32 First Responders from GMR to Receive the EMS Industry’s Highest Honor

(LEWISVILLE, Tex.) — Global Medical Response has announced the recipients of this year’s Stars of Life Award, which recognizes the exceptional contributions of first responders to the EMS industry.

GMR has selected 32 honorees who have demonstrated extraordinary service and dedication to their work, making significant impacts at their respective operations and in their communities.

They will be honored at the American Ambulance Association (AAA) Stars of Life Awards Ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel at the Wharf in Washington D.C November 6-8. For more than 40 years, AAA has worked to protect the future of emergency medical services through advocacy, thought leadership and education. The association advances sustainable EMS policy and empowers members to serve their communities with high-quality healthcare.

GMR’s 2023 Stars of Life recipients are:

  • Danny Abalama, B200 Instructor Pilot, Guardian Flight, Anchorage, AK
  • Jacob Ambach, Paramedic, AMR, Spokane, WA
  • Michael Arquette, Operations Supervisor, AMR, Buffalo, NY
  • Jack Asbury, EMT, AMR, Bushnell, FL
  • Cindy Betts, Base Medical Manager, EagleMed/Med-Trans Corp., Wichita, KS
  • Jason Burns, Flight Paramedic, REACH Air Medical Services, Salida, CO
  • Ian Carroll, Flight Nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam, Logan, WV
  • Preston Crotwell, Paramedic, AMR, Jackson, MS
  • Zach Dayton, Firefighter Engineer/EMT, Rural Metro Fire, Mesa, AZ
  • Victoria England, Flight Nurse, REACH Air Medical Services, Mather, CA
  • Rick Fikes, Paramedic, Field Training Officer, MetroCare/AMR, Abilene, TX
  • Marlon Flanders, Paramedic, Alternate Operations Supervisor, GMR Trinidad and Tobago
  • Sean Fuller, Paramedic, AMR, Clackamas, OR
  • Karina Galvez-Martinez, Advanced EMT, MedicWest/AMR, North Las Vegas, NV
  • Kelly Hamill, Flight Nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam, Mattoon, IL
  • Andy Hardy, Paramedic, AMR, Athens, TN
  • Fidencio Hernandez, EMT/Field Training Officer, AMR, San Jose, CA
  • Matthew Kohl, Paramedic, AMR, Evansville, IN
  • Daniel Lee, Flight Nurse, Airlink/Med-Trans Corp., Klamath Falls, OR
  • Jesse Mascarenas, Flight Nurse, REACH Air Medical Services, Salida, CO
  • Stephanie Nocita, Paramedic, AMR, Monterey, CA
  • Randall Roberson, Advanced EMT, Lifeguard/AMR, Prestonsburg, KY
  • Hiram Sanchez, SOS EMT, AMR, Napa, CA
  • Dakota Shadwell, Flight Nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam, Mattoon, IL
  • Jay Shintaku, Firefighter/Paramedic, Rural Metro Fire, Tempe, AZ
  • Brad Sparks, Flight Nurse, REACH Air Medical Services, Oceanside, CA
  • Rob Spencer, Paramedic/Field Training Officer, AMR, Temple, TX
  • Michael Taboniar, Paramedic, AMR, Lihue, HI
  • William Weber, Field Training Officer, AMR, Lake Havasu City, AZ
  • Riley Wolfe, Paramedic, AMR, Redlands, CA
  • Danny Workman, Flight Paramedic, REACH Air Medical Services, Concord, CA
  • Daniel Yandell, EMT, AMR, Vancouver, WA

"These outstanding first responders embody the greatest values of the EMS profession, including commitment to patient care, integrity, compassion and professionalism. It is an honor to recognize them for their sacrifice, skill and continual pursuit of excellence."

About Global Medical Response  

With nearly 38,000 team members, Global Medical Response delivers compassionate, quality medical care, primarily in the areas of emergency medical and patient relocation services in the United States and around the world. GMR was formed by combining the industry leaders in air, ground, mobile healthcare services, and community, industrial/specialty and wildland fire services. Each of our companies has a long history of proudly serving the communities where we live: American Medical Response (AMR), Rural Metro Fire, Air Evac Lifeteam, REACH Air Medical Services, Guardian Flight,Med-Trans Corporation and AirMed International. For additional information, visit us on LinkedIn or at www.GlobalMedicalResponse.com.