FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Amanda Riordan
703-615-4492
ariordan@ambulance.org

EMS Heroes To Be Honored in Washington, DC as 2023 Stars of Life

Washington, DC—This November, the American Ambulance Association (AAA) will recognize extraordinary EMS professionals during the annual Stars of Life celebration. 128 individuals from across the United States will be honored as the 2023 Stars at the November 6–8 event.

Stars of Life pays tribute to the dedication of these hometown heroes while shining light on the critical role EMS plays in our healthcare infrastructure. During their time in our nation’s capital, the Stars will receive medallions and plaques in thanks for their lifesaving and life-sustaining service. The Stars, accompanied by their families and executive hosts, will also meet with members of Congress and congressional aides to discuss policy issues critical to emergency medical services.

In addition to the Stars, Senator Jon Tester of Montana and Senator Bill Cassidy, MD of Louisiana will be recognized as Legislators of the Year, and 11 United States Senators and 17 Representatives will receive Legislative Recognition Awards for their support of mobile healthcare.

American Ambulance Association President Randy Strozyk noted that, “EMS professionals work tirelessly to provide round-the-clock healthcare when it is needed most.” He continued, “Together, we honor this year’s Stars of Life, and thank them for the countless hours of service they have dedicated to their local communities.”

This year’s distinguished Stars of Life honorees are:

• Danny Abalama | B200 Instructor Pilot, Guardian Flight | Anchorage, AK | starsof.life/23abalama
• Adedeji Adebayo | Paramedic, Chief Supervisor, Mohawk Ambulance Service | Schenectady, NY | starsof.life/23adebayo
• Tiffany Allen | EMT & Billing Supervisor, REACT EMS | Shawnee, OK | starsof.life/23allen
• Jacob Ambach | Paramedic, American Medical Response | Spokane, WA | starsof.life/23ambach
• Marcia Anderson | Critical Care Paramedic, M Health Fairview / HealthEast | St. Paul, MN | starsof.life/23anderson
• Michael Arquette | Operations Supervisor, American Medical Response | Buffalo, NY | starsof.life/23arquette
• Jack Asbury | Emergency Medical Technician, American Medical Response | Bushnell, FL | starsof.life/23asbury
• Gage Askew | Paramedic & Field Training Officer, REACT EMS | Shawnee, OK | starsof.life/23askew
• Austin Baffa | Emergency Medical Technician, Falck Mobile Health Corp | Orange County, CA | starsof.life/23baffa
• Sharrie Barnes | Pre-Billing Supervisor, EMSA | Tulsa, OK | starsof.life/23barnes
• Cynthia Betts | Base Medical Manager, EagleMed | Witchita, KS | starsof.life/23betts
• Erica Blockman | Clinical Coordinator & Paramedic, Del Norte Ambulance | Crescent City, CA | starsof.life/23blockman
• Carol Boies | Emergency Medical Technician, Falck Northwest | Salem, OR | starsof.life/23boies
• Jan Brooks | Paramedic & Field Training Officer, Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Illinois | Elmhurst, IL | starsof.life/23brooks
• Jason Burns | Flight Paramedic, REACH | Salida, CO | starsof.life/23burns
• Anna Busse | Critical Care Paramedic, Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Wisconsin | Oshkosh, WI | starsof.life/23busse
• Logan Butts | Emergency Medical Technician, Acadian Ambulance | Jefferson County, TX | starsof.life/23butts
• Ian Carroll | Flight Nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam | Logan, WV | starsof.life/23carroll
• Haley Chapko | Paramedic, Medstar Ambulance | Clinton Twp, MI | starsof.life/23chapko
• Teighlor Clark | Emergency Medical Technician, Priority Ambulance | Newport, TN | starsof.life/23clark
• Preston Crotwell | Paramedic, American Medical Response | Jackson, MS | starsof.life/23crotwell
• Christopher Crowell | EMT & Field Supervisor, Cataldo Ambulance Service | Somerville, MA | starsof.life/23crowellc
• James Dalrymple | Fleet Supervisor, Sunstar Paramedics | Largo, FL | starsof.life/23dalrymple
• Chalyssa David | Operations Supervisor, Medic Ambulance Service Inc. | Vallejo, CA | starsof.life/23david
• Barbara Davis | Operations Supervisor, LifeNet, Inc. – Arkansas Division | Malvern, AR | starsof.life/23davis
• Zachary Dayton | Firefighter Engineer & Emergency Medical Technician, Rural Metro Fire | Mesa, AZ | starsof.life/23dayton
• Kyle Derr | Firefighter Paramedic, Goodyear Fire Department | Goodyear, AZ | starsof.life/23derr
• Samantha DiSilvestro | Paramedic, Northwell Health System Center for EMS | Staten Island, NY | starsof.life/23disilvestro
• Patrick Doyle | Captain & Paramedic, Goodyear Fire Department | Goodyear, AZ | starsof.life/23doyle
• Mark Dressel | Emergency Medical Technician, Hunter’s Ambulance | Meriden, CT | starsof.life/23dressel
• Colin Driscoll | Paramedic, Medstar Ambulance | Clinton Twp, MI | starsof.life/23driscoll
• David Ebert | Flight Paramedic, Northwell Health System Center for EMS | Syosset, NY | starsof.life/23ebert
• Rebecca Ellis | Emergency Medical Technician, Falck Mobile Health Corp | Orange County, CA | starsof.life/23ellis
• Victoria England | Flight Nurse, REACH | Mather, CA | starsof.life/23england
• Lilliana Ferguson | Paramedic, Cataldo Ambulance Service | Somerville, MA | starsof.life/23ferguson
• Richard Fikes | Paramedic & Field Training Officer, MetroCare | Abilene, TX | starsof.life/23fikes
• Marlon Flanders | Paramedic & Alternate Field Operations Supervisor, Global Medical Response | Trinidad & Tobago | starsof.life/23flanders
• Larry Fort, Jr. | Specialty Care Transport Paramedic, Mohawk Ambulance Service | Schenectady, NY | starsof.life/23fort
• Sean Fuller | Paramedic & Field Training Officer, American Medical Response | Clackamas, OR | starsof.life/23fuller
• Karina Galvez-Martinez | Paramedic, MedicWest | North Las Vegas, NV | starsof.life/23galvez-martinez
• Andrew Goodwin | Engineer & Emergency Medical Technician, Goodyear Fire Department | Goodyear, AZ | starsof.life/23goodwin
• Aaron Graves | FPC Base Supervisor, LifeNet, Inc. | Texarkana, TX | starsof.life/23graves
• Tracey Gray | Director of Education, Jan-Care Ambulance | Beckley, WV | starsof.life/23gray
• Kelly Hamill | Flight Nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam | Mattoon, IL | starsof.life/23hamill
• Kyle Hammon | Emergency Medical Technician, Community Care Ambulance Network | Ashtabula, OH | starsof.life/23hammon
• Andy Hardy | Paramedic, American Medical Response | Athens, TN | starsof.life/23hardy
• Nicole Hart | Clinical Manager, LifeNet, Inc. – Oklahoma Division | Stillwater, OK | starsof.life/23hart
• Fidencio Hernandez | Emergency Medical Technician & Field Training Officer, American Medical Response | San Jose, CA | starsof.life/23hernandez
• Victor Hoffer | Paramedic, Falck Northwest | Salem, OR | starsof.life/23hoffer
• Alison Hoffner | Paramedic, Hunter’s Ambulance | Meriden, CT | starsof.life/23hoffner
• Luke Jarrell | Paramedic, Pafford EMS of Mississippi | Tunica, MS | starsof.life/23jarrell
• Emily Kidd | Paramedic II, Emergent Health Partners | Ann Arbor, MI | starsof.life/23kidd
• Rich King | Paramedic, Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance | La Crosse, WI | starsof.life/23king
• Matthew Kohl | Paramedic, American Medical Response | Evansville, IN | starsof.life/23kohl
• Kristine Kokkinos | Emergency Medical Technician, Falck Mobile Health Corp | San Diego, CA | starsof.life/23kokkinos
• Nicole Kueter | Director of Operations, PatientCare EMS | Sioux Falls, SD | starsof.life/23kueter
• Daniel Lee | Flight Nurse, AirLink/Med-Trans | Klamath Falls, OR | starsof.life/23lee
• Laura Lingeman | EMS Operations Supervisor, REMSA Health | Reno, NV | starsof.life/23lingeman
• Richard Majors | Firefighter & Emergency Medical Technician, Goodyear Fire Department | Goodyear, AZ | starsof.life/23majors
• Jesse Mascarenas | Flight Nurse, REACH | Salida, CO | starsof.life/23mascarenas
• Mason Meadows | Paramedic & Field Training Officer, REACT EMS | Shawnee, OK | starsof.life/23meadows
• Samantha Migliore | Emergency Medical Technician, Armstrong Ambulance Service | Arlington, MA | starsof.life/23migliore
• Rosemary Mitts | Lieutenant, Chatham Emergency Services | Savannah, GA | starsof.life/23mitts
• Daisy Moore | Paramedic, Regional Ambulance Service | Rutland, VT | starsof.life/23moore
• Joshua Morgan | Paramedic, Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service | Ardmore, OK | starsof.life/23morgan
• Cody Nash | Operations Manager & Clinical Services Training Coordinator, Pafford Medical Services, Inc. | Johnson County, AR | starsof.life/23nash
• Quentin Nation | EMT Field Training Officer, Bell Ambulance | Milwaukee, WI | starsof.life/23nation
• Daniel Neczek | Operations Supervisor, MedEx Ambulance | Skokie, IL | starsof.life/23neczek
• Cierra Nixon | Critical Care Paramedic, Acadian Ambulance | Orange County, TX | starsof.life/23nixon
• Stephanie Nocita | Paramedic, American Medical Response | Monterey, CA | starsof.life/23nocita
• Sheila Norton | Field Operations Supervisor, Puckett EMS | Austell, GA | starsof.life/23norton
• Jason Nugent | Paramedic, Puckett EMS | Chattanooga, TN | starsof.life/23nugent
• Terezia Nutt | Emergency Medical Technician, American Ambulance | Meriden, CT | starsof.life/23nutt
• Richard Nye | Paramedic, Shoals Ambulance | Bessmer, AL | starsof.life/23nye
• Kenneth Ortiz Cortez | Emergency Medical Technician, Northwell Health System Center for EMS | Staten Island, NY | starsof.life/23ortiz
• Michael Oseguera | Paramedic, Falck Northern California | Alameda County, CA | starsof.life/23oseguera
• Kevin Pantaleon | Paramedic, Northwell Health System Center for EMS | Syosset, NY | starsof.life/23pantaleon
• Marco Patino | Paramedic, Education Manager, Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Illinois | Elmhurst, IL | starsof.life/23patino
• Christopher Paul | Paramedic II, Emergent Health Partners | Ann Arbor, MI | starsof.life/23paul
• Mason Pereira | Paramedic & Field Training Officer, REACT EMS | Shawnee, OK | starsof.life/23pereira
• Todd Perry | Critical Care Paramedic & Critical Care Nurse, Rescue Inc. | Brattleboro, VT | starsof.life/23perry
• Kristina Ploeger | Operations Manager, Metro West Ambulance | Hillsboro, OR | starsof.life/23ploeger
• Stephanie Rahilly | Supervisor, Mobility Division, Life EMS Ambulance | Grand Rapids, MI | starsof.life/23rahilly
• Phoenix Alexa Reisner | Emergency Medical Technician, Trans Am Ambulance Services | Olean, NY | starsof.life/23reisner
• Beth Rimmer | Paramedic Crew Chief, Mecklenburg EMS Agency | Charlotte, NC | starsof.life/23rimmer
• Randall Roberson | Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, Lifeguard | Prestonburg, KY | starsof.life/23roberson
• Michael Robinson | Paramedic, Medic Ambulance Service Inc. | Vallejo, CA | starsof.life/23robinson
• John Rossmiller | Paramedic Supervisor, Great Fall EMS | Missoula, MT | starsof.life/23rossmiller
• Jill Roys | Lead Paramedic, Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance | West Union, IA | starsof.life/23roys
• Kellie Ruetsch | Paramedic, Regional Operations Manager, Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Ohio | Plain City, OH | starsof.life/23ruetsch
• Hiram Sanchez | Emergency Medical Technician, American Medical Response | Napa, CA | starsof.life/23sanchez
• Timothy Sanders | Critical Care Paramedic, Baptist Ambulance | Enid, MS | starsof.life/23sanders
• Dakota Shadwell | Flight Nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam | Mattoon, IL | starsof.life/23shadwell
• Jay Shintaku | Firefighter Paramedic, Rural Metro Fire | Tempe, AZ | starsof.life/23shintaku
• Andrew Smith | Operations Supervisor, Mecklenburg EMS Agency | Charlotte, NC | starsof.life/23smith
• Brian Smith | Operations Supervisor, Mecklenburg EMS Agency | Charlotte, NC | starsof.life/23smithbrian
• Veronica Smith | Supervisor, Control Center, Life EMS Ambulance | Grand Rapids, MI | starsof.life/23smithv
• Bradley Sparks | Flight Nurse, REACH | Oceanside, CA | starsof.life/23sparks
• Don Speicher | EMT Advanced, Pawnee Ambulance | Pawnee, OK | starsof.life/23speicher
• Nicholas Spencer | EMT Field Training Officer, Bell Ambulance, Inc. | Milwaukee, WI | starsof.life/23spencer
• Rob Spencer | Paramedic & Field Training Officer, American Medical Response | Temple, TX | starsof.life/23spencerr
• Darrell Stanley | Duty Officer, Olympic Ambulance Service, Inc. | Sequim, WA | starsof.life/23stanley
• Luke Stengler | Emergency Medical Technician, Falck Mobile Health Corp | San Diego, CA | starsof.life/23stengler
• David Swatsenbarg | Supervisor, Pafford Medical Services, Inc. | Haskell County, OK | starsof.life/23swatsenbarg
• Michael Taboniar | Paramedic, American Medical Response | Lihue, HI | starsof.life/23taboniar
• Paul Tank | Critical Care Paramedic, Operations Manager, Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Michigan | Madison Heights, MI | starsof.life/23tank
• Don Thomas | Operations Supervisor, Medix Ambulance Service Inc. | Warrenton, OR | starsof.life/23thomas
• Eric Thompson | Paramedic, Community Care Ambulance Network | Ashtabula, OH | starsof.life/23thompson
• Anita Torres | Emergency Medical Technician, Northwell Health System Center for EMS | New York, NY | starsof.life/23torres
• Brandon Trauba | Operations Manager, Lakes Region EMS | North Branch, MN | starsof.life/23trauba
• Bobbi Tremblay | Emergency Medical Dispatcher, Armstrong Ambulance Service | Arlington, MA | starsof.life/23tremblay
• Konrad Trzepizur | EMT Supervisor, Northwell Health System Center for EMS | New York, NY | starsof.life/23trzepizur
• Nicole Tyson | Assistant Revenue Cycle Supervisor, Mecklenburg EMS Agency | Charlotte, NC | starsof.life/23tyson
• Jessica Van Der Merwe | Paramedic, Falck Rocky Mountain | Aurora, CO | starsof.life/23vdm
• Maria Villasenor | Emergency Medical Technician, Sunstar Paramedics | Largo, FL | starsof.life/23villasenor
• Aaron Wainwright | Supervisor, North Operations, Life EMS Ambulance | Grand Rapids, MI | starsof.life/23wainwright
• Leonard Washington | Critical Care Paramedic, Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Wisconsin | Rockford, IL | starsof.life/23washington
• Bill Weber | Paramedic & Field Training Officer, American Medical Response | Lake Havasu City, AZ | starsof.life/23weber
• Aaron Westervelt | Paramedic, American Ambulance | Meriden, CT | starsof.life/23westervelt
• Garrett Whisenhunt | Paramedic & Field Training Officer, Metropolitan EMS | Little Rock, AR | starsof.life/23whisenhunt
• Jeffrey Wilken | Critical Care Paramedic, Operations Manager, Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Indiana | LaPorte, IN | starsof.life/23wilken
• Michael Wilson | Clinical Services Specialist, EMSA | Oklahoma City, OK | starsof.life/23wilson
• Riley Wolfe | Paramedic, American Medical Response | Redlands, CA | starsof.life/23wolfe
• Chris Workman | Paramedic, Metropolitan EMS | Little Rock, AR | starsof.life/23workman
• Danny Workman | Flight Paramedic, REACH | Concord, CA | starsof.life/23workmand
• Daniel Yandell | Emergency Medical Technician, American Medical Response | Vancouver, WA | starsof.life/23yandell
• Zachary Zeiler | Paramedic, EMSA | TULSA, OK | starsof.life/23zeiler

Please note that members of the media are welcome to attend the Stars of Life Banquet at the Intercontinental Wharf hotel on November 7, 2023 from 7:00–9:00pm. Interviews with Stars of Life as well as national EMS leaders will be available.

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About The American Ambulance Association

Caring for People—First.

The American Ambulance Association safeguards the future of mobile healthcare through advocacy, thought leadership, and education. AAA advances sustainable EMS policy, empowering our members to serve their communities with high-quality on-demand healthcare. For more than 40 years, we have proudly represented those who care for people first.