Cheryl Smith serves as Operations Administrator and Paramedic with Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. (EASI), where she has dedicated more than three decades to caring for patients, leading teams, and mentoring generations of EMS professionals.

Cheryl’s journey with EASI began on October 1, 1993, when she joined the organization as what she affectionately describes as a “green EMT,” eager to learn and help others. She earned her Paramedic certification in 1995 and became one of EASI’s first Supervisors the following year. Her leadership responsibilities continued to grow when she was named Assistant Operations Manager in 2003. She later advanced to Operations Director before transitioning to her current role as Operations Administrator in 2025.

Throughout her career, Cheryl has earned recognition for her dedication to EMS and the people she serves. She was honored as an Arkansas Star of Life in 2007, received EASI’s President’s Award in 2011, and was named Paramedic of the Year in 2016. Together, these honors reflect a career characterized by service, leadership, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to others.

Cheryl’s greatest impact, however, may be found in the people she has influenced along the way. Over more than three decades, she has worked alongside and helped shape generations of EMS professionals. To many within EASI, Cheryl is far more than an administrator or colleague. She is a trusted mentor, friend, and source of guidance and encouragement. Affectionately known by many as “Ma” or “Nanny B,” she holds a special place within the EASI family.

When asked what she loves most about her work, Cheryl summarizes a remarkable career in just five words: “Helping the one in need.” That simple philosophy has guided her from the ambulance to organizational leadership and continues to define the way she serves others.

Cheryl’s legacy can be seen not only in the patients she has cared for, but also in the countless EMS professionals she has encouraged, mentored, and helped develop. Through more than three decades of service, she has remained committed to the fundamental purpose that first brought her to EMS: helping people when they need it most. Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. is proud to recognize Paramedic and Operations Administrator Cheryl Smith as a Star of Life.

Chris Sidwell serves as a Paramedic and Relief Supervisor with Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. (EASI), bringing nearly two decades of EMS experience to the patients, colleagues, and communities he serves.

Chris began his emergency medical services career in 2007 as an EMT with EASI. His career later took him to Southwest EMS in 2009 and MEMS in 2011, where he continued developing his skills and gaining valuable experience in prehospital emergency care.

In 2013, Chris advanced his career by becoming a licensed Paramedic. He returned to EASI in 2015, bringing with him additional clinical experience and an even stronger foundation for serving patients and supporting his fellow EMS professionals.

Since returning to EASI, Chris has distinguished himself through his dependability, professionalism, and commitment to the organization. His years of experience and willingness to take on additional responsibility led him to become a Relief Supervisor in 2025. In this role, Chris supports EASI crews and operations while helping maintain the high standard of patient care the organization provides throughout the communities it serves.

Chris’s career reflects the value of continued growth and steadfast service. From beginning as an EMT to becoming a Paramedic and stepping into a supervisory role, he has continued to answer the call, support his colleagues, and contribute to the strength of his EMS team.

Through nearly two decades of service, Chris has demonstrated the leadership, reliability, and dedication that are essential to emergency medical services. Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. is proud to recognize Paramedic and Relief Supervisor Chris Sidwell as a Star of Life.

Cindy has dedicated nearly two decades to emergency medical services, building a career defined by clinical excellence, dependable leadership, and a commitment to serving patients and fellow EMS professionals.

Cindy began her EMS career in 2006 after earning her EMT certification. Her first opportunity as an EMT came that same year at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, where she provided emergency medical coverage for horse racing events and the casino. Later in 2006, she joined Pafford Ambulance, expanding her experience through traditional EMS response as well as distinctive assignments providing medical coverage for movie sets and automobile racing events.

Determined to advance her skills and provide a higher level of patient care, Cindy continued her education and earned her Paramedic certification through Pafford in 2008.

In 2010, Cindy joined Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. (EASI) and quickly became a valued member of the organization. Her clinical experience, dependability, and leadership abilities led to her promotion to Supervisor in 2013, a position in which she continues to serve. In that role, Cindy leads by example, supporting the crews around her while maintaining the same commitment to patients that has characterized her career.

Her contributions have earned recognition from EASI, including being named Paramedic of the Year and receiving the President’s Award. These honors reflect both her clinical abilities and her longstanding commitment to the organization and the people she serves alongside.

From racetracks and movie sets to emergency calls in the communities EASI serves, Cindy’s career has taken her into a remarkable variety of environments. Through each experience, however, the foundation of her service has remained the same: caring for patients, supporting her colleagues, and providing steady leadership when others are counting on her.

Through nearly two decades of service, Cindy has earned the respect of her colleagues and demonstrated the dedication at the heart of the EMS profession. Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. is proud to recognize Paramedic and Supervisor Cindy Chiles as a Star of Life.

Roland Blanchard is a Paramedic with Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. (EASI) who has dedicated nearly two decades to caring for patients and serving communities through emergency medical services.

Roland began his EMS career around 2007 after earning his EMT certification and joining Acadian Ambulance Service. Motivated to expand his skills and provide a higher level of care, he continued his education and earned his Paramedic certification through Acadian around 2010.

Roland later continued his career with AMR in Mississippi, where he gained additional experience as a Paramedic before joining EASI in 2015. For more than a decade, he has been a valued member of the EASI team, faithfully serving the patients and communities that depend on him.

Throughout his career, Roland has demonstrated a lasting commitment to patient care, public service, and the EMS profession. His nearly two decades of experience reflect an understanding that EMS is about far more than responding to emergencies. It is about being present for people during some of the most difficult and vulnerable moments of their lives and providing skilled, compassionate care when it matters most.

Away from EMS, Roland enjoys cooking, fishing, and spending time outdoors. Above all, he values time with his family and friends.

Through years of dependable service and dedication to his patients and profession, Roland represents the enduring commitment at the heart of emergency medical services. Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. is proud to recognize Paramedic Roland Blanchard as a Star of Life.

Heather “Sunshine” Ledbetter serves as a Paramedic and Field Training Officer with Pafford Medical Services, where she is known for her positive attitude, compassion, and willingness to step in wherever she is needed. Whether caring for a patient, mentoring a colleague, or talking with children at a community event, Sunshine has a natural ability to connect with people and make them feel supported.

As a Field Training Officer, Sunshine helps prepare and mentor fellow EMS professionals while continuing to develop her own skills as an educator. She has earned instructor certifications in several courses and uses that training to educate members of Pafford Medical Services’ Southwest Arkansas Division. She readily shares her knowledge and approaches teaching with the same patience and encouragement she brings to patient care.

For Sunshine, caring for a patient means caring for the person behind the medical need. She has checked on patients after their care was complete simply to see how they were doing. When a local high school needed medical support so a medically fragile student could participate in an out-of-town band trip, Sunshine volunteered. She spent several days away from home so the student could experience the trip alongside classmates while providing reassurance to the student’s family and school.

Sunshine is also a familiar face throughout her community. She regularly participates in career days, holiday events, parades, and other community programs, especially enjoying opportunities to introduce children to EMS. Through these interactions, she helps the public better understand the work of EMS professionals while strengthening the relationship between Pafford Medical Services and the communities it serves.

Her colleagues know Sunshine as someone who puts the team first. She is quick to recognize the contributions of others and rarely seeks individual credit, preferring to celebrate what the group has accomplished together. Even on difficult days, she brings a friendly smile, an encouraging word, and a little extra “Sunshine” to those around her.

Through her patient care, mentorship, education, and community service, Sunshine demonstrates how compassion and positivity can strengthen both an EMS team and the community it serves. Pafford Medical Services is proud to recognize Heather Ledbetter as a Star of Life.

Carolita “Carol” Crockett has dedicated more than 35 years to Emergency Medical Services, building an extraordinary career that spans patient care, operations, leadership, and education. Today, Carol serves as a Paramedic Instructor in the EMS Training Department at Mercy Ambulance Services in Savannah, Georgia, where her decades of experience continue to strengthen both individual providers and the organization as a whole.

Carol began her EMS career by earning her EMT certification from Savannah Technical College in 1990, followed by her Paramedic certification in 1993. Over the decades that followed, she served in numerous roles, including EMT, Paramedic, Director of Education, and Captain of EMS operations. Each position added to the depth of experience she now brings to the classroom and to those she mentors.

Education has become a defining part of Carol’s professional legacy. In addition to her work with Mercy Ambulance Services, she founded and operates an online EMS training business providing EMT-Basic, EMT-Advanced, Paramedic refresher courses, continuing education, and EMS tutoring. Through these efforts, Carol has devoted herself to helping EMS professionals strengthen their knowledge, maintain their skills, and advance in their careers.

Carol’s extensive credentials reflect her commitment to lifelong learning. She holds National Registry Paramedic, Flight Paramedic, Critical Care Transport Paramedic, Georgia Department of Public Health Paramedic, and Georgia Level III Instructor credentials. Her additional instructor and provider certifications span numerous areas of advanced emergency care, including ACLS, BCLS, PALS, PHTLS, AMLS, GEMS and EPC.

Throughout her career, Carol’s service has earned significant recognition. Her honors include being named Paramedic of the Year in 1996, receiving the WTOC Hometown Hero Award, and receiving the Governor’s Public Safety Award in 2023. These distinctions reflect a career characterized by sustained service, leadership, and dedication to the EMS profession.

Carol’s greatest impact, however, can be found in the knowledge and experience she shares with others. After more than three decades in EMS, she continues to educate, mentor, and prepare providers to deliver exceptional care to their communities. Her influence reaches far beyond any single classroom, ambulance, or organization through the EMS professionals whose careers she has helped shape.

Through her exceptional performance, leadership, clinical expertise, and immeasurable contributions to EMS education, Carol exemplifies the spirit of a Star of Life. Mercy Ambulance Services is proud to recognize Carol Crockett as a Star of Life.

John David Greathouse II is a Flight Paramedic and Registered Nurse with LifeNet EMS, serving with LifeNet AIR-2 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In just five years, John has built an impressive career defined by continuous learning, clinical excellence, and a commitment to serving others—all with LifeNet.

John began as a full-time EMT and steadily advanced through the organization, becoming a Paramedic, Field Training Officer Paramedic, PRN Flight Paramedic, Interim Director of the Clinical Department, and, ultimately, a full-time Flight Paramedic. Inspired by his mother, a nurse for more than 30 years, John also pursued nursing school, further expanding his knowledge and ability to care for critically ill and injured patients.

John’s commitment to public service runs in the family. His father dedicated his career to law enforcement, while his mother’s compassion and commitment to patient care helped inspire John’s own path. He graduated from National Park College, where he trained under Josh Boyett, a previous Star of Life honoree. That experience strengthened John’s appreciation for excellent EMS education and the tremendous responsibility entrusted to clinicians during their patients’ most critical moments.

Throughout his career, John has benefited from mentors, partners, educators, and colleagues who have generously shared their experience with him. He credits Terry Childers and Josh Meggers with helping develop him as a ground provider and Jason Castleberry and Adam Oliver with guiding his transition into air medical care. John is equally grateful for the many EMT partners and colleagues who have supported and encouraged him throughout his career.

Today, John pays that mentorship forward. Passionate about clinical education and provider development, he teaches LifeNet’s Arkansas Division Paramedic-2 ventilator and advanced medical training program, instructs American Heart Association courses, and participates in community outreach. During his time as Interim Director of the Clinical Department, he also worked alongside LifeNet leadership to strengthen the department’s focus on education and clinical development.

For John, practicing critical care paramedicine with LifeNet’s air medical program is among his greatest professional achievements. He remains committed to lifelong learning and continually strives to provide exceptional care to every patient entrusted to him.

Outside of EMS, John’s greatest motivation is his family. His wife and best friend, Kristin Greathouse, who is also a Paramedic, inspires him personally and professionally. Their daughter, Emmalyn, is, as John proudly puts it, “the true star of the family.” In his free time, John enjoys being with his family, working on his property, tackling DIY projects, and vacationing with those he loves most.

John is grateful for the opportunity to represent LifeNet, his family, his mentors, and the EMS profession. LifeNet EMS is proud to recognize John David Greathouse II as a Star of Life.

Carla Barranco is a career Paramedic with Beauport Ambulance whose nearly two decades in emergency medicine have been defined by clinical experience, professionalism, compassion, and a deep commitment to the communities she serves.

Carla began her career at Winchester Hospital, where she worked as an Emergency Room Technician from 2006 to 2011. She attended Northeastern University’s Paramedic Program in 2009 and went on to serve as an Emergency Room Paramedic at Melrose/Wakefield Hospital. Throughout her career in the field, Carla has also served the Saugus community, earning the respect of firefighters, fellow Paramedics, patients, and families as a knowledgeable, caring, and dependable clinician.

Carla’s experience has also provided opportunities to support and develop other EMS professionals. During five years as a Field Training Officer with Armstrong Ambulance, she helped train and mentor fellow providers, sharing the knowledge and perspective gained through years of emergency care. From 2011 through 2021, she also served as an MLB medic for the Boston Red Sox.

Her commitment to public service was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. While continuing to work on the front lines, Carla assisted with vaccination clinics for senior citizens and supported Massachusetts State Police vaccination efforts at MSP Headquarters in Framingham. Her willingness to step forward during an unprecedented public health emergency reflected the same dependability and commitment that have characterized her career.

Today, Carla proudly serves the Swampscott and Marblehead communities with Beauport Ambulance, bringing nearly two decades of experience to patients during some of their most difficult moments. At the same time, she continues to invest in her own education as a full-time student at Bunker Hill Community College, where she has earned high honors and recognition on the Dean’s List. Her academic success reflects the drive, discipline, and commitment to continued growth she has demonstrated throughout her professional life.

Through her clinical expertise, mentorship, public service, and dedication to lifelong learning, Carla has made a lasting impact on patients, colleagues, and communities throughout her career. Beauport Ambulance is proud to recognize Carla Barranco as an American Ambulance Association Star of Life.

Dr. Jason Staszko has dedicated his career to service, beginning as a physician in the United States Navy from 2005 to 2008, including a deployment to Iraq as a Battalion Surgeon. Since 2013, he has provided medical direction for several EMS agencies across Wisconsin, bringing expertise, compassion, and steady leadership to the field. In July 2024, he joined Bell Ambulance as Medical Director. Since then, he has already made a significant impact by leading a collaborative team in revising the company’s patient care protocols to reflect the highest standards of modern prehospital medicine.

Dr. Staszko is not only a respected emergency physician, but also a hands-on leader who is regularly seen around Bell’s stations and riding along with crews. Known for being approachable and deeply invested in both learning and teaching, he builds strong connections with EMS professionals while ensuring they have the support and training they need to provide excellent care.

Bell Ambulance is proud to honor Dr. Jason Staszko as a 2025 Star of Life.

Since joining Bell Ambulance in 2017 as an Emergency Medical Technician, Sergey Dobrinin has impressed colleagues and patients alike with his energy, professionalism, and dedication. His calm bedside manner, paired with a no-nonsense approach, has consistently put both patients and partners at ease.

Recognized early for his skill and leadership, Sergey quickly advanced to the role of Training Officer, where he has mentored countless EMTs and Paramedics. In 2020, he completed his Paramedic education, and in March 2023, he achieved his Critical Care Paramedic certification, enabling him to respond to the most complex and high-acuity calls. From routine 911 responses to advanced interfacility transports, Sergey is trusted to deliver exceptional care in any circumstance.

Though he often flies under the radar, Sergey exemplifies Bell Ambulance’s highest mission: to be there for people in their time of greatest need. His quiet leadership, clinical excellence, and unwavering commitment to his patients and coworkers make him an outstanding recipient of the American Ambulance Association’s Star of Life honor.

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.

Kristen Hunter has been a dedicated member of the Action Ambulance Service, Inc. team for more than 16 years. During her time here, she has become a beloved Supervisor and a trusted mentor to her peers. Known for her positive outlook and can-do attitude, Kristen is always willing to go the extra mile to support her co-workers and ensure the best care for her community.

Outside of work, Kristen enjoys spending time with her two children, Caleb and Talor, as well as her two dogs, Justice and Liberty. She also has a passion for decorating and loves to make every occasion special.

Action Ambulance is proud to recognize Kristen Hunter as our 2024 Star of Life, honoring her outstanding service and dedication to both her team and the communities she serves.

Nicholas “Nick” Spencer joined Bell Ambulance in 2021 and quickly made a positive impact. Awarded the Employee of the Year in 2022 by his colleagues, his influence was clear. Rising to the role of EMT Field Training Officer, Nick focused on sharing knowledge, often mentoring EMT students in the cadet program.

Staff members appreciate Nick for his willingness to help and educate. His commitment to learning stands out, and he’s always ready to face challenges head-on.

On a personal note, Nick’s longstanding bond with his wife, dating back to their childhood, speaks to his steadfast nature. His service as a youth pastor further enriches his community as well.

Bell Ambulance is proud to honor Nick Spencer as a 2023 Star of Life.