Some people are known to wear their hearts on their sleeve. Brandon Jones is known to wear his life’s mission on his forearm – literally. Two verses from the 82nd Psalm are tattooed on Brandon’s arm and speak to his commitment to be a servant and protector of those in need. It’s both ironic and poignant, given that Brandon has found himself in great need more than once.

Brandon joined the EMSA team as an EMT in 2009. He started Paramedic school in 2010, but battled alcohol abuse, financial crises, and ultimately, homelessness. With support from his EMSA family, Brandon got back on his feet, stopped drinking, and graduated. Brandon experienced a relapse after responding to an apartment fire that killed two children. Then, while working to maintain good health, Brandon suffered a devastating injury that took him off the ambulance. Brandon was offered a position as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher in 2014 and has since flourished, personally, and professionally. Brandon is renowned for making quick, strategic decisions, and for championing the interests of patients and field crews alike.

Sheri Jones is a hero of the October 1, 2017 Route 91 shooting. Sheri was part of the initial wave of providers responding to “man down” calls. Sheri made her way toward the incident, ending up at one of the nearby hotels, where she found victim after victim, all deceased.

The radio was assigning more and more calls as reports of multiple casualties and shooters flooded the system. Although her heart was broken by the carnage she saw, Sheri remained determined to help. She set up a triage area at the hotel and began sifting through hundreds of patients. She is credited with making a difference and saving many.

In her more than 25 years of service, Sheri has progressed from EMT to CCT Paramedic & Field Training Officers. She instructs EMTs at the local community college, volunteers for long distance CCT calls, and pitches in to help with anything else that needs to be done. Always a caring voice for even the sickest of patients, she can be counted on to be an advocate for her patients as well as her partners.

Luke Tschirhart truly embodies AMR’s core values through his dedication to the mission. He has been a part of the Rural Metro Fire Department family for more than 10 years now, where he is known as a mentor, leader, and friend. He spends countless hours working alongside our medical director, pre-hospital coordinator, and leadership team to direct committees, perform research, and participate in policy development and revision. He also provides instruction for most of our continuing education hours.

Luke is a Field Training Officer for new Paramedics, guiding them in all aspects of the job while they are on probation. He is also a member of the department’s Technical Rescue Team, where he helped to design and build the program from the ground up. This included SOG/SOP development, equipment selection, and countless training hours. No matter the time of day or number of calls, Luke responds promptly with a smile on his face to provide the best possible customer service and patient care.

Tim Hoffman has been a dedicated AMR employee for over 12 years. Tim grew up in Holland, Michigan and followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a Paramedic. Tim’s father, John, is also a Paramedic who works for AMR in Holland, Michigan.

Tim started with AMR as a wheelchair van driver on August 16, 2005. He worked through school and became an EMT, then a Paramedic, and finally a Critical Care Medic. Tim has had nearly perfect attendance throughout his employment. Tim frequently volunteers for charity runs and local community events. He is easy going, well liked, warm hearted, and always has a big smile.

Early in the morning of August 7, 2016 everything changed. Tim and his partner Kevin Jongekryg were on duty and at approximately 4:30 a.m., as they were driving through a rural coverage area, they were hit head on by a drunk driver. Tim was in critical condition with a devastating head injury.

On Monday, January 29, 2018 Tim returned to light duty work at AMR. He has verbalized that he loves to “help people” and still wants to be able to help in any way he can. Tim will always have that “care giver” spirit that sets apart our AMR employees.

It is wonderful to see how excited Tim is to be back in his uniform and working in the building. Tim is still the same easy going, warm hearted, smiley person, that he was before.

Tim is so proud to work for AMR and we are so happy to see how far he has come.

Over Bruce Hagen’s distinguished 35-year career in EMS he has earned countless certifications, including mountain and wilderness rescue. This depth of experience, coupled with his leadership and clinical skills, are exactly the traits needed in an individual tasked with coordinating an EMS response during one of the nation’s worst firestorms.

At about 9:30 p.m. on October 8, 2017, calls came in over 911 Fire/EMS dispatch channels reporting one or more spot fires in the hills above the City of Napa. After contacting the CAL Fire Incident Commander (IC), Bruce, the Field Supervisor on duty at the time and already half way through his shift, assumed the role of radio liaison to manage EMS radio communications between the PSAP (dispatch center) and the Fire IC.

A report then came in that up to 45 people were trapped in homes along Atlas Peak Road and could not evacuate. With no fire resources available, Bruce requested the help of the CHP H32 helicopter to assist the AMR Operations Manager and multiple AMR ALS ambulance units with the rescue evacuations. The AMR crews, along with Sheriff’s Deputies, then went door to door to evacuate residents.

As the fire progressed, Bruce and the Fire IC became surrounded by fire, and were forced to evacuate themselves. As Bruce was pulling out of a parking lot, he observed a woman running to flee the area. The woman was struck by a wind-blown road sign that knocked her to the ground. Bruce placed the woman in the back of his supervisor vehicle then drove her to safety.

Bruce continued to work, without a break, until about 3:00 p.m. when he was relieved by another supervisor. After a short rest period, Bruce returned to work and completed additional shifts during the response phase of the disaster, which lasted for two weeks. Bruce worked with fire agencies at a field command post and staging areas, and directed incoming EMS resources, including mutual aid strike teams, to various assignments.

As Hurricane Harvey worsened, AMR Houston committed to relocate dozens of patients from one hospital to another. Jamie volunteered to serve as AMR’s liaison at the receiving hospital. Over several hours, AMR evacuated 88 patients to safety and Jamie was hailed for beautifully overseeing this operation.

As the storm raged, a hospital asked AMR to return a discharged patient to his home. Two crews tried but were unable to reach the hospital. Jamie decided to give it “one last shot” and enlisted a crew partner. In darkness, heavy rain, and high winds, they made their way through less-flooded back roads to make the transport happen.

Jamie worked day and night, staying positive and frequently checking on the well-being of the crews. Many in the area had lost everything. When Jamie’s leadership told him to go home and rest, he went home but he didn’t rest. Instead, Jamie assembled a cooking team which provided four days of fresh meals to the numerous AMR personnel working in Houston, deployed from several states.

Jamie’s selflessness during Hurricane Harvey shows why he is known for total commitment to his calling.

With typical modesty, Jamie says everything he does is part of a team effort.

On the afternoon of January 29, 2018, Eric, a 15-year veteran, was running some errands while off-duty. After turning off a local Interstate, Eric noticed a teenage boy on the overpass standing on top of the Jersey barrier staring at the freeway below.

That’s when Eric’s instincts kicked in. Eric pulled his car over and cautiously approached the young man. Eric used all his training and experience to persuade the young boy not to jump. After some careful negotiation, Eric was able to gain the boy’s trust and convinced the boy to step away from the edge. When the police arrived, Eric learned the boy had been reported missing for the last 24-36 hours.

The Chief of the Lakewood Police Department presented Eric with their Life Saving Award for his heroic actions on this day. Eric is truly a caregiver willing to go above and beyond for the community he serves, and is a perfect example of what it means to be a Star of Life.

Josh is being honored as a Star of Life for his continued commitment to public service, as well as his bravery and dedication as an EMT.

Josh has the skills, mindset, and tenacity to handle emergency scenarios that require the ability to make quick decisions. His actions proved this when he assisted a fellow AMR ambulance crew after he noticed them stopped on the Interstate. The crew was on a 911 call with a distressed patient who became violent and combative in route to the hospital. Josh acted quickly to aid the crew and assisted in controlling the situation until police arrived. Josh’s actions helped to prevent any further injury to the crew and patient.

Josh has been with AMR working within the DC 911 system since it began two years prior, joining to get more fast-paced emergency experience. Josh is one who enjoys his work and continues every day to pursue his career in public safety.

Brett Dragun was among the first wave of initial responders to the Route 91 shooting in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017.

Brett loaded an ambulance full of patients and sent them to the hospital. After the initial transport, he took a supervisory role and began collaborating with fire command. Brett assisted with getting transport units to anyone that needed them, and ensured a proper response from AMR.

As the night transitioned into morning, Brett did not stop working on the incident. He began checking on crew members and making sure they were holding up alright. Brett also spent time with anyone that wanted to talk about what they had experienced in the days that followed.

In his more than eight years of service with AMR, Brett is known as an encourager, mentor, and consummate professional. He has also served on four disaster deployments where he remains the same caring individual. Brett encourages EMTs to further their education, volunteer their time for the disaster response team, or even read to elementary school students. Brett’s peers know that he is someone they can always rely on.

Stacy Dockery was attending the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas when gunfire began to rain down upon her. Her instincts kicked in immediately: she shielded her best friend, then went to work assisting victims on the ground.

Stacy assisted other off-duty medical personnel with bleeding control, triage, and loading patients into whatever vehicles they could find. As the incident continued to unfold, she knew that this was an extreme situation, and that she would be needed throughout the night. Stacy placed her friend in safety, then sped towards the station. She donned her uniform, complete with cowboy boots, jumped on a unit, and went to work running 911 calls. She responded to calls into the night until the situation had calmed some.

She was later featured in a New York Times video when a reporter captured her caring for a patient in the concert venue.

In Stacy’s nearly ten years with MedicWest, she has proven herself to be a dedicated CCT medic who can be relied upon to answer the call of duty.

See Stacy from behind at the 0:36–0:38 mark of this New York Times video.

Callen Daquiaog is a hero and teacher among heroes. However, being the humble man that he is, he would never admit it.

On October 1, 2017, he was one of the many that responded to the Route 91 shooting. He made life-saving decisions in the face of danger. At the time, no one knew when the shooting would stop, where the shooters were, or the reason they were targeting the music festival. Conflicting reports about the origin of the shots meant no scene was safe. When Callen responded to the East side of the venue, he came to Duke Ellington Way and faced the carnage head-on. He assisted two off duty EMTs, themselves shot, to load victims into his unit. He made the decision, with a full ambulance, to head to the trauma center. His military upbringing told him this was an extremely dangerous situation, but he stayed calm and treated the critical patients in his ambulance. He dropped them off quickly, hoping he would see the two EMTs again.

Callen returned to his ambulance, and once again headed toward the concert venue. He was sent to the command post where they staged for some time before reporting to a nearby smaller hospital where busloads of patients were being taken. He helped the ER triage and re-prioritize transfers out, taking six victims to an outlying hospital. 

Callen’s judgement was credited by physicians and nurses, who confirmed that his decisions saved many lives. In his almost four years at MedicWest, he is known as “the calm” amidst the chaos. He can always be counted on to help, whether by responding to an event like Route 91 or teaching a new EMT. Callen was honored for valor by the agency that employs the two wounded EMTs. He designed a patch for the event, and donated the proceeds to the victims fund.

Callen Daquiaog is a true hero.

Dr. Michael Barnum is well known in the Las Vegas EMS community. In addition to his role as the assistant Emergency Room Director for Valley Hospital, he is the Medical Director for AMR Las Vegas.

Whether teaching new Paramedics at our training center, lecturing medical students, mentoring EMS students in the ER, or coordinating with Paramedics bringing patients into his hospital, Dr. Barnum is the “go-to guy” for all things EMS. Dr. Barnum maintains multiple certifications ranging from Swift Water Rescue and Vertical Rescue to Firefighter and Paramedic. He is also an Eagle Scout and a pilot.

On the night of the Route 91 shooting, Dr. Barnum rushed into work in his EMS capacity to help care for patients and reduce the burden on Las Vegas’s overstressed system. He loaded multiple patients on a bus with a fellow AMR Critical Care Paramedic, then rushed to the hospital. His actions not only made a difference on scene, but also positively impacted the receiving hospitals and trauma centers.

As with other Stars, Dr. Barnum does not consider himself a hero: instead, he was doing what needed to be done.

Unlike many students working their way through college, Karis did not push the easy button when it came time to choose a job. Not only did she decide to become an EMT while attending school, she also chose to work in AMR’s San Francisco operation, one of the busiest EMS systems in the state.

On July 11, 2017, at around 8:30 p.m., Karis was completing paperwork inside the ambulance while parked outside a local Emergency Room. Suddenly, Karis observed a woman approaching quickly carrying a one-year-old child. The boy had choked on a piece of cantaloupe, and was not moving or talking. His lips had begun to turn blue.

Karis’s training immediately kicked in. She jumped into action, moving first to back blows, then chest thrusts, and finally to finger sweeps, which ultimately dislodged the fruit. The child immediately took a deep breath, started crying, and regained his color. Karis said it was the most beautiful cry she had ever heard.

On May 18, 2017, Nicky and her partner, Thomas Hlava, came to stop at a traffic light. In front of them was what Nicky describes as a “very good-looking Corvette.” As the light turned green, the Corvette started moving forward, and then quickly stopped for no apparent reason. As they were about to pass, Nicky noticed another driver frantically pointing at the Corvette and making a choking sign.

Nicky immediately placed the ambulance in park and approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, where she observed the driver slumped to the side and not moving. The vehicle started to move forward, and Nicky sprinted after it. The Corvette was still moving forward at about 5 mph when Nicky finally caught up to the car. She could hear fast gasping respirations coming from the driver, but the door was locked. Luckily, the window was down, and Nicky leaned through it to activate the emergency brake, stopping the vehicle.

At this point, she tried to rouse the patient, but he remained unresponsive. Nicky attempted to locate the inside door handle but couldn’t find it. At last, she was able to lower the passenger side window to climb into the vehicle and turn off the engine.

Nicky then performed a pulse check on the driver, which revealed no pulse. She began chest compressions from the passenger seat. With the assistance of her partner and an off-duty Rural Metro Paramedic, a monitor was attached which identified the patient was experiencing ventricular fibrillation. It took two shocks, but the patient’s heart converted, and he attained a return of spontaneous circulation. An IV was placed and fluids administered, and the patient resumed breathing on his own.

Nicky later learned that she saved Dr. James Mankowski, a retired US Navy Veteran and Doctor of Physics.

When Alexander Anderson heard about the catastrophic Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) in Las Vegas on October 1, he immediately reported to the station, knowing he’d be needed. Alex was assigned to a decompression unit with Dr. Michael Barnum, then they raced into action to began providing care. With his advanced skills as a Critical Care Paramedic, he was able to make a difference in many patient outcomes. As the night unfolded, neither man knew how long they would be needed to run busloads of patients to the hospitals.

Because of his tenure and outstanding record of service, his coworkers as well as hospital staff wish for Alex to be the responding Paramedic, should they ever need emergency medical care. Alex is extremely caring and always goes the extra mile for his patients.

Alex has also helped develop many Continuing Medical Education (CME) opportunities for the local operations teams. He is an integral participant in the updating of protocols for advanced response techniques like using a bus to treat and transport folks from mass causality incidents. Always humble, Alex does not consider himself a hero.

In the early morning of August 5, 2017, Robert and his partner were dispatched to a male patient that had fallen into a river while rappelling at Frustration Falls, a very remote area of the Mt. Hood National Forest. The patient was reported to still be in the water with a compound leg fracture. Rescuers initially estimated that it would take 6–10 hours to get the injured man out of the canyon because of the sheer length of rope required. However, due to the remote location, difficult terrain, and an inability to communicate by phone or radio, the rescue estimate ballooned to 24 hours.

Robert hiked miles to locate the patient. Once on scene, Robert then began treating his injuries, administering medications, and working to keep the patient warm and comfortable. With no ability to communicate due to the remote location, Robert stayed with the patient until a Black Hawk helicopter could be activated to extract them the next morning.

For 17 of Robert’s 19-year career in EMS, he has been proud to participate in the Reach and Treat team. Robert is also an Ultra Runner and a personal trainer, and has recently started training the patient that he saved that day.

In recognition of his bravery and dedication, we are proud to call Robert Aberle a 2018 Star of Life.

Derek Weinkauf knows no strangers – or doesn’t for long. During his four-plus years at EMSA, Derek has earned a reputation as always having a smile on his face, the team’s mission on his mind, and his patients’ best interests at heart. He has received numerous kudos during his career for providing excellent care on critical calls and demonstrating incredible compassion when interacting with suicidal subjects and patients’ family members. Derek shows consideration and respect to everyone he meets.

Derek is an accomplished Field Training Officer. His approach to teaching new recruits is simple yet effective: don’t expect perfection, but rather strive for excellence.

Derek was inspired to become a public servant by his grandfather, who was a long-time member of the Tulsa Fire Department.

Shane Vargas began his career with the Rural/Metro Fire Department more than 15 years ago. A strong proponent of personal growth and development, Shane became a Fire Captain nearly six years ago and earned his Paramedic certification last year. He has his sights set next on becoming a Battalion Chief.

In December, Shane and his crew responded to a working house fire. Upon arriving on scene, they learned a person was inside and made entry. Shane located an unresponsive woman inside the home and dragged her out, with smoke and flames hot on his heels. After transferring care to other Paramedics, Shane returned to the burning structure to search for other occupants and then worked to prevent the flames from spreading to surrounding homes.

A veteran of the War in Iraq, AMR Paramedic Supervisor Mike Turcio is passionate about supporting and recognizing others who have served in the armed forces. Mike organized a ceremony last year to honor veterans working in his operation and designed a special challenge coin for veterans in Connecticut’s EMS industry. Mike also regularly leads efforts to create and send care packages to soldiers deployed overseas.

Mental health for first responders is another of Mike’s passions. Mike has been part of several panel discussions related to identification and treatment of first responder stress, and has organized team meetings with Yale’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team. Mike makes a point to check in with colleagues who have responded to critical incidents and to connect them with the initial and ongoing support they need.

Melinda Toy demonstrates excellent clinical skills, but it’s outstanding “people care” that sets this Paramedic apart.

Mindy and her partner were recognized last year for saving the life of a cardiac arrest patient. Not only did Mindy perform critical medical interventions, but she kept the patient’s husband fully informed of what was happening and comforted him until his family could get to the hospital. Mindy provided the same mix of deep compassion and excellent care to another patient who wanted to talk about his recently deceased wife. Mindy held the man’s hand and listened intently to his story; his heart stopped at the hospital, but Mindy was successful in helping resuscitate him.

Mindy provides a safety net for her neighbors who have special needs and has volunteered to ring bells for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign.