TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services’ (DHSS) Emergency Medical Services Council honored individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty during their daily efforts in the field of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at the 2005 EMS Week Awards ceremony held Sunday night, May 1, at the Ramada Inn, East Windsor. 

The EMS Council awards panel selected 15 individuals from more than 100 nominees for their dedication and continued contributions to the Emergency Medical Services System in New Jersey.  The awards panel was comprised of 14 EMS professionals from various EMS organizations throughout the state.

During the 7^th annual awards ceremony, a wide range of individuals from both public and private agencies were recognized for leadership and outstanding efforts in areas including:  life saving techniques, rescues, on-scene patient care, emergency preparedness, public education and/or training and injury prevention.

“We honor and thank those individuals and organizations who have given 110% to advance quality care and provide outstanding services to the people of New Jersey.  Their leadership, self-sacrifice and courage are an example to us all and we commend them for their dedication,” said DHSS Commissioner Fred M. Jacobs, M.D., J.D.

This year’s EMS Week Awards recipients are:

·         EMS BLS Volunteer of the Year (EMT-B):  Jane Asch, EMT-B, Warren Township Rescue Squad, Warren

·         EMS Career BLS Employee of the Year:  Millard Hahn, EMT-B, City of Vineland EMS, Vineland

·         EMS Paramedic of the Year:  Michael DiMartino, MICP, Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy

·         EMS First Responder of the Year:  Detective Sergeant Robert Wells, Point Pleasant Police Department, Point Pleasant

·         EMS Administrator of the Year:  John Grembowiec, Sr., MICP, University Hospital, Newark

·         EMS Educator of the Year:  Nancy Kelly-Goodstein, Office of Emergency Medical Services, EMSC

·         EMS Public Education Award:  Lillian Ernst Johnson, South Jersey Traffic Alliance, Vineland

·         EMS Volunteer Service of the Year:  Bayville First Aid Squad, Bayville

·         EMS Private Provider of the Year:  On Time Ambulance Inc. Roselle

·         EMS Public Provider of the Year:  Logan Emergency Medical Service, Logan

·         EMS Career Lifetime Achievement Award:  Sally Steele-Hoben RN, BSN, MICN, Solaris Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center

·         EMS Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award:  Frank Goodstein, EMT-B, Roselle Park

·         EMS Dispatcher “Star of Life” Award:  Anthony Celano, Monmouth County Sheriff Office

·         EMS “Star of Life” Award (Group):  Regional Chief Ranger Greg Langan, Chief Ranger Carmel Capoferri, Ranger Steve Stokes, Ranger Amanda Smith, Ranger Joe Darwdy, Ranger Joe Smetts, Ranger Chris Walder, Ms. Terri Schmidt

·         Citizen "Star of Life" Award:  Ken Kiernan, Lawrenceville

The ceremony also included a moment of silence for those individuals in New Jersey’s EMS system who have died within the last year.  A commemorative plaque permanently on display in the state Office of Emergency Medical Services will memorialize their names:

·         NJ EMS Memorial:  David Brokrow EMT-B, Pulse Ambulance

·         NJ EMS Memorial:  William (Jim) Lightbody, EMT-B, Paramus Rescue Squad

·         NJ EMS Memorial:  Susan Crook, EMT-B, MICCOM Communication Center

·         NJ EMS Memorial:  Janice Hoopes, EMT-P, Virtua Health System

For additional information on New Jersey’s Office of Emergency Medical Services and the EMS Council, please visit:  http://nj.gov/health/ems/index.html .

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