Conference and Awards Ceremony Celebrates Local EMS Providers

May 23, 2018

From pulling a man out of a burning car to delivering a baby on the side of the road, local EMS technicians who go above and beyond the call of duty were honored as EMS Providers of the Year during the 2018 conference and celebration May 22 in Tucson.

Hosted by the University of Arizona Department of Emergency Medicine and Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, the EMS Providers of the Year awards event was held During National Emergency Medical Services Week May 20-26.

The annual conference is a way to say thank you to EMS providers for their critical role serving the needs of emergency patients in the Southern Arizona community. This year’s speakers included UA emergency medicine and trauma physicians Josh Gaither, Terence O’Keeffe, Narong Kulvatunyou, and Hans Bradshaw.

Topics covered were “Prehospital Trauma Controversies,” “Innovations in Trauma Care,” “Case Presentations and Pearls of Prehospital Resuscitation,” and “Pediatric Trauma Resuscitation.”

Winners of the 2018 EMS Provider of the Year Awards:

  • Tucson Fire Department: Patrick Burke, CEP, Sam Netherton, CEP, Frank Flores, CEP
  • Northwest Fire Department: Larry Bear, EMT, Miles Collie, CEP
  • American Medical Response: Shelly Patterson, EMT, Lee Bucklin, EMT
  • Rio Rico Fire Department: Jose Trevino, Paramedic
  • Picture Rocks Fire Department: Sabas Cruz-Miranda, EMT
  • Life Net: Michele Penland, RN, Debbie Waters, CEP, James Cain, Pilot
  • University EMS: Kevin Cabrera, EMT
  • Banner – UMC Tucson: Karla Pedrazzini, RN