From the moment of his first EMS call as a paid on-call EMT in 2004, Brandon knew this career was his calling.

Brandon came to MedStar in 2012 as a Paramedic. He moved up to Field Training Officer and eventually was selected for promotion to MedStar Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) team as a Mobile Healthcare/Critical Care Paramedic in 2015.

In this role, Brandon is responsible for managing high EMS system utilizers and patients at-risk for preventable 9-1-1 calls, hospital Emergency Department visits, and in-patient admissions.

Brandon enjoys the tangible impact he has on the patients he treats. On the MIH team, that impact is not simply a 30- to 40-minute patient encounter, but helping his MIH-enrolled patients over the long term. “As a field Paramedic, I can make patients better, but as an MIH provider, I can help make them well,” he explains.

Brandon was a contributing author of the Community Paramedicine textbook and is a member of the NAEMT Community Paramedicine Curriculum Committee and the Critical Care Paramedic Advisory Committee for the International Board of Specialty Certifications.

He has also presented at national EMS conferences such as EMS Today and EMS World, and he is a member of the Adult Protective Services of Tarrant County Community Board.

Brandon recently graduated from the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s Geriatric Practice Leadership Institute, where he developed a new screening, assessment, and intervention process for fall-risk patients.

Elizabeth has been an EMT at MedStar for three years. Elizabeth has always had a passion for caring for people and a career in EMS has always been her dream, even as a small child. Once Elizabeth was old enough, she began working in local hospitals to gain the patient care experience necessary to apply for a position at MedStar.

Elizabeth loves helping people, and enjoys the daily excitement and fun that every shift brings! Elizabeth is currently in Paramedic school and looks forward to advancing her career with new clinical skills.

Elizabeth also acknowledges the hard moments in EMS. Elizabeth remembers her most difficult call as being a very tragic child abuse case that resulted in a child suffering a cardiac arrest, as she and her partner worked feverishly to save the child’s life.

Elizabeth was nominated by her peers to represent MedStar as a Star of Life.

Thomas joined MedStar three years ago in the fleet services department. Thomas’ fleet role is to inspect every ambulance just before it is deployed into the field to assure the vehicle is in top condition before it hits the streets of Fort Worth. Thomas joined MedStar because he was looking for meaningful work—the type of work he could be proud of whenever he sees ‘his’ units on the streets, responding to calls for help. What Thomas likes most about being part of the MedStar team is the people he gets to work with, “These are simply good people. They are fun and very understanding about the important role every member of the team plays ensuring we can put an ambulance in front of an address.”

Thomas was chosen by his peers as a Star of Life nominee, in recognition of his dedication to not only his role, but to the MedStar team.

David has been in EMS for five years and part of the MedStar team since 2015. As a child, David spent a lot of time in hospitals and knew from an early age that healthcare was the career for him. While living in Alaska, David enrolled in a paramedic program that had a clinical affiliation with MedStar and did his school internship in Fort Worth. David decided MedStar was where he wanted to be. Once David was accepted for the paramedic position, he moved to Texas, and the rest is history. 

David’s favorite aspect of EMS is helping people. It is because of David’s willingness to serve others that he was chosen by his peers as a Star of Life nominee.

Bryan has lived in White Settlement, Texas, just a few miles away from MedStar’s headquarters, all his life. He is a volunteer with his hometown fire department and has been with MedStar for two years. MedStar was his first EMS position, and he plans on making EMS his life-long profession by attending paramedic school in the near future.

When asked about what he likes most about EMS, Bryan is quick to highlight his desire to help people, and to make every interaction, with every patient, the best it can be—even at some of the most challenging moments in someone’s life.

Bryan was selected for the Star of Life honor because of his incredible work ethic, dependability, commitment to excellence, and customer service.

Bryan is very excited about his trip to Washington, D.C. for two major reasons; to meet other Stars from across the country, and because this will be his first ever trip to Washington. MedStar is proud to nominate Bryan Harrell as a 2016 American Ambulance Association Star of Life.

Rick Hyatt is originally from the small town of Aurora, Texas, where he developed his personable and kind demeanor. He joined the EMS profession in 1991.

Rick’s current role at MedStar is as our medical records coordinator. In this position, Rick helps ensure that patient care reports are correctly completed, and assists MedStar field employees in learning the best way to provide a complete medical record. What he likes most about his role is the diversity. He gets to do what he loves most; EMS, education, and problem-solving for MedStar’s team members. Prior to joining the medical records team, Rick gained experience as a field paramedic and field-training officer, and has also previously worked as a schoolteacher.

Rick was selected for the Star of Life honor because of his incredible work ethic, dependability, commitment to excellence, and customer service.

He is very excited about his trip to Washington, D.C. for two reasons, to meet other Stars from across the country, and because this will be his first ever trip to Washington.

MedStar is proud to recognize Rick Hyatt as an American Ambulance Association 2016 Star of Life.

Wayne is originally from Cleburne, Texas and has been a life-long North Texas resident. Wayne started with MedStar in 2007 as a technician in our logistics department and quickly rose to department supervisor.

In 2011, Wayne transitioned to a role as an Information Technology Specialist. In this role, Wayne provides technology support to our 450 employees operating over 500 computers within the organization. His primary IT focus is managing our network,
patient care reporting, and computer aided dispatch system.

Wayne is very excited about his trip to Washington, D.C., to meet other Stars from across the industry, and because this will be his first ever trip to Washington.

He will be joined by his wife, Shauna, who is also a MedStar employee working in our business office. Wayne and Shauna met while working at MedStar.