The 2015 Governor’s Emergency Medical Services Award winners were recently announced at the 36th annual Governor’s EMS Awards Ceremony in Norfolk. Governor Terry McAuliffe recognized 10 outstanding EMS providers and organizations from across the Commonwealth for their dedication to EMS and excellence in the field.
The awards are presented in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services Annual EMS Symposium. This weeklong training event is the largest EMS training event in the Commonwealth and one of the largest in the nation. The symposium welcomes more than 1,600 providers and issues approximately 23,000 hours of continuing education credits.
“It is an honor to present such deserving recipients with these highly coveted awards. More than 34,500 EMS providers serve the people of Virginia and potentially put themselves in harm’s way by doing so every day,” said State Health Commissioner Marissa J. Levine, MD, MPH, FAAFP. “It is encouraging and inspiring to acknowledge their hard work and dedication to protect the health of all citizens.”
“Each year we recognize the best of the best in prehospital care by presenting the Governor’s EMS Awards, and each year I am in awe of the incredible accomplishments of these talented and devoted providers,” said Gary Brown, director, Office of EMS. “It is such a pleasure and privilege to thank these award winners for their vast achievements. You have made Virginia’s EMS System one of the greatest in the country and we all strive to meet your level of excellence.”
The 2015 Governor’s EMS Award winners
- The Governor’s EMS Award for Excellence in EMS – Dreama Chandler, Wythe County Rescue Squad
- The Governor’s EMS Award for Outstanding EMS Administrator (The Kent J. Weber Trophy) – Kathy Eubank, Manchester Volunteer Rescue Squad, Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads
- The Governor’s EMS Award for Physician with Outstanding Contribution to EMS (The Frank M. Yeiser Trophy) – John Morgan, MD, Inova Loudoun Hospital, Loudoun County Combined Fire-Rescue System
- The Governor’s EMS Award for Nurse with Outstanding Contribution to EMS – Melissa Hall, R.N., Mary Washington Hospital Trauma Services
- The Governor’s EMS Award for Outstanding Prehospital Educator – Anne Mach, RN, Tidewater Community College
- The Governor’s EMS Award for Outstanding Prehospital Provider – Anna Harmon, Ladysmith Volunteer Rescue Squad
- The Governor’s EMS Award for Outstanding Contribution to EMS Health and Safety – Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue
- The Governor’s EMS Award for Outstanding Contribution to EMS for Children – Robin Foster, MD, Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Emergency Medicine
- The Governor’s EMS Award for Outstanding EMS Agency – Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Fire and Rescue Department
- The Governor’s EMS Award for Outstanding Contribution to EMS Telecommunications – Tammy Murcek, Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications
An additional award is presented at the ceremony to recognize the outstanding contributions to EMS by a high school senior. This is a scholarship award provided by the State EMS Advisory Board. This year, two high school seniors were selected for their exceptional contributions to Virginia’s EMS System:
- The Governor’s EMS Award for Outstanding Contribution to EMS by a High School Senior (The Dr. Carol Gilbert $5,000 Scholarship) – Caroline Meier, Vienna Volunteer Fire Department and Nathaniel Paxton, Campbell County Rescue Squad
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Chris Graham
