2014 EMS Awards Ceremony
California emergency medical services providers and associates will be recognized for exceptional acts of bravery and service to their communities and to the state at a luncheon ceremony in San Francisco December 3, 2014. Dr. Howard Backer, Director of the EMS Authority, and EMS Chair of the Commission, Lew Stone, will present the 2014 EMS Awards.
Brave. Dedicated. Willing. Reliable. These words describe the 80,000 licensed or certified EMS providers in California. They demonstrate these qualities every day by coming to the aid of others when they are most in need and working to ensure that the EMS system operates well. However, each year, due to circumstance or extraordinary effort, certain individuals among us shine. The EMS Authority seeks to recognize those individuals through the California Emergency Medical Services Awards Program.
The awards program honors special accomplishments, meritorious and heroic acts, innovations or fresh ideas to improve EMS in the state, or other unique and/or significant contributions by EMS personnel, physicians, nurses, EMTs, other medical providers, local officials, members of the law enforcement community, citizens, and first responders. Award categories include Medal of Valor, EMS Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Lifesaving Medal, Community Service Award, Inter-service EMS Recognition Medal, Civilian Award for EMS, EMT of the Year Award, EMS Educator of the Year Award, EMS Medical Director of the Year Award and EMS Administrator of the Year Award. Clinical Excellence Awards will be presented at the recipients’ home stations.
The nomination deadline for this year was September 5th, however was extended to September 15th. EMS providers, supervisors, and managers are encouraged to nominate any deserving individual for recognition. The luncheon ceremony will be held on December 3, 2014 at the Marines' Memorial Hotel in San Francisco beginning at 12:30 PM and will be conducted at no cost to the State of California. Space is limited and registration ends close of business on November 24th.
The six individuals who comprise the review committee are members of the California Ambulance Association (CAA), the California Fire Chiefs Association, the Emergency Medical Directors Association of California (EMDAC), the Emergency Medical Services Administrators' Association of California (EMSAAC), California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) and one at-large member selected by the EMS Authority.
The award period for the nominations for the awards is continuous. Nominations submitted after September 15, 2014 will be considered for the 2015 award ceremony.
EMS Administrator of the Year
Honors an EMS system administrator who has distinguished him or her self through noteworthy contribution to a local, regional, or to the statewide EMS system.
Dan Burch – French Camp, San Joaquin County EMS Agency
Dan Burch is recognized for his service to EMS within California as an EMT since 1983, as an EMS Administrator since 1997, and especially for his leadership of EMS as the president of the EMS Administrators’ Association of California (EMSAAC) from July 2013 to June 2014. In addition, Dan has served in leadership capacities as the EMS Administrator of Tuolumne and San Joaquin counties. He has often embraced complex and difficult situations, resulting in organized and patient-focused solutions. In his position as EMS Administrator of San Joaquin County, Dan challenged the status quo to create a clinically-centered organized system of EMS in Stockton and throughout San Joaquin County. As the Regional Disaster Medical Health Coordinator for the Office of Emergency Services (OES) Region IV since 2005, Dan has advanced and coordinated the care of large multi-casualty incidents and infectious disease emergencies.
Dan is well known for his tireless advocacy in state EMS legislation and regulation. He has served as the Chair of EMSAAC’s legislative committee since 1999, and in that capacity, works closely with his colleagues from EMSA, CHEAC and CSAC to advance the agenda of EMS and to protect patients throughout California. As EMSAAC’s representative on the California EMS Commission since 2012, Dan advocates for EMS regulations that emphasize EMS system integrity, advance clinical quality and care, and encourage cost containment.
EMS Educator of the Year
Honors an EMS educator who excels as a teacher or who has made a significant contribution to the EMS education program in California.
Eric Lewis – Modesto, PHI Air Medical
Eric Lewis exemplifies the qualities of the EMS Educator of the Year award with his 20 year career as a Critical Care RN and as a Certified Flight RN. Eric shares his expertise in developing and providing critical care and EMS education to both his colleagues at PHI Air Medical, and to the EMS and hospital staff with whom PHI Air Medical works with on a daily basis. For PHI Air Medical, Eric is the primary resource for ensuring that PHI Air Medical's flight RNs and flight paramedics not only have the educational resources they need, but that they meet the clinical standards expected by PHI Air Medical for both clinical knowledge and skills deployment. He meets this charge through innovative use of clinical podcasts, online education resources, coordination of clinician educators at individual PHI Air Medical bases, and through first-hand instruction on such topics as difficult airways, advanced pathophysiology and treatment modalities, and International Trauma Life Support. Further, he is instrumental in the development and implementation of EMS and critical care patient care protocols for all of PHI Air Medical's bases in Modesto, Sonora, and Redding. Eric has been the driving force in taking simulation from the fixed lab, and putting it on the road for EMS providers and hospital staff in the San Joaquin Valley, the foothills of Mother Lode country, and in the far northern counties of Siskiyou, Shasta, and Modoc counties. Using the PHI Intensive Learning simulator, Eric is able to set up high-fidelity simulation in transport ambulances used by services such as Mercy Ambulance, Ebbetts Pass Fire Department, and Manteca District Ambulance. Eric works closely with hospital education staff in Modesto, Redding and San Andreas to use PHI to set up critical care education scenarios in their hospital rooms. Further, Eric works diligently to identify training needs of providers and then exceed their expectations with classroom education and hands-on practice. Equally important is the emphasis Eric puts on maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
EMS Medical Director of the Year
Honors a physician licensed in California who serves or has served meritoriously as an EMS physician supervisor or as an on-line medical control physician and who has made a special contribution through such activities as systems development, continuing education, quality assurance, medical community liaison, etc.
Dr. Ken Miller –Irvine, Orange County Fire Authority
Dr. Ken Miller is involved in every aspect of EMS, serving on national and state committees, providing exemplary leadership to local EMS agencies, and working collaboratively with provider agencies. Dr. Miller is board-certified in Emergency Medicine with sub-specialty in EMS and holds a Ph.D. in pharmacology. Dr. Miller serves as the medical director of the Orange County Fire Authority and assistant medical director of the Orange County Healthcare Agency Emergency Medical Services. He is on faculty as a volunteer clinical professor of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine and EMS Fellowship at the University of CA Irvine School of Medicine. In addition, Dr. Miller is the medical team manager of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue CA Task Force 5, medical officer for FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Incident Support Team, regional deputy chief medical officer for US Department of Health & Human Services/National Disaster Medical System Region IX, and a member of the US Department of Transportation/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National EMS Advisory Council. He serves on the Inter-Agency Board Health and Medical Responder Safety Subgroup and numerous committees and advisory groups in Orange County on chemical, biological, radiological and multi-casualty emergencies. Dr. Miller is the chair of the Orange County Emergency Medical Services Drug & Equipment Advisory Group, a member of the California Fire Chiefs Association Emergency Medical Services Section and a member of the Emergency Medical Services Medical Directors Association of California (EMDAC) and chair of the Scope of Practice Committee.
EMT of the Year
Honors an EMT-I, EMT-II and EMT-Paramedic, each of whom is exemplary in his/her quality of patient care and/or dedication to their community.
Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez – Pomona, California State Assembly
Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez hit the ground running during his first legislative session in January of 2014, highlighting EMS issues at the highest level of government in the State of California. He authored a number of bills on EMS issues (EMS Week, active shooter events, misuse of EMS, and making gassing a crime against EMTs and others) and requested funding from the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health & Human Services for the State’s Mobile Field Hospital program. Assemblymember Rodriguez also conducted a hearing on the November 2013 LAX active shooter incident, which resulted in the drafting and chaptering of AB 1598, which encourages local fire, law enforcement, and EMS agencies to coordinate and establish standard operating procedures to provide prompt medical care to victims. Assemblymember Rodriguez promoted CPR during EMS Week by hosting compression-only demonstrations throughout the state. Assemblymember Rodriguez still maintains his EMT certification and runs calls part-time with AMR in his home community. Assemblymember Rodriguez has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the EMS community by advancing the profession and its associated public policy issues in the California State Legislature.
Civilian Award
Recognizes a civilian (non-certified, non-health care provider) who provides extraordinary service during the course of an EMS emergency. Awards are relatively based upon the degree of patient outcome, extreme conditions, or extraordinary circumstances.
David Martinez – Del Mar, Del Mar Races
Beginning his shift on an early August morning, David observed flames coming from a travel trailer residing on the fair grounds. Initially startled by the flames, David knew that people regularly slept in the trailers. After repeatedly honking his car horn, David opened the trailer door to billowing smoke and flames. Hearing a small voice inside the trailer, but unable to see through the smoke, David crawled on the floor towards the voice of the small boy who was sitting near the back of the trailer with flames near his head. Upon locating the child, David secured the boy and quickly exited the trailer, which soon after became fully engulfed in flames.
Community Service Award
Recognizes an EMT who has made an outstanding commitment to non-patient care aspects of a community's EMS system. Special emphasis is on EMS public information, education, and relations.
Tracy Eby – San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo EMS Agency
Tracy Eby is one of three individuals being recognized for sustained, extraordinary commitment to training residents, business owners and visitors in San Luis Obispo County in CPR. In addition to her regular scope of employment responsibilities, Tracy’s dedication to train people in CPR is helping to strengthen the local EMS system and is empowering individuals to help one another, resulting in a healthier and stronger San Luis Obispo County.
Travis Hoberecht – San Diego, American Medical Response
Travis Hoberecht has been an integral part of AMR’s community involvement and public education efforts in San Diego County for the past six years. Travis enthusiastically volunteers his time to help train San Diego residents in compression-only CPR and preforming public car seat safety checks and installations. In 2013 alone, Travis was able to personally train over 5,000 citizens in CPR and assist in the coordination of 37 public education events throughout San Diego County, resulting in 3,300 attendees receiving CPR education in a single day.
Pete Martinez – Commerce, Los Angeles County Fire Department
Leveraging knowledge and experience accumulated over 25 years in the EMS field, Pete is responsible for the training of 3,000 EMTs in Los Angeles County. Pete, with his “can do” attitude, has assumed additional community-based educational outreach activities such as providing disaster preparedness instruction, CPR and First Aid instruction to hundreds of individuals in Los Angeles County.
Lauri McFadden – Santa Rosa, American Medical Response
Lauri McFadden is a champion of community service in Sonoma County. As chair of Save Lives Sonoma, Lauri single-handedly orchestrated the training of over 5,000 local 7th grade students in CPR during the 2013-14 school year. As a volunteer law enforcement chaplain, Lauri is regularly on call to provide support to community members who have suffered tragedy. Through her work in Leadership Santa Rosa, Lauri helps to raise funds, address important community issues, and develop community leaders. Her volunteer efforts with the Sonoma County Task Force for the Homeless resulted in securing a grant for 19 respite beds that provide recuperative care to individuals recently released from hospitals.
Jessica Otter – San Luis Obispo, San Luis Ambulance
Jessica Otter is one of three individuals being recognized for sustained, extraordinary commitment to training residents, business owners and visitors in San Luis Obispo County in CPR. In addition to her regular scope of employment responsibilities, Jessica’s dedication to train people in CPR is helping to strengthen the local EMS system and is empowering individuals to help one another, resulting in a healthier and stronger San Luis Obispo County.
Kris Strommen – San Luis Obispo, San Luis Ambulance
Kris Strommen is one of three individuals being recognized for sustained, extraordinary commitment to training residents, business owners and visitors in San Luis Obispo County in CPR. In addition to his regular scope of employment responsibilities, Kris’s dedication to train people in CPR is helping to strengthen the local EMS system and is empowering individuals to help one another, resulting in a healthier and stronger San Luis Obispo County.
Jack Walsh – San Leandro, Keeping Babies Safe
Jack Walsh has been a child safety and injury prevention advocate for over 20 years in California. Jack is responsible for spearheading the movement to improve standards for baby cribs and other juvenile products. As founder of Keeping Babies Safe and executive director of the Danny Foundation, Jack was responsible for passing crib safety legislation in seven states: California, Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington State. For his sustained efforts to encourage baby and child safety standards, Walsh is nationally recognized by Consumer Reports as a Safety Crusader.
Distinguished Service Medal
Recognizes an individual for distinguished service or achievement affecting statewide EMS over an extended period of time.
Donald Campbell – Turlock, Mercy Air
Since first becoming a paramedic in 1979, Donald Campbell has held numerous positions in the EMS profession, and made equally as many contributions to the field. During Donald’s field career, he served as a field paramedic, reserve peace officer, flight paramedic and field training officer in stations throughout Northern California. As an administrator, Donald served with distinction at WestSide Community Ambulance, Medi-Flight and Mercy Air. Donald’s advocacy for the Air Ambulance community, and extensive knowledge and expertise of California’s EMS issues were unmatched. Donald passed away in September 2014.
Ginger Ochs – San Diego, San Diego Fire Department
During her 33 year career, Ginger Ochs has served EMS in San Diego as a registered nurse, paramedic training coordinator and quality improvement specialist. Ginger has been instrumental in developing and implementing skills testing education program standards, QA/QI processes, and San Diego County EMS Agency protocols and policies. Ginger’s long career, outstanding work ethic and vast body of work have had a profound impact on the early development and betterment of EMS in and around San Diego County as well as throughout the State of California.
Lew Stone – Sacramento, California Professional Firefighters
Beginning as a firefighter in 1981, Lew Stone has and continues to work collaboratively with public and private EMS providers and represents the men and women on the front lines providing patient care and public safety. Lew’s vast and varied experiences have afforded him unique insight and knowledge of California’s EMS issues. Lew’s knowledge and leadership is a great asset to the California Commission on EMS, where he serves as Chairperson.
Inter-Service EMS Recognition Medal
Recognizes outstanding heroism, extraordinary service, or achievement of non-EMTs (police officers, firefighters, lifeguards, dispatchers, and other public or private safety officers) for outstanding or exceptional support of a particular EMS emergency, event or operation.
Carlos Rodriguez – Hollister, Hollister Police Department
Overhearing shots fired, Officer Carlos Rodriguez quickly responded to a gas station parking lot during the Fourth of July weekend. Approaching the chaotic scene, Officer Rodriguez observed vehicles fleeing the parking lot and two gunshot victims resulting from a violent meeting of two rival motorcycle groups. Without knowing if shooters were still present, Officer Rodriguez quickly retrieved his department rifle and first aid kit and approached the victims on foot. Recognizing the victims’ need for urgent medical care, Officer Rodriguez applied an occlusive dressing to a biker with a gunshot wound to his left chest and tied a tourniquet to the man's left arm to stop the bleeding. Officer Rodriguez then applied a dressing to the second victim’s chest wound and elevated the man's legs to prevent him from going into shock. Officer Rodriguez then monitored both victims until EMS personnel arrived on scene. Both men survived.
Lifesaving Medal
Recognizes an EMS provider who, while in an off-duty or volunteer capacity, makes an extremely noteworthy contribution to efforts which result in the saving of a life.
Daniel Martinez – Ceres, American Medical Response
Off-duty and driving home, Daniel Martinez witnessed a van drive off the road and into a large irrigation canal, where the automobile quickly began to sink. Without hesitation, Daniel and several other witnesses dove into the water to assist the occupants, which happened to be an elderly couple, one of whom was strapped into a wheelchair. Daniel was able to help pull the driver from an open window as the automobile was sinking, and then go underwater to unstrap the passenger from his wheelchair. Daniel then assisted in getting both occupants to the canal bank where he waited with them until EMS personnel arrived on scene.
Medal of Valor
Recognizes an EMT for acts of personal valor or heroism in the delivery of emergency medical care, which results in the saving of a life under extreme conditions and/or in extraordinary circumstances.
Ben Carlson – Newport Beach, Newport Beach Fire Department Lifeguards
Fifteen year lifeguard veteran, Ben Carlson responded to a swimmer in distress in eight to ten foot surf off Newport Beach. Ben jumped into the water from his rescue boat to rescue the swimmer. After rescuing the man, Ben was swimming the victim back to the boat when they were hit by multiple large waves. The swimmer reached the boat safely with the help of another swimmer, but Ben disappeared into the surf. Ben was later pulled from the water after an extensive search and was pronounced dead at the hospital in July 2014.
Meritorious Service Award
Recognizes an individual for a meritorious act or service within EMS. This award also recognizes an EMT for an act that is above and beyond the call of duty in the course of a particular EMS emergency or event.
Matthew Hayes – Santa Rosa, American Medical Response
Matthew Hayes and his partner were dispatched on a November evening to a call involving a high-speed automobile crash into a power pole. Arriving on scene, Matthew and his partner recognized they were the first responders to arrive and that the automobile had caught fire and the flames were working their way towards the passenger who was pinned in her seat. Matthew and his partner used their ambulance’s fire extinguishers in an attempt to put the fire out, with little success. Without regard for their own safety, Matthew and his partner entered the burning vehicle and managed to pull the severely injured passenger from her seat just before flames consumed the vehicle. Suffering from smoke inhalation and exposure to fire extinguisher powder, Matthew and partner rendered aid to the victim while transporting her to a trauma center. The passenger survived.
Richard Murphy – Paradise, Butte County EMS
On an early November morning, Richard Murphy and his partner responded to an active shooter dispatch in a remote wooded area of Butte County. Arriving on scene, Sheriff’s deputies informed Richard and his partner that the shooter was not yet secured and that they had only a general idea of the location of the victim. Richard and his partner voluntarily entered the unsecured scene, located and extricated a 46 year-old male patient with two gunshot wounds into their ambulance and transported the severely injured man to a waiting air ambulance. The patient survived.
Michael Pitassi – Escalon, Escalon Community Ambulance
Principled and self-motivated, Michael Pitassi leverages his 39 years of knowledge and experience in the EMS field to provide exceptional leadership of Escalon Community Ambulance. As an EMS chief, Michael has kept a rural agency afloat that would have failed under less astute leadership. As an EMT program director and field training officer, Michael trained the current and next generation of EMS leaders in Stanislaus & San Joaquin counties. As an EMT and paramedic, he has provided clinically competent, professional, and compassionate care. As an EMS leader, Michael has consistently and continually made tough decisions, always in the best interest of patient care and his community.
Gabe Robinson – Carlsbad, American Medical Response
Responding to a dispatch call of shots fired at a building in Bonita, Gabe Robinson quickly arrived on scene to discover an active shooter situation with three gunshot victims. With the gunman still in the building, Gabe was escorted inside by SWAT personnel to render aid. Gabe dutifully began to triage the three bleeding victims, and then relocate them to a safer location before transporting the most severely injured victim to the hospital in an ambulance.
Chip Schuenemeyer – Magalia, Butte County EMS
On an early November morning, Chip Schuenemeyer and his partner responded to an active shooter dispatch in a remote wooded area of Butte County. Arriving on scene, Sheriff’s deputies informed Chip and his partner that the shooter was not yet secured and that they had only a general idea of the location of the victim. Chip and his partner voluntarily entered the unsecured scene, located and extricated a 46 year-old male patient with two gunshot wounds into their ambulance and transported the severely injured man to a waiting air ambulance. The patient survived.
Brad Silvestro – Santa Rosa, American Medical Response
Brad Silvestro and his partner were dispatched on a November evening to a call involving a high-speed automobile crash into a power pole. Arriving on scene, Brad and his partner recognized they were the first responders on scene and that the automobile had caught fire and the flames were working their way towards the passenger who was pinned in her seat. Brad and his partner used their ambulance’s fire extinguishers in an attempt to put the fire out, with little success. Without regard for their own safety, Brad and his partner entered the burning vehicle and managed to pull the severely injured passenger from her seat just before flames consumed the vehicle. Suffering from smoke inhalation and exposure to fire extinguisher powder, Brad and partner rendered aid to the victim while transporting her to a trauma center. The passenger survived.
Clinical Excellence Award
Recognizes an EMT who provides noteworthy patient care and treatment during the course of their duties. Clinical Excellence Awards will be presented at the recipients’ home stations, not at the EMS Awards Ceremony in San Francisco.
Adrianna Beal – Rohnert Park, Graton Casino EMS
For excellent patient care to an individual suffering cardiac arrest in August 2014
David Brown – Encinitas, Encinitas Lifeguard Agency
For excellent patient care to two unconscious swimmers in May 2014
Paul Chapman – Encinitas, Encinitas Lifeguard Agency
For excellent patient care to two unconscious swimmers in May 2014
Kris Fullmore – Durham, Westside Ambulance Association
For excellent patient care to victims of the Orland bus crash in April 2014
Larry Giles – Encinitas, Encinitas Lifeguard Agency
For excellent patient care to two unconscious swimmers in May 2014
Vanessa Mann – Rohnert Park, Graton Casino EMS
For excellent patient care to an individual suffering cardiac arrest in August 2014
Leslie Mitsuoka – Santa Rosa, American Medical Response
For excellent patient care to an individual suffering cardiac arrest in August 2014
Sean Rhodes – Rohnert Park, Graton Casino EMS
For excellent patient care to an individual suffering cardiac arrest in August 2014
Michael Staggs – Cottonwood, Westside Ambulance Association
For excellent patient care to victims of the Orland Bus Crash in April 2014
Jonathon Strickland – Encinitas, Encinitas Lifeguard Agency
For excellent patient care to two unconscious swimmers in May 2014
Derek Sullivan – Santa Rosa, American Medical Response
For excellent patient care to an individual suffering cardiac arrest in August 2014
Officer Daniel Templeton, Elk Grove, Elk Grove Police Department
For excellent patient care to a woman going into labor on the side of the road in August 2014
Robert Veria – Encinitas, Encinitas Lifeguard Agency
For excellent patient care to two unconscious swimmers in May 2014
Connect With Us
