rescue Academy.
Kari has taken her foundation and support from her family, along with her love and respect for her brothers and sisters in the field, all of whom continue to mentor and mold her. Her dedication to EMS is shown by her optimistic views on every call she runs. She is constantly training and educating herself, and is always compassionate and smiling with a positive outlook that ensures that everyone she encounters is validated.
Kari’s greatest joy is raising her eight children with her soul mate.
David Spangler was hired as an EMT in 2012 and has worked at Mohawk Ambulance Service for over four years. David graduated from SUNY at Buffalo Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. After graduation, David moved to Guilderland, New York and decided that he wanted to gain real life experience, so he began his career in the field of emergency medical services. David received his Certificate in Paramedicine from Hudson Valley Community College and in 2015 was promoted to Paramedic.
In December of 2015, David received one of Mohawk Ambulance Services Distinguished Service Awards. He enjoys working in a fast paced, demanding career that requires a high level of medical knowledge and hands-on training.
In his spare time, David enjoys hiking the high peaks of the Adirondack Mountains and is close to completing all 46 peaks over 4,000 feet.
Dawn has worked for Community Care Ambulance (CCA) in Ashtabula, Ohio for 8 years. Dawn’s daily actions are a constant example of her dedication to her duties and profession. She always puts her patients first and is a voice of experience and reason to many of her coworkers.
Dawn serves CCA as a Critical Care Paramedic, and takes on every task with passion, dedication, and a smile. She assists CCA in making progressive changes by maintaining professionalism, compassion, and respect for her coworkers. Her actions exhibited by her superior performance prove her to be a valued asset to our organization. She has deployed with CCA on natural disasters, and is continually receiving compliments from patients, facilities staff, and management. Dawn is a graduate of Community Care Ambulance’s accelerated Paramedic Program. She began her career as an EMT in 2007, and progressed to Paramedic and then to Critical Care Paramedic.
Dawn is active with her family and glows with pride when discussing her grandchildren. She is a grandmother to four granddaughters, three of which are triplets. Dawn and her husband, John, are celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary in April. Dawn and John often spend warm summer days on their motorcycle, finding adventures and exploring new sites.
Julia Spring, Chief Flight Nurse, is receiving the Star of Life award for her continued selfless leadership of the AMR Air Clinical Operations. Julia has spent the last 30 years in the flight medicine world and has been with AMR Air since its inception in 2002. Her work this year to ensure that the organization achieved reaccreditation as a CAMTS operator was a testament to her dedication to the quality and safety of patient care and operations. Additionally, due in large part to Julia’s efforts, AMR was able to add neonatal transports to the level of service provided. Julia leads the clinical operations of AMR Air and AMR Air Hawaii, which are the highest practicing critical care level of prehospital medicine for AMR.
Wayne is originally from Cleburne, Texas and has been a life-long North Texas resident. Wayne started with MedStar in 2007 as a technician in our logistics department and quickly rose to department supervisor.
In 2011, Wayne transitioned to a role as an Information Technology Specialist. In this role, Wayne provides technology support to our 450 employees operating over 500 computers within the organization. His primary IT focus is managing our network, patient care reporting, and computer aided dispatch system.
Wayne is very excited about his trip to Washington, D.C., to meet other Stars from across the industry, and because this will be his first ever trip to Washington.
He will be joined by his wife, Shauna, who is also a MedStar employee working in our business office. Wayne and Shauna met while working at MedStar.
