Rick Garcia has been employed at EMSStat since 2010 when he started as an EVO. After Rick received his paramedic license he took an early retirement from the Watonga Fire Department and accepted a full-time paramedic position at EMSStat in 2012. He remains a volunteer Watonga firefighter. The knowledge and discipline he acquired during his career in the US Navy have been put to excellent use at EMSStat. During his career at EMSStat he has been an advocate for improving education for his co-workers. He has also worked on improving education for all EMS providers. He is a Field Training Officer at EMSStat, a role he helped develop. Rick is also involved in Emergency Vehicle Operations classes and is a Train the Trainer in this capacity. He is also a valued member of EMSStat’s Disaster Response and Haz-Mat teams. An excellent clinician, Rick provides quality, efficient and compassionate care to his patients. Rick is well liked and highly respected by his co-workers, who look to him as a resource. EMSStat greatly appreciates the hard work, professionalism and commitment that Rick has shown as a paramedic.”

Mechele Cruz is a shining star of Muskogee County EMS. She has an attitude of “don’t-quit” rarely seen in any industry, much less, EMS. Mechele is known for her kind and caring attitude, not only with staff, but with medics and students as well. Occasionally in life, one is lucky enough to encounter a person who goes above and beyond as a normal course of their day and never thinks anything other than “it’s just business as usual.” We at Muskogee County EMS get to work with one such person every day and that person is Mechele. Mechele has been an AHA CPR and first-aid instructor for several years. She has been AHA Regional Faculty for Oklahoma for the last 4 years and is currently the Oklahoma region Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee Secretary. Her students routinely rave about her abilities and about how comfortable she makes them as they learn this life-saving skill. Many of her students relay how they were able to successfully use what she taught them to aid someone in need, and even to save a life. We may never know how many lives Mechele has impacted by this skill alone. Working several years on the ambulance, it is routine for her partners to see her going out of her way to help a patient. She has (and still does) bought groceries for elderly patients who couldn’t get to the store, cooked dinner to take to someone whose loved one was ill, bought school supplies and clothing for a needy child, or driven someone to a doctor’s appointment, all out of her own pocket and all of her own volition. At times, it seems unbelievable that one person could be that giving, but she is. Mechele gives of her time, her money, and her self, strictly out of a love for people and those in need. Besides being an incredibly skilled EMT-I, Mechele has worked for several years as a certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher. She is very knowledgeable and compassionate to the callers who dial 911 and calms them in the face of crises. It is not uncommon for Mechele to call back later just to check on them and see if she can be of further help. Since Mechele started at MCEMS, she has always been very involved in our community events and public relations. She has been at more health fairs, EMS tours, blood pressure checks, and job fairs than could be counted, and has been instrumental in developing our “Sentimental Journey” program. Mechele is also a certified child passenger safety technician and has an additional specialized certification in child passenger safety technician for children with special health care needs. Because of her outgoing personality, her involvement with multiple aspects of patient care, and her willingness to seek out new opportunities to serve, Mechele was promoted in 2013 to the position of Community Relations Officer, and is now in charge of our public education and public relations programs. Even now, she never stops looking for ways to provide care to the citizens that rely on us. Because of this, the administration and her peers have recognized her as the MCEMS Support Staff of the Year for 2014. When described as having a “don’t quit” attitude, it’s because Mechele does all of these things (and more that we may not even be aware of because she doesn’t call attention to them), on top of bravely fighting through a rare kidney disease that required multiple trips to the Mayo Clinic and multiple rounds of chemotherapy. It was only in January of this year that she was declared to be in remission. Mechele and her husband, Sonny, have a blended family with three children: Tyler, Dalton, and Kala. She and Sonny are very excited to be expecting their first grandchild in September. Please accept this as our enthusiastic and unreserved nomination of Mechele Cruz for an OKAMA Star of Life for 2014. She is very deserving and will represent not only Muskogee County EMS, but also OKAMA, with honor and distinction.”

Life EMS is honored to submit Randy Cowger as our 2014 Star of Life. Randy began his career in EMS in the year of 2000 as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher in the Life Communications Center. Randy was honored by the City of Enid for his role of providing pre-arrival instructions to a family member of a four year old child who was found face down in a swimming pool. Randy provided CPR instructions to that family member while dispatching an ambulance to the residence. Randy was credited for his quick actions and efficient use of his EMD skills in the resuscitation of the child who survived the near tragedy with no mental or physical deficits and is currently living a happy and normal life. Randy, a basic EMT, is always willing to help in any area of operations at Life EMS when needed, as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher or an EVO on an ambulance, in addition to his duties as Supervisor of Uplift wheelchair services. Randy has a very outgoing personality and is endeared by patients, nursing staff and fellow employees at Life EMS. He willingly steps up and does anything asked of him with a big smile. Thanks Randy!”

Cody Chaney’s peers described his attributes well when they nominated him as LifeNet’s Star of Life. Among their accolades were these words: “Cody has great integrity and compassion for his job and for our customers,” “He has held close our mission, values, and vision,” and “His attitude and presence are always uplifting to employees and patients!” Obviously Cody’s personal impact is as strong as his solid clinical contributions to healthcare in LifeNet’s Oklahoma service area. A relative newcomer to prehospital medicine, Cody joined LifeNet a little more than two years ago as a part-time EMT while he worked toward his Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection and Safety Technology at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. This winter, as his course work neared completion, Cody was able to further impact LifeNet staff and customers by accepting a full-time role. And Cody’s influence extends beyond the workplace. For nine years Cody has volunteered countless hours and entire summers at Shepherd’s Fold Ranch in Avant, Oklahoma providing a place in the country for kids to spend their summer exploring God’s creation. Through his ministry at Shepherd’s Fold, Cody has supported the camp’s vision by planning and executing camps for children, managing properties and facilities, and investing his talents into developing staff and participants. Cody participated on the OSU Firefighter Combat Challenge Team as both competitor and Training Officer. During his tenure the team qualified for World Competition three consecutive years. We are pleased that you can join us in celebrating Cody Chaney as our 2014 Star of Life.”

Brianne Bourne, Paramedic and Field Training Officer, is the REACT EMS Star of Life for 2014. Paramedic Bourne started her career with REACT EMS in August 2009. She began as a Basic EMT while she attended Oklahoma City Community College for her Paramedic and passed her National Registry. She expertly completed her Field Training and Evaluation Program and has performed proficiently as a Paramedic since. Brianne has cared for her patients and managed her calls with admirable skill. Her fellow medics comment frequently as to her compassion for patients. Her Supervisors commend her work to reliably respond and handle nearly every scene as though she has been doing it for years. In emergencies, they count on Brianne to give patients every chance at positive outcomes. When asked, Brianne says her most memorable call involved a multi-patient MVA, with 5 patients. One was flown, and four were transported to the Trauma Center by two REACT units. Brianne cared for two of those seriously injured patients on scene and during the 45 mile transport. A few months later, the OU Trauma Services held a special event to honor Brianne and her fellow medics. Brianne enjoyed seeing her former patients as they were recovered and able to attend as an example of how excellent trauma care can make a difference. Brianne is so dependable that she is now teaching and training paramedic students. She works part time as an instructor at Gordon Cooper Technology, performs as a preceptor for clinical experience and works as a Field Training Office for REACT. She says she enjoys watching students learn what she knows, enjoys seeing the moments when it starts to “make sense.” New and future paramedics benefit from her efforts. Brianne worked previously in retail and restaurant management and started an education to apply for nursing school. She realized she did not like nursing, continued to work, and started her Basic EMT class 9 years later. She knew quickly that she had found her new career. Brianne says she enjoys the challenges. She says she enjoys the job never being the same, from day to day. Brianne and her husband, David, stay busy on her days off raising their children. They have two children of their own, but they also offer their home for foster children. Brianne says they have at least 3, but have had as many as 9 at any one time. And if that isn’t enough, Brianne also enjoys working as a volunteer for Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps. She teaches and works to provide first aid for large events in the Metro area. Brianne is a vital part of the REACT team and we are proud to recognize her as our 2014 Star of Life.”

Tawny joined the Life EMS team in 2017 as an EMT/EVO, and she has been an integral part of the team since. She generously gives of her time and does whatever is asked of her unselfishly.

Tawny attended EMT-Basic training, then she went on to attain a National Registry Certification and the State of Oklahoma EMT License.

The public safety field was certainly not new territory for Tawny. Before deciding to become an EMT and pursue a career in EMS, she served as a reserve patrol and juvenile detention officer.

Tawny is married to Michael Ward, and they have a two-year-old daughter, Juliana.

Life EMS congratulates Tawny for being chosen by her fellow employees to represent Life EMS as a 2018 Star of Life.

Kristen began her career at Muskogee County EMS in 2015 as an EMT. In 2016, Kristen earned her certification as an Advanced EMT and in 2017 she became a Field Training Officer.

In 2017 while on a medical call, a shooting that was not related to her initial call occurred on scene. Kristen immediately triaged the scene to allow for the continued care and safety of her initial patient and partner while also locating the shooting victim and rendering care until another unit could arrive. This call is just one example of why Kristen is known for remaining calm under pressure and showing true leadership. Kristen did not hesitate to go to the aid of the victim even though it was an unsecured scene and her own personal safety was compromised.

Kristen has always had a passion for helping others. She is selfless, hardworking and dedicated. She is always willing to work, whether she is putting in extra shifts, assisting with Public Relations events, or teaching a new employee. She is also known for her positive attitude and smile, no matter how busy her shift has been. In 2017 Kristen was voted by her peers as the the Advanced EMT of the Year.

Kristen is admired by all who know her, most especially by her husband, Matthew. and her children Emma, Tuxie, Jacy, Alex, Caden and Addison. When off-duty, Kristen enjoys spending time with her family at sporting events and boating on the lake. Kristen also enjoys painting and playing with her dog, Lucy.

Because of Kristen’s outstanding professionalism and her exemplary performance, Muskogee County EMS is honored to endorse Kristen Bias for the Oklahoma Ambulance Association Star of Life Award 2018.

Kristen Bias is the Oklahoma Ambulance Association’s 2018 national Star of Life.

Erin O’Grady has proudly served as a Paramedic at REACT EMS since April 2012. A Westminster, Colorado native, he completed his EMT-Basic and Paramedic training at Gordon Cooper Technology Center after moving to Shawnee. REACT has implemented a sole-Paramedic Response unit in a large, remote portion of their response area. Erin expressed interest and was selected as his primary assignment.

Erin is deeply committed to his patients. He finds the most rewarding part of his job to be the opportunity he has “to care for patients when they are having what may be the worst day they have ever experienced.” This is especially important to Erin as he has elected to work in REACT’s South County unit, which encompasses his own neighborhood. He notes that while it is harder than he imagined to respond to calls for people he personally knows, he values deeply the trust they place in his skills.

One of Erin’s most memorable moments at REACT took place when he was called to care for an eight-year-old girl who had been stung repeatedly by wasps. The young patient was in full anaphylaxis, with hives and respiratory distress. Erin worked quickly and very effectively to stabilize her breathing and reaction while the transport unit responded from so far away. The young patient was fortunate that Erin was close, knowledgeable and skillful.

In addition to serving patients with dedication, Erin works to build strong relationships with REACT’s partners in the remote area it serves. He has worked to meet with volunteer fire fighters and others to improve their knowledge and responses to medical emergencies.

As he looks to the future, Erin plans to continue to build upon REACT’s already-stellar relationship with the public. He will do so through the continuation of our program offering routine health checks for senior citizens, in addition to new and ongoing initiatives to educate citizens about the importance of CPR and the Stop the Bleed program.

When not at work, Erin enjoys spending time with his wife, Shantel, a schoolteacher, as well and his children Ewan, Brennen, and Keira.

With his thoughtful and compassionate dedication, Erin is a leader and role model for his peers and his community. REACT is proud to recognize Erin O’Grady as a 2018 Star of Life.

Casey Dodson joined LifeNet in April 2011. He was among a group of new employees who helped create an entirely new EMS delivery model for the Stillwater, Oklahoma area and surrounding communities. This new venture was challenging for all involved, and Casey contributed his years of EMS experience and knowledge to our success. He has now served in EMS for seventeen years.

His coworkers know Casey as a senior partner who can handle any scenario or difficult scene. He is frequently paired with new employees during Field Training and employee development processes. A new medic can be comforted knowing that if Casey is his partner the shift will go well.

Casey also likes to have fun at work. He revels in “poking the bear” whenever a manager is around, usually to get a reaction, but often to bring attention to an issue with possible solutions. When he is away from work, Casey enjoys spending time with family and friends. He helps with charitable functions in the community as a member and an officer of the Stillwater Elks’ Lodge.

Since he joined Pafford in 2015, Nick has impressed his colleagues by serving as a leader, staying motivated, and being positive. He has a work ethic that’s second to none, and that shows in his job performance as well as in his overall demeanor and attitude. He inspires people around him to take a little extra initiative at the station and go beyond expectations.

Nick is very dependable and often covers open shifts, and he played a significant part in all four Pafford EMS deployments this past year.

He is very goal-oriented and takes pride in his work, and he sets the bar for his fellow employees. Anytime he sets out to do anything to better himself or our service, rest assured, it will be done. And Nick doesn’t just complete things: He excels at the things he does. You can see this in his dedication toward his continued education, and by simply observing the way he completes delegated tasks.

Nick began his EMS career in 2013—earning Employee of the Year for Westville EMS—before joining Pafford as a PRN NREMT. Nicholas quickly obtained his NREMT-Advance; today he is an Nationally Registered Paramedic as well as a Field Training Officer.

He loves to be able to make a difference in the lives of the patients he treats, and he delivers critical medical attention and advanced life support at emergency scenes, both onsite and in transit. Nick also assists with daily truck and equipment checks, ordering supplies, and scheduling. He is motivated to achieve both personal and organizational objectives, including helping Pafford achieve CAAS accreditation.

Nick has participated on a volunteer fire department, responding to fire and first responders’ calls. He and his dog, a Dalmatian, also visited local schools to teach children about fire safety. Today he volunteers in the areas of education and skills check-off.

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.

Brandt Hiler has always had a passion for helping others. In fact, as a teenager, he began volunteering for a local fire department. Brandt began his career with Muskogee County EMS in 2004 as an NREMT-Basic, and in 2007 he received his certification as an NREMT-Paramedic. Brandt has served the citizens of Muskogee County for 13 years.

Brandt is known for his compassion, hard work, and dedication. He remains calm under pressure, and he shows true leadership by quietly going above and beyond and never asking for acknowledgment or recognition.

In 2015, Brandt became a Field Training Officer. He says he enjoys helping new employees and co-workers, whether they are beginning their EMS career or transitioning to a new licensure level. It’s the perfect assignment for him, as he is well-known and respected for taking the time to explain procedures and educate others.

Brandt’s service and professionalism have been recognized several times with honors and awards. In 2016, Brandt was honored for his service to a pediatric car accident victim. The physicians at the pediatric rehabilitation facility said, “Had it not been for the care that the patient received on the scene of the accident, the patient would not be alive today.” Last year Brandt also received awards for saving the lives of two patients, and he was voted Paramedic of the Year by his peers.

Brandt is admired by all who know him, most especially by his wife, Angela, and his children, Kaben and Kendall. When off-duty, Brandt enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, fishing, hunting, and flying.

Because of Brandt’s outstanding professionalism and his exemplary performance, Muskogee County EMS is honored to endorse Brandt Hiler for the American Ambulance Association Star of Life Award 2018.

REACT EMS is proud to recognize Galen Hankal as a Star of Life 2017. Galen is a Field Supervisor and Paramedic for REACT. With 11 years of experience, Galen is a true leader to all personnel and a reliable leader on the most challenging calls.

In addition to his daily duties, Galen is the primary leader to manage and help EMTs and Paramedics looking to join our REACT Team. Galen shepherds the applicants from the first visit through our testing and interviews to selection and orientation, preparing them to be strong assets to our mission.

Galen and his wife, Lezlie, are the parents of Collin (9) and Liam (6). They are an avid baseball family and go fishing with the boys during the off season.

Galen has always shown compassion for his patients and the patients of his crews. Recently, Collin was injured in an ATV accident while visiting at his grandparents’ home. Suddenly, Galen and Lezlie were the family of an EMS patient. Collin was rushed to a rural facility and soon transported by air EMS to the Childrens’ Hospital for his internal injuries. Collin recovered completely, but it was a challenging experience for the whole family. Galen values the role of out-of-hospital providers even more, and his compassion for the families of our patients is even stronger.

Galen is an excellent example of the great EMTs and Paramedics working at REACT. Again, we are proud that Galen Hankal is our Star of Life for 2017.

REACT EMS is proud to recognize Matthew Bradshaw as a Star of Life 2017. Matt is a Field Training Officer and Critical Care Paramedic who has spent seven years with REACT.

Matt is most appreciated for his tireless efforts to work with new Paramedics, developing them into skilled practitioners. To a person, Matt’s mentored Paramedics compliment his ability to help them identify areas to study as well as his ability to help them understand material to a level that enhances their patient care skills. Matt takes great pride in each of his charges, but never seems to overwhelm them with his expectations. A sign of a true leader is one that makes others around him better. Matt Bradshaw is a perfect example of that characteristic.

Matt was Active Duty military for six years, and spent four years in the Reserves. He served in the Air Force, Army, and Navy. He started his EMS career as his military career ended. He has worked for a variety of EMS organizations, and has been benefiting REACT since 2008.

Matt and his wife, Shannon, are the proud parents of five children, ages six weeks to 20 years. Needless to say, they stay busy. Hunter is a junior at Baylor in the School of Nursing. Noah (7) and Jakob (5) are both playing baseball and have plenty of practices and games to attend. Carson likes to go along to baseball games and to the farm to ride the four-wheelers and feed the chickens.

The REACT family and all of our patients have benefited from Matt being an important part of our team. We are proud to recognize him as our Star for 2017.

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.

When terrorists attacked our country on September 11, 2001, Paramedic Chris Page – then a high school senior – petitioned his principal for an early diploma. Two days later, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Chris served two years before suffering a devastating injury in Iraq that ended his military career. He spent several months recovering, and a few years doing odd jobs, before finding his way into EMS about four years ago.

Last winter, Chris responded to a call for an extremely premature baby who was born at home, with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. The baby was unresponsive and had a slow, weak heartbeat. Chris removed the cord, provided chest compressions and successfully intubated the 1-pound patient. By the time they arrived at the hospital, the baby had a strong heartbeat. She is continuing her recovery today.

Derek began his career in EMS in 2010 as an EMT Basic with the Watonga, Oklahoma Fire Department. Shortly thereafter, Derek was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait in the 45th Infantry Division for Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2011–2012 Derek was redeployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Upon returning in 2012, Derek enrolled in Paramedic school at Redlands Community College, completing his degree in 2014. Derek started working at Life EMS in August of 2015, and has since been promoted to the position of Operations and QA Supervisor.

Derek was instrumental in implementing Life EMS’ new mapping system software and played a key role in rebuilding the Volunteer rural Service in Watonga to prevent it from closing.

Derek was chosen as a Star by his fellow medics. Derek’s passion and pride in his work at Life EMS and Watonga EMS is truly unprecedented.

Life EMS is proud to recognize Derek Vermillion as a 2017 Star of Life.

Andrea Earley of Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service has a bright spirit and a heart dedicated to serving her community. Andrea is a great Paramedic, but her real talent shines through in the amazing events she develops as the Public Event Coordinator.

Andrea organizes activities such as the Ardmore Touch-a-Truck, Kids Day in the Park, and city-wide bicycle safety programs. Andrea sets up and promotes numerous “crash bashes” to educate high school students in the area about the dangers of drunk driving.

Andrea designs and sells company t-shirts for breast cancer awareness, then donates the proceeds to support those fighting cancer. This year, Andrea voluntarily coordinated the emergency care and medical support for the 2017 Tim Tebow “Night to Shine Event,” a special needs prom night celebration.

Andrea is always willing to jump in and help. Andrea always pushes for positive promotion of EMS and she is truly a shining star in our community. For these reasons, Andrea was selected as the Oklahoma Ambulance Association 2017 Star of Life.

Matthew “Matt” Williams is involved in multiple aspects of LifeNet’s EMS service in Stillwater, Oklahoma; including new employee development, our quality assurance processes, education, and multiple leadership roles. Matt completed his paramedic education at Oklahoma State University, and is pursuing a B.S. in Emergency Medical Services Administration at Columbia Southern University. When Matt is not at work, which is a rarity, Matt spends time with his wife, Felisha, and their seven children. Matt and his family enjoy fishing, traveling, and attending various sporting events.

Matt is LifeNet’s 2017 Star of Life representing our Stillwater, Oklahoma division. Matt’s coworkers nominated him for his dedication to our patients, the community, and for his commitment to the LifeNet team.

James Garvin began his career in EMS relatively late in life. Prior to becoming an EMT, James worked for 21 years as a machine operator for a nationally known paper production company. During his employment with the paper company, James became a member of the fire brigade and Emergency Response Team. When James retired in 2006, he joined Muskogee County EMS. Since that time, James has furthered his education and is now a Paramedic. In addition to his duties as a field provider, James is also a supervisor, Field Training Officer, a certified CLEET officer, and a tactical medic with the Muskogee Police Department.

James has embraced his new career with passion and professionalism. Soon after James started as an EMT, he saw a need to enhance our service’s mapping programs. On his own time and without expectation, James wrote and distributed a 30-page mapping companion that provides simple, easy-to-follow directions to the most obscure streets, avenues, and roads in our county. Even with our current mapping programs, medics still rely on the directions in James’s book when they receive a call for an address on an unknown street.

Over the last 10 years with Muskogee County EMS, James has received numerous awards and accolades. Some of James’s many recognitions include EMT-Basic of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, Paramedic of the Year, Employee of the Month, and—most importantly to him— multiple code saves.

When asked what he likes most about his job, James is quick to say that it is the satisfaction of knowing he’s helped save someone’s life. “When I get there and they are in cardiac arrest, not breathing, no pulse, and then later they are being discharged from the hospital and sometimes even coming to see you and say ‘Thank you,’ well, it’s just something that can’t be explained. It’s the best thing in the world,” James explained.

Each day James exemplifies the standard for Muskogee County EMS in his professionalism, compassion, and exemplary performance. Muskogee County EMS is honored to present James Garvin as an American Ambulance Association Star of Life.