In 2019, Lilliana Ferguson enrolled in an EMT course for academic credit and to gain patient contact hours. She began her mobile healthcare career at UMass EMS in college before relocating to the Boston area and joining Cataldo Ambulance Service.
Lilliana states that she initially joined the Cataldo team, “because of Cataldo’s good reputation in the Boston area” and the call volume and population diversity for patient contact hours. She adds, “I fell in love with EMS. Every day is different, and you never know what to expect. You get to meet a lot of people and be exposed to their lifestyles.”
Lilliana became a Paramedic in 2021 and has since become extremely adept at managing high-acuity patients. She is always prepared to confidently surmount any complications or barriers to ensure patients always receive exceptional care. Over the course of her EMS career, Lilliana has been a field training officer at both the BLS and ALS levels. Her experience, knowledge, and positive nature makes her a great role model for her peers.
Christopher “Chris” Crowell initially enrolled in an EMT course in college for academic credit and to gain patient contact hours. Soon after, he joined the Atlantic division of Cataldo Ambulance Service, the contracted ambulance provider in his hometown of Lynn, Massachusetts. Chris fell in love with EMS immediately, and notes that “when it’s rewarding, it is extremely rewarding.”
Chris has an innate talent for establishing trust with patients with whom it might be more difficult to build rapport. As a BLS Clinical Field Supervisor, he applies these same skills to effectively manage team members in the field. He leads colleagues with the same empathy and understanding he learned by managing complex patient situations.
Cataldo team members rely on Chris to handle any situation that is thrown at him in a way that is consistent, fair, and reliable. His friendly and outgoing nature helps all team members feel welcomed and supported as he assists them in diffusing difficult situations while ensuring that patient care is never compromised. “Knowing that people rely on me and have confidence in me is what keeps me coming back to work every day,” Chris adds.
Bobbi Tremblay began her EMS career in April of 1997 as an EMT at Armstrong Ambulance Service in Arlington, MA. She quickly rose through the ranks to become a base supervisor in Peabody, MA and then later in Wilmington, MA. Bobbi was an excellent EMT for many years, but a shoulder injury began a new journey for her. After surgery to address her issue, Bobbi joined the Communications Department in 2006 as a Call Taker and quickly became an Emergency Medical Dispatcher.
Since joining the Communications Department 17 years ago, Bobbi has been a cornerstone of Armstrong’s dispatch operations. Bobbi has done, and will do, anything asked for the betterment of the team, including picking up shifts, training new staff, and offering suggestions on how to improve processes and the room as a whole. Throughout Armstrong Ambulance, Bobbi is known for her skill and empathy by callers and colleagues alike. Whether it’s her fellow Dispatchers, crews out on the road, or anyone who calls into her line, Bobbi treats everyone with respect, patience, and genuine kindness.
Bobbi has thoroughly enjoyed every role she has held in EMS, but she admits to enjoying EMD the most. Says Bobbi, “When Armstrong started emergency medical dispatching for multiple towns, it quickly became my favorite position. In my time here, I have assisted in delivering a baby and giving CPR instructions multiple times. My most satisfying call was for a facial laceration where I recognized the situation as being an assault. I was able to obtain identifying information as well as the location of the incident to update police prior to their arrival.” Clearly, Bobbi’s natural compassion helps her excel at her job.
In her free time, Bobbi loves to spend time with her grandkids and her dogs, Marley and Koda. Bobbi also has a passion for the outdoors and enjoys hiking, kayaking, and gardening when she is not busy helping others!
During Samantha “Sam” Migliore’s senior year of high school, while manning the cash register at her after-school job, she noticed a woman who didn’t appear much older than her wearing an EMT uniform. At that moment Sam realized that joining the EMS field was an attainable goal. That fall she enrolled in an EMT course and obtained her certification soon after.
Sam began working for Armstrong Ambulance in 2019, the day after she graduated from high school. She quickly fell in love with EMS, enjoying the work and the meaning behind it. Sam finds it deeply rewarding to assist patients during some of their most challenging moments. She recognizes the necessity of bringing a sense of calm to a chaotic scene.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam took a two-year leave of absence from her studies to work full-time on the front lines. She dedicated most of her time to Armstrong Ambulance’s COVID-19 response efforts focused on testing and vaccinating individuals across Massachusetts. Sam is proud to have worked alongside such motivated and resilient teams during the pandemic.
Combining her two passions—healthcare and education—Sam decided to pursue a degree focused on healthcare upon her return to school. As a Field Training Officer at Armstrong, Sam developed a uniform curriculum to train the next generation of EMTs with the tools they need to succeed in the field. Sam feels that teaching is the most rewarding aspect of her job, and aims to instill in trainees the same passion for EMS that drives her. To know Sam is to know why it’s easy for Armstrong Ambulance to recognize her as an incredible instructor, consummate professional, highly skilled clinician, mentor to many, and all-around great person.
Sam is currently a senior at UMass Lowell. In spring she will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health. From there, Sam hopes to continue her education by enrolling in Physician Associate (PA) school where she can further her emergency medicine skills.
In her free time, Sam enjoys experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, taking road trips across New England, and spending time with her puggle, Rocco.
Jacqueline Helms began her career in EMS four years ago as a sophomore in college. While working on her bachelor’s degree in physiology and neurobiology at the University of Connecticut, Jacqueline became an EMT-B in order to get her foot in the door of the field of medicine. She quickly fell in love with the job.
Jacqueline worked at Fallon Ambulance Service throughout college, and joined the Action Ambulance team shortly after finishing her degree. She has greatly enjoyed working in such a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and especially loves that she gets to learn something new from every patient and coworker she meets.
Eleven years ago, Leslie O’Dell began her EMS career by accident. After her former husband left the military, Leslie moved to a town with a wilderness medical school. She was already an experienced hiker and had always wanted to take a Wilderness EMT course to help with search-and-rescues, so she signed up for the class. She had never considered making a career as an EMT, but the final two weeks of the course were set up for urban EMS and she was able to test for her EMT-B certification after its completion. So, at the age of thirty-five, Leslie received her EMT qualifications and began working on the local town ambulance.
Although Leslie initially thought her stint as an EMT on an ambulance would be temporary, she fell in love with the job. She currently works as a full-time Advanced EMT for Action Ambulance and per diem at her local fire department, Conway Fire & Rescue.
Delaney Kenny has been an EMT with Armstrong Ambulance since 2019. Delaney states that she has always had a desire to work in the medical field and help other people. Her passion was sparked while in high school, when Delaney went on her first overseas trip to Panama, where she did outreach work, specifically with orphaned children. That trip to Panama really confirmed Delaney’s desired career path. She started in EMS, in hopes of learning basic assessment tools and how to interact with patients. She credits her time at Armstrong with improving her patient care skills and so much more.
Since she has been at Armstrong, Delaney has been recognized many times for her caring and empathy by colleagues, supervisors, and patients. We often receive heartfelt thank you notes praising Delaney for being kind, caring, and courteous while also providing excellent patient care. Patients have said that her kindness while they were in pain has “made their day.” Delaney sets the bar high when it comes to patient care and leads by example for every new hire she trains. She cares for every patient with the thoughtfulness and attention that we would want for our own family members.
During the height of the pandemic, instead of shying away from the fear and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, Delaney stepped up to help Armstrong run several municipal testing locations in addition to her regular BLS shift work. Delaney also played a big role in the emergency vaccination projects and was a huge contributor in Armstrong’s efforts to vaccinate the entire Massachusetts State Police force. During that time, her leadership skills became evident, and she was chosen to become a Field Training Officer to guide new EMTs during their field orientation.
In addition to her work at Armstrong, Delaney has continued her overseas volunteer work, most recently in July 2021. Delaney was the clinical lead for a team of fifteen student volunteers from the organization Royal Servants, who were engaged in outreach efforts at primary schools and orphanages in Nairobi, Kenya. Delaney was tasked with managing strict COVID regulations for the team, amongst other activities, and ensuring that everyone was compliant with protocols. The group enjoyed a successful month-long mission and upon return to the states, Delaney jumped right back into her EMT duties at Armstrong.
When not in the field, Delaney enjoys finding new coffee shops, reading, and spending time with her friends and her two dogs. She is currently attending Paramedic school and looks forward to applying what she is learning in the classroom to her work in the field. One of her favorite things about her career in EMS is showing up to a scene and getting to make a new connection with another human being in such a short period, with the hopes of helping them.
Armstrong Ambulance is proud to call Delaney Kenny a 2022 Star of Life!
Nick Henderson started his EMS career wanting to follow in his family’s footsteps as a third-generation Firefighter for his hometown in Norwell, MA. He finished an EMT program in 1999. At that time, Norwell was moving towards becoming a Paramedic-level service and Nick was advised to get his Paramedic certification before applying. In order to gain the year of 911 experience required for the Paramedic school application, Nick got a job as an EMT with AMR in Brockton. He quickly moved to the Boston metropolitan area and started with Newton Rescue 1, a dedicated BLS 911 truck. In 2001, he was accepted to EMTS Inc. with Cape Cod Community College (CCCC).
Nick finished medic school with EMTS, Inc. and CCCC in late 2002. After all that time, he found firefighting was not a fit for him, and decided he wanted to be in the medical field instead. He started as a Paramedic on March 29, 2003, a date he remembers well, as it was one week after his wedding.
Over the years, Nick worked for a few different EMS agencies, but finally settled with Armstrong Ambulance in 2012. During Nick’s tenure, Armstrong has received many heartfelt notes from patients thanking him for his compassionate care. He worked his way through several positions at Armstrong, including Field Training Officer, Training Coordinator, and Field Operations Manager, and currently is proud to serve as Senior Clinical Manager.
According to Nick’s colleagues, Nick is passionate about the ins and outs of EMS and strives to constantly improve himself and all those around him. When Nick was promoted to Senior Clinical Manager, instead of retreating away to his office, he continued to work plenty of shifts on the front lines. It is not uncommon to spot Nick working an emergency shift on the weekends, gaining feedback from other field providers and spreading his vast knowledge to those who are hungry to learn. Nick is a talented Paramedic who pays great attention to even the slightest of details. He truly listens to his patients and takes the time to get to know each one. He often leads teams through uncertain and nerve-wracking situations while maintaining a calm demeanor that allows his team and patients to feel secure in his care.
However, it is as an educator that some of Nick’s greatest qualities are truly on display. Nick is dedicated to helping our providers reach clinical excellence. He is thorough, approachable, and patient when training new providers, and never fails to lend a hand to those whom he knows may be too scared to ask for it. Nick encourages questions and never shames those around him for not knowing something. He famously states “the stupidest questions are those never asked” to almost every trainee or provider he works with. Nick is constantly looking to better himself and dedicates his time to improving his clinical and interpersonal skills.
When not on duty, Nick enjoys spending his time with his kids, as well as being outdoors – hunting, fishing and ATVing.
Armstrong Ambulance is proud to call Nick Henderson our 2022 Star of Life!
Jose began at Transformative Healthcare in 2013, where he worked as an EMT while attending college. After serving as a Paramedic in a high-volume 911 system on Massachusetts’s North Shore, Jose returned to Transformative Healthcare this year as a full-time Paramedic.
His time spent working as an EMT, AEMT, and now a Paramedic has given Jose a unique perspective and molded him into an exceptional EMS leader.
Jose is originally from Chicago and loves to return to visit his family.
Linda joined Cataldo Ambulance Service in 2008 as an EMT and worked her way up to Paramedic. Linda entered EMS unexpectedly, but felt that after her time spent in many other trades, EMS offered her a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of strangers, and she certainly has many times over. Linda shows enormous pride for her work, never settling for anything but superb performance.
Linda always put the patient’s needs first from the moment she is dispatched for the call. She knows that when she punches-in for duty, it is about her job and helping the citizens of the cities we serve. We all know it is our job to care, but sometimes our body language can really speak volumes about how we feel, and patients can read that. Linda’s body language always shows care and concern. She goes right to their side, and offers human-to-human contact that can sometimes be more healing for individuals than any medication we have available.
Linda is a vital member of not just the Cataldo community but the EMS community, and her dedication and respect for the work she does goes above and beyond.
Katherine’s impact in EMS began in 2004 when she graduated from Bunker Hill Community College’s Medical Technician Program. Katherine joined Cataldo in 2015 as both an EMT and a Dispatcher. She has played a vital role as a member of the Cataldo community. Whether on the road or on the phone, Katherine has always stepped up and gone above and beyond for every patient.
In 2018 Katherine was promoted to a Supervisor, where she has stepped up as a leader and has continued to go the extra mile for each and every call. She is an asset, not just to Cataldo Ambulance Service, but to the profession as a whole. Katherine is an extremely committed Dispatcher and Supervisor and she truly deserves this recognition for her dedication and compassion.
Andrew Sweeney has worked in mobile healthcare for 12 years. His passion for working with people drove him to a career in EMS, beginning as a wheelchair van driver. In 2007, Andrew became an EMT Basic, and in 2009, a Paramedic. He has been with Action Ambulance since September of 2018, working as a full-time Paramedic.
When asked to describe the best part of his job, Andrew says, “I get to interact with such a vast cross section of the population; from the smiles on expecting parents’ faces when you tell them that it’s a boy or girl, to the comfort of holding a lonely old person’s hand at the end so they don’t face that alone. The ability to bring comfort to and help people never gets old.”
In his short time at Action, Andrew has demonstrated his willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty to serve patients. He has also shown his innate aptitude for teamwork: He is always willing to help his company and his peers. His love of people and of serving as a Paramedic is evident to everyone. Action Ambulance is lucky to call him part of the family.
Shannon came to Action Ambulance as a brand new EMT Basic in 2016. She is extremely bright and excels at her job, and she is always willing to go the extra mile for her patients and her colleagues at Action. As a result, Shannon has been nominated numerous times for Action’s internal STARCARE awards program.
One colleague wrote about Shannon and her partner, “I would like to nominate two EMTs for a STARCARE award. Approximately two weeks ago, my uncle—who receives hospice care—was discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital. I had Action come and transport him home. My cousin who was with my uncle stated, ‘Those two EMTs were awesome, they made us all feel so comfortable and like we had known each other for years.’ My Aunt said, ‘Oh my God those two girls were awesome. They treated him really well and were making me laugh.” I truly appreciate the professionalism of Shannon Kean. The family is going through a lot, especially that day, and to hear how comfortable they made my family just demonstrates how much of an asset they are to Action.”
While working at Action, Shannon attended the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Services in Boston. She graduated in 2018. Along with her love of helping people, Shannon also loves and competitively rides horses.
Action is grateful that Shannon chose our organization when seeking her first mobile healthcare position. Action Ambulance is proud to recognize Shannon Kean as a 2019 Star of Life.
Ron Keech has been an EMT at Armstrong Ambulance Service for over five years and embodies the core spirit of the job. He is a profound leader, mentor, and inspiration to all of those who have the pleasure of working with him. Ron was recognized by Region III for his outstanding contributions to EMS due to his incredible patient care and his willingness to help his colleagues become better providers by educating them in the field. He has been a well-respected and impactful Field Training Officer for four years, and continues to receive high marks from colleagues, healthcare partners, and members of the community.
Ron consistently takes new hires “under his wing” as a mentor and friend. As described by a fellow employee: “What makes Ron particularly remarkable is that he is not only knowledgeable and skilled, but also an incredible teacher and leader. He goes above and beyond on every call, not because he has to, but because it is so intertwined in who he is as a person. Whether he’s fluffing the pillows for a patient, discussing the most cost efficient in-home medical equipment, or showing off a piece of artwork he’s been working on to a particularly artistically inclined patient, he will do anything to connect with those around him. Ron gives others the tools to become the best healthcare provider they can be. Ron has a profound influence on those around him, and demonstrates that working with patients is about so much more than just the skills learned in the classroom. All who know Ron look up to him so much for all the heart and dedication he brings to the job.”
Everyone at Armstrong Ambulance Service recognizes Ron as a stand out employee and an amazing human being. He shows constant professionalism everyday and goes above and beyond the call of duty, every hour of every shift. Ron regularly receives accolades from patients and family members about his kind, compassionate way of helping and for truly making a difference in their lives. Ron is never seen without a smile or a positive word and everyone benefits from being around him.
John Sossei began his service to the public when he served as a non-commissioned officer crew chief for the United States Air Force aboard a C-5 Galaxy military airlift jet. As a crew chief, John developed keen leadership skills and focused dedication to duty and service to his country and others. Upon his honorable transition from the Air Force, John gained an interest in EMS and began exploring a career as Paramedic. He served as an EMT, and then trained as a Paramedic and worked in a high volume urban county-based 911 EMS system in California, where he gained significant ALS field experience.
When John relocated to the East Coast, he began working for Armstrong Ambulance Service, which provides Paramedic services to multiple 911 service areas and entities in the Metro-Boston region. John is highly regarded as a role model to his peers for his work ethic and command presence, as well as for his kind, firm, and honest demeanor. He is refreshingly and respectfully direct, and is highly supportive with orienting staff by delivering honest feedback combined with encouraging support. His ability to successfully educate, support, critique, and develop Paramedics in the field training process reflects his qualities as a gifted leader.
John has quickly advanced throughout his career as a seasoned and astute clinician, peer leader, Field Training Officer, and AHA instructor. His clinical acumen brings a calm, highly-skilled ALS clinician to the scene of the most complex 911 and critical inter-facility patients. His willingness to accept and integrate feedback is a testament to his humility and maturity.
John’s natural leadership as an EMS provider is demonstrated through his passionate and measured advocacy for his patients, his partners, and the Paramedicine profession. John Sossei has the well-earned respect of his peers, as he naturally comports himself as a consummate Paramedic professional.
Widmac Laterion began his career in mobile healthcare in 2013 when he began working as an EMT at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. While at school, Widmac quickly became a Field Supervisor for the program with an interest in teaching new recruits. Widmac played an instrumental role in restructuring the summer training/field internship program. He earned a degree in Nutrition/Pre-Med in 2017.
Widmac joined Cataldo Ambulance Service in 2014 as an EMT. He soon transitioned into the role of Field Training Officer. While at Cataldo, Widmac’s passion for teaching others continued to grow, and he began teaching CPR classes. This quickly grew into a leadership role within Cataldo’s On-boarding and Orientation program.
In 2017, Widmac both started a Paramedic school and joined the Army National Guard as a combat medic. In 2018, Widmac received his Paramedic certification and started a dual role at Cataldo as a field medic and educator. Widmac’s long-term goal is to become a physician in the Army.
When not working in EMS, Widmac can be found giving back to his community as part of the Allied Health Academy Program at Everett High School in Everett, MA.
Mary Anselmo began her career at Cataldo Ambulance as a BLS provider 13 years ago and has since worked her way up to becoming a Senior Paramedic.
Cataldo Ambulance is proud to nominate Mary as a 2019 Star of Life for the years of compassionate care she has provided and for always putting the patient first. In addition to being clinically astute, Mary is known for her humility and for always going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure her patients and their family’s comfort and understanding of the situation.
Having worked in a high-volume EMS system for years, Mary has experienced her share of challenging calls. She continually uses these experiences to grow into a better person and healthcare provider. For Mary, every call is an opportunity for growth and learning, and she remains calm under pressure and is an excellent teacher. Mary takes the time with each crew member and student, considering each of their individual needs and strengths.
Mary is an asset not just to Cataldo Ambulance Service, but to the profession as a whole. Mary is an extremely dedicated Paramedic, mother, and wife and she truly deserves this recognition for her dedication and compassion.
For more than 17, years, Sean Mangan has served as one of the most experienced Paramedics/ Field Operations Managers at Armstrong Ambulance. Sean’s deep commitment to excellence shines through his work, and his colleagues all agree that his patient-centered approach is inspiring to everyone around him. Sean began his career with Armstrong Ambulance in 1997 as an EMT. In 1998, he became a Paramedic and worked one of the busiest municipalities in the Greater Boston area. Sean was known to receive many compliments by patients and community partners as he handled situations with the utmost expertise and care. In 2011, he was promoted to Field Operations Manager where he excels at managing Armstrong’s expansive and growing service area by using his keen judgment, clinical skills and customer service talents. On April 15, 2013 Sean was on duty and responded to the Boston Marathon bombing. He was one of the initial medics on-scene within the first few minutes of the first explosion and did not hesitate to respond to those in need. Once on scene, Sean quickly began coordinating Armstrong’s response with Boston EMS Command which was a critical component in saving lives. Sean is described as bright, funny and always willing to help out a colleague whenever, and wherever it is needed. He is a certified CRP instructor who can be found volunteering at various EMT programs within the local community. Sean is well respected by his peers and is frequently sought out as a resource for difficult situations and issues. Sean’s wife and son are as proud as we are of Sean’s Star of Life award.”
Many nominees are recognized for a specific remarkable rescue or event that tests their courage and or professional skills in the field of EMS. The achievement of such recognition in many instances would not be possible without the support of those who work on their team throughout the year performing in many roles of EMS. Jesse is an example of one of those team members, who report for work every day in the organization supporting field personnel who are deserving of such recognition during a specific heroic event. His leadership as a supervisor in communications plays a significant role ensuring that field personnel have the information and resources necessary for a safe response and effective on scene delivery of quality patient care. Of particular note are the contributions and initiatives that are unseen by the public and so important for the success of the company overall with supervision of telecommunicators, EMD, EMDQ, reporting and daily support of the billing office that drives the economic engine of the company. Jesse is a father and husband with core family values. His primary personal interest is with his family. Jesse is a professional fireworks technician and in fact played a role in the 2013 July 4th fireworks display in Boston. He could be considered a jack of all trades with a technical expertise. Jesse is always goal focused and enthusiastic with an intense interest in solving problems. His intense interest often inspires others to perform better both at work and at home. He has made Cataldo Ambulance Service his home since March of 2008. Jesse is the senior supervisor of the Boston Communications Division. A train the trainer for the 911 Sentinel Patriot system, CTO, EMD, EMDQ, Rescue Net data reporting and ePCR billing compliance team. Supervisor Jesse Godin is an exemplary member of the Cataldo team. His recognition is not based on a single specific event. Recognition for his nomination is much more difficult to achieve. It requires contributions and initiatives that support the team overall every day on every shift from the field to dispatch and the overall economic health of the organization. Significant responsibility in the daily operation of the Boston Communications Division, Jesse supervises and assists team members as needed during shifts with technical work in receiving and dispatching emergency calls. He assists with management duties and requests in a wide variety of ways from special projects to on-going day to day reporting and problem solving. It’s important for him to know that the telecommunicators in dispatch are professional, knowledgeable and focused on customer service. This assurance comes from his participation as a CTO and assisting the Training Administrator with the initial 911 equipment training and certification of staff or as a CTO. Quality patient care through EMD is a priority for as well and is a member of the EMDQ quality assurance team. Well known to the compliance and billing office resolving ePCR complications and assisting with completion of calls assuring that revenue flow is available for the tools and equipment that are required in the delivery of quality patient care that the Cataldo organization is known for. In closing I would like to say that Jesse is a great example of someone who has earned the Star of Life through hard work and dedication to his EMS organization from the front end delivery of patient care to the back end behind the scenes.”
