June 15, 2016

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HONORS RECIPIENTS OF 2016 EXCELLENCE IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AWARDS

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Tallahassee, Fla.—The Florida Department of Health is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 Excellence in EMS Awards. The department has recognized exceptional individuals and organizations in Florida’s EMS system for 26 years. The 2016 statewide EMS awards are sponsored by the Emergency Medicine Learning and Resource Center (EMLRC).

“Congratulations to the statewide EMS award recipients for their dedication to providing daily lifesaving services,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. Celeste Philip. “I am honored to recognize the efforts of the men and women who make Florida’s communities safer and improve the EMS system.”

The following is a list of the 2016 award recipients.

EMS Provider of the Year: Nature Coast EMS

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) of the Year: Ryan Allen, Orange County Fire Rescue

Paramedic of the Year: Allison Hall, Leon County EMS

EMS Nurse of the Year: Margie Hobbs, RN, West Florida Hospital

Larry S. Jordan EMS Hall of Fame: Daniel J. Griffin, Florida Association of EMS Educators

Marilyn Crook EMS Pioneer: Shari Hall, Marion County Fire Rescue

Raymond H. Alexander, MD, EMS Medical Director of the Year: Mary Anne Kolar, DO, Nature Coast EMS

911 Public Safety Telecommunicator of the Year: Michael Kelly, Citrus County Sheriff's Office

EMS Educator of the Year: Todd Soard, Emergency Educational Institute, Inc.

Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC): Laurie Whidden, RN, ShandsCair

EMS Injury Prevention: Joshua Hoover, Sunstar Paramedics

EMS Disaster Preparedness and Response Award: David C. Mixson, Deputy Fire Chief, Largo Fire Rescue

Video of the Year: West Florida Hospital

Photo of the Year: Johns Hopkins All Children's Lifeline

Awards will be presented on July 13, 2016 at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Universal in Orlando in conjunction with the State EMS Advisory Council meetings and the EMLRC’s 42nd Annual Clinical Conference on Emergency Medical Services (ClinCon).

For more information about the Excellence in Emergency Medical Services award program, please visit www.EMLRC.org.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.