Dale Simmons has dedicated more than 20 years to fire and emergency medical services, starting as a volunteer in rural South Georgia and eventually becoming a Paramedic with Chatham Emergency Services in Savannah, GA. Throughout his career, Dale has served as an officer and Fire Chief in a combination department in South Georgia and earned his Paramedic teaching credentials in 2013, teaching both EMT and Paramedic classes. His passion for professionalism in patient care is evident in his dedication to his work and his impact on those he serves.

In addition to his EMS career, Dale has been instrumental in establishing a Chaplaincy program for first responders. Since 1989, he has provided unwavering support to first responders, offering encouragement and guidance during times of trauma. His commitment to being a source of strength extends beyond the job, helping first responders navigate the challenges of their demanding profession and family life.

Dale’s dedication to public service is mirrored by his children, Jason, Jesse, and Rachel, all of whom have worked in the field of emergency services. He is also a proud grandfather of eleven grandchildren.

Currently, Dale serves as the EMS Program Administrator for Chatham Emergency Services and works closely with Resilient Coastal Georgia and the Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council to build a more trauma-informed community through education and outreach. His extensive knowledge and compassionate approach have left a lasting impact on both his field and his community.

For his outstanding contributions, Dale Simmons is proudly recognized as a 2024 Star of Life.

Since joining Central EMS in 2008, Eric Lumpkin has become an invaluable asset to the team. As Dispatch Supervisor and Training Officer, Eric has revolutionized the company’s training programs, ensuring both efficient onboarding and continuous education for all staff. His leadership style—marked by open communication and a commitment to improvement—has created a positive and productive work environment.

Eric’s dedication goes far beyond his official duties. He regularly volunteers for special operations, from repairing ambulances to participating in hurricane evacuations. His willingness to take on any challenge has made him indispensable to the team, and his actions have earned him a reputation as a role model, inspiring his colleagues to strive for excellence.

Beyond his professional achievements, Eric’s warm personality and selfless nature have garnered him the respect and admiration of his peers. As a devoted family man and a friend to many, he fosters camaraderie in the workplace, boosting morale and strengthening team cohesion.

Eric’s contributions to Central EMS and the broader community exemplify the highest standards of the emergency medical services profession. His unwavering commitment to excellence and the positive impact he has had on both his colleagues and the community make him an ideal candidate for the Stars of Life award.

Carla Landrum joined the Puckett EMS family in March 2012 as an EMT, bringing with her a deep compassion and a heart dedicated to serving others. From her first day, Carla displayed the work ethic and character that defines an EMS professional. In 2016, she obtained her Paramedic license, and in 2023, she was promoted to Field Training Officer. Carla has earned numerous commendations for her excellent customer service and was awarded Puckett EMS’ highest honor, “Employee of the Year,” in 2023.

Outside of work, Carla enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Matt, and their three daughters, Haylie (16), Addison (14), and Stella (11). Her love for nature is reflected in her hobbies of camping and kayaking. She also has a soft spot for animals, especially her goats and chickens. Carla’s greatest pride is her children, all of whom are honor students, with the two eldest being members of the local high school marching band.

Carla is well-respected by her peers and is known for her exceptional critical decision-making skills, which make her an outstanding FTO. In February, Carla was the first on the scene of an active shooter incident at a local high school, where two victims were critically injured. She worked seamlessly with a unified command structure, performing rapid triage and transport roles with textbook precision. Despite working in the “hot zone” under intense pressure, Carla maintained her composure and successfully triaged, treated, and transported both victims within five minutes of arriving on the scene. Both victims fully recovered.

Puckett EMS is proud to honor Carla Landrum as our 2024 Star of Life!

Heather James, an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician with American Medical Response in Lagrange, Georgia, is being recognized for her heroic efforts in delivering and saving a baby who was born pulseless while en route to the hospital.

The incident occurred last June when an expectant mother began experiencing labor in the ambulance. Heather’s partner, AEMT Amanda Owens, was driving while Heather attended to the mother. After delivering the baby, Heather quickly noticed the newborn wasn’t breathing and immediately sprang into action. She administered CPR and performed lifesaving interventions, successfully resuscitating the baby before transferring both mother and child to the hospital.

Thanks to Heather and Amanda’s quick thinking and skillful interventions, the baby, though initially facing a long road to recovery, is now healthy and recently celebrated their first birthday. The baby’s mother credits Heather and Amanda for saving her child’s life, and their selfless dedication is a testament to the exceptional care provided by EMS professionals.

Heather’s life-saving actions in such a critical situation exemplify her commitment to her patients and her remarkable skill as an AEMT.

Rosemary Mitts, a Savannah native, was raised around the world as a child in a military family. She was imbued with a strong work ethic and learned the importance of dedicating her life to a purpose. Her grandfather was a strong influence in her decision to choose healthcare as a profession as he was a medic in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Rosemary’s mother, a 911 dispatcher in a nearby county, taught her many lessons in life to make her a strong and independent woman. In fact, she worked three jobs while putting herself through EMT school at night! Sadly, her mother, Maria, died suddenly shortly after Rosemary graduated from EMT school. However, Maria remains an inspiration and role model.

Rosemary began her career at Chatham Emergency Services as an EMT. Eager to learn and striving to provide the absolute most she could to her patients and community, she soon began Paramedic school. Rosemary earned her medic license but wasn’t done yet. She next wanted to expand her contributions to include teaching others to be EMS providers. She quickly progressed through the ranks of preceptor, instructor, field training officer, and now Lieutenant. Rosemary has been successful in mentoring many EMT recruits and new EMTs who later became outstanding Paramedics themselves. She has also earned several instructor certifications and teaches basic life support to members of the community while proudly representing Chatham Emergency Services.

Rosemary is eager to learn, continues to strive for improvements within the organization, and goes the extra mile to ensure the best possible care for the community.

From a personal perspective, as the oldest of three children including an autistic brother, Rosemary was born to care for others and be responsible and reliable, while helping her single mother raise her brother and sister. Rosemary is the mother of two amazing sons, Peter and Liam. In her off time, in between studying for her critical care certification, Rosemary is raising her sons to be strong, caring, adventure-seeking, and fun-loving young men.

Lance Blythe is being honored as a Star of Life for providing critical care to a four-year-old gunshot victim while also guiding a new nurse during the transport.  The toddler had been shot in the abdomen and had lost a lot of blood. Lance not only performed his duties with calm and precision but also provided leadership and guidance to the nurse, who, along with Lance, had to effectively manage an entire supply of blood and plasma. Once the hospital was selected, Lance instructed the pilot to communicate with the OCC (Operational Control Center) and CENCOM that a surgical team needed to be prepped for the incoming patient. Then, to add another layer of complication, the flight hit a few patches of turbulence caused by extreme winds. Through it all, Lance remained composed, fulfilling his duties and helping others at the same time.

In the end, the transport was a success. Lance’s direction saved the life of a little boy. Lance is a humble hero whose skill, talent, and experience represent the best of EMS.

Christopher Jimenez was born in Savannah, Georgia. He was accepted into Georgia Southern University where he completed a four-year program and received a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2016. In order to pursue his interest in the medical profession, Christopher sought ways to obtain patient contacts and field experience.

Christopher enrolled in the Savannah Technical College Emergency Services program and completed his EMT-B in 2017. He fell in love with the field and with the opportunity to aid those in his local community in the worst times of their lives. He completed the Savannah Tech Paramedic certification in 2019 and has since been a lead Medic in downtown Savannah. He is now a part-time adjunct instructor for Savannah Tech and has recently been promoted to an FTO position at Chatham EMS.

Christopher and his wife, Savannah, actually met in kindergarten; a fact discovered one night going through the yearbooks. Christopher and Savannah live with their two German Shepherd fur children, Rocco and Titan.

Mercy Ambulance Service is proud to nominate Christopher Jimenez for his hard work and exemplary service to his community.

Chief Doug Lewis began his career in public safety at the age of 17 as a Bryan County volunteer. He received his EMT card in 1982, his Paramedic card in 1986, and became a National Registered Paramedic in 1994. Prior to beginning at Chatham Emergency Services in 2011, Doug worked as a Medic for MedStar Ambulance Service, Effingham County EMS, Wayne County EMS, and Liberty County EMS. In both 1994 and 1996, he was named the Chatham County EMT of the Year. Since 2007, Doug has served as a Tactical Paramedic for the Savannah Police Department. In 2014, Doug was promoted to Captain, and in 2017 he became District Chief. 

Chief Lewis has many duties as a District Chief with Chatham Emergency Services. During his shifts, he is constantly running calls, backing up units on bad calls, dealing with customer complaints, and handling various other administrative duties. In addition, he oversees the SWAT Medic Program at Chatham Emergency Services, and has served as a SWAT Medic since 2007. He works closely with the local police departments, providing ongoing training and tactics to make his team as safe as possible.

Doug is one of the most dedicated leaders at Chatham Emergency Services. He is always filling vacant shifts after finishing his regular work schedule, sometimes working over 48 hours straight. Doug is the epitome of EMS excellence and his heart is dedicated to serving others.

Doug and his wife, Valerie, have six children and three grandchildren.

Mr. McBride currently serves as Lt. Colonel and Disaster Response Team Leader at Central EMS. Born and raised in Georgia, Kevin became an EMT in 2001 where he then worked for Cherokee County 911 and eventually joined Central EMS in 2004. Kevin’s leadership and training skills have set a standard for all of crews at Central EMS. Kevin’s ability to communicate and train employees on anything from operations, scheduling, equipment, and vehicles qualifies him for his leadership role. In addition, his commitment to Disaster Response and his continuing education in Emergency Management have helped lead Central EMS teams on five federal deployments. While deployed on disasters, Kevin has been in joint command with the National Guard and The Forestry Incident Response Team. During the latest two ice storms in Atlanta, Kevin worked 36 hour shifts aiding the State of Georgia and city fire departments with numerous rescue efforts while coordinating with EMS crews on critical transports. When Kevin is not training EMS crews, working on an ambulance, or deployed on a disaster, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.”

It is my honor to nominate Dennis M. Kelley for this year’s Stars of Life award. I know that you will also support this nomination once you review the qualifications and level of commitment that Dennis has shown in his nineteen plus years in Emergency Medical Services. Dennis is currently employed with Puckett EMS as a Paramedic in Dade County, Georgia serving a rural population of 16,000 people. Dennis has been an integral part of the EMS system in Dade County since 2006 when he relocated there with his family. Dennis has donated countless hours of his time to the Dade County School System. Dennis currently serves as a Future Business Leaders of America liaison for EMS and is a Board Member of the Dade County High School Health Occupation. Dennis’s passion has always been the wellbeing of children. Over the past several years, Dennis has coordinated several public education events in an attempt to educate the student body on impaired driving consequences. He has hosted several Ghost Out events which have been very effective in reducing teenage drunk driving during prom season. This past year, Dennis was an integral part in the passing of Senate Bill 212 which mandated school grades 9 through 12 to provide instruction in CPR and AED use to all students. Dennis had successfully implemented this program in Dade County before it was ever passed into law. Governor Nathan Deal signed SB 212 into law on March 5, 2013 in front of the student body of Dade County High School. Dennis has accomplished a lot over the years and he continues to use those skills to give back to the community that he serves. He is an Eagle Scout recipient and now serves as a Boy Scout Explorer graduate/coordinator for children. He is an American Heart BLS Instructor. He also volunteers for Dade County EMS.”

Leigh Dooley began her 24 year career in EMS in Cobb County, Georgia as a EMT Basic and became a Paramedic in 1992. Leigh currently serves as a Sr. Paramedic/Field Training Officer where she routinely first responds on calls and mentors new and seasoned employees in the field. She is a certified instructor in Basic Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Life Support and assists teaching classes at the MetroAtlanta EMS Academy. On her days off she teaches CPR/AED training to our local Georgia High School and Georgia Middle School Athletic Associations, local school system employees, neighborhood associations and scout troops. She coaches Girls Fast Pitch Softball and serves as a mentor to young girls in need of a positive role model. She teaches her girls the importance of servant leadership and has them participate in raising funds at the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. At Christmas, Leigh organized, raised funds and coordinate volunteers to provide gifts to kids at the local Boys and Girls Club. She also provided Christmas gifts and treats to 46 caregivers and staff members at our local hospice. MetroAtlanta Ambulance employees nominated Leigh to receive the Stars of Life Award and represent our company. Her compassion for others and selfless acts of philanthropy and community outreach is a great testament to her love for others. She is a great representative of the EMS industry, our company and she serves as a role model for us all. Leigh has a daughter Morgan and lives in Kennesaw, Georgia.”

Mr. Coflin currently serves as a Lt. Commander at Central EMS. He was born in Decatur, Georgia, raised in Fishers, Indiana and attended Purdue University; but, he left shortly after to enlist in the United States Army. After serving honorably for four and a half years as a 13F Forward Observer for HHT 7-10 CAV 1BCT 4ID on a COLT Team with a tour in Iraq in 2006, he became a volunteer firefighter for Bloomington Township Fire Department. This eventually led him into the field of EMS. Mike joined Central EMS in 2011 as an EMT-P and is now a CCP. During the recent ice storms in Atlanta, Mike demonstrated extreme leadership and decision making capabilities. His ability to calmly supervise crews and treat patients under extreme conditions proves he is well-suited for EMS industry and highly qualified for his leadership position. His military and EMS experience, attention to detail, sense of self pride, and commitment to Central EMS make him a role model for all.”

Randy Nichols has been a part of AMR in LaGrange, Georgia for four years. He started as an EMT, then quickly progressed to Paramedic. During this time, he has also assumed additional responsibilities including Field Training Officer, Shift Supervisor, Disaster Response Team member, Director of Education, and part-time fleet mechanic, all while making sure that the 74 people in his EMS family feel welcome.

One day, Randy asked if we could launch some educational classes for staff. Once he got the green light, he was off and running; taking on all aspects of the project from ordering books to researching the Georgia licensure requirements. Randy created an EMT Basic Class and an AEMT Class, while simultaneously developing three Level 3 instructors. Word has gotten out about the success of the AMR LaGrange education programs. We are now hosting four classes and have a waiting list, all because Randy recognized we needed to do better as an industry in teaching the next generation.

Randy’s compassion for his team and his “never say no” attitude empower him to help staff of all experience levels, from new recruits on day one of employment to seasoned staff with 20 years of service history. As Randy would say, his goal is “Making AMR great in two thousand one eight!”

Andy is a valuable member of the Community Ambulance, Macon division team. Andy is an active member of the Community Ambulance Disaster Response Team, which in October of 2016, was called on to participate in a statewide effort to aid with patient evacuations surrounding Hurricane Matthew. As part of this deployment, Andy participated in what ultimately became the largest coastal evacuation in state history.

In addition to his full time role as a Paramedic, Andy also serves as a Preceptor and Field Training Officer. Through these roles, Andy is able to share his knowledge, skill and passion for patient care with those who are new to EMS or our organization. As an educator and mentor, Andy has played a vital role in helping with training efforts within the organization, through National Registry skills testing and annual skills assessments for associates.

As a clinician, Andy demonstrates a high level of compassion and professionalism while taking care of the patients he serves. Andy is able to build a trusting rapport with his patients, taking the time to connect with each patient, put them at ease and provide a high level of care. Andy is able to maintain a calm composure in the field, even during the most stressful situations. Andy is knowledgeable of clinical protocols and works within them to provide the best possible care to his patients.

A true EMS professional, Andy is dependable, punctual and has a strong work ethic. As an incredibly reliable associate, Andy readily and enthusiastically takes on new tasks and challenges. Though incredible knowledgeable and skillful, Andy demonstrates humility and honesty with his patients as well as his peers. Andy Jenkins is, without a doubt, a true “star” in the field of EMS.

Chris Wynn is known throughout his neighborhood for not only his outgoing nature and optimistic attitude, but also his dedication to his patients. His effervescent personality makes Chris immediately likeable and easy to talk to. Even in the most
difficult situations, Chris has the innate ability to put those around him at ease and bring comfort to his patients. 

Operations Manager Ann Rice describes Chris as a knowledgeable and capable paramedic who demonstrates both skill and empathy in the field. She says, “Chris treats every patient as if they were a member of his own family. His concern for them is genuine and sincere. He often follows up with his patients and checks on them. Chris is kind and patient with people and takes the time to truly listen to the patient’s needs.”

Chris plays an invaluable role at Community Ambulance. He serves as a preceptor for local EMS students, as well as for new Community Ambulance associates. Chris readily takes those new to the industry under his wing in order to help them become the best EMS professionals they can be. 

In addition to his role as a full time Paramedic, Chris also serves as a volunteer firefighter for the city of Climax. Chris demonstrates incredible dedication to serving others and continually seeks opportunities to enhance his clinical skills. Caring, compassionate and capable, Paramedic Chris Wynn defines what it means to be a “star” in EMS.

Chris and his wife, Dana, have two daughters, Miranda and Marisa. The Wynn family lives in Climax, GA.