The EMT of the Year represents the best the profession has to offer. Recipients have demonstrated proficiency in patient care and have displayed professionalism which commands respect from patient and peers alike.

Nell Thomas
Trigg County Ambulance Service

• Certified EMT since 1977
• Headed Trigg County Ambulance Service since 1979; supervised their growth from a borrowed hearse to a four ambulance, 18 employee hospital based service
• Continues to make responses as well as manages the ambulance service
• Charter member of the Trigg County Chapter of the American Red Cross
• Certified instructor for first aid, CPR, and HIV classes
• Numerous examples of public information and education activities related to EMS including presentations to civic groups, schools, and related organizations
• Developed strong and effective relationships with other local emergency response agencies, especially police, sheriff, DES, and ambulance services in surrounding counties
• Organized the Toys for Tots program through the Trigg County Ambulance Service in 1980, continuing through the years. During Christmas 1996, over 150 children received toys

Paramedic of the Year
Awarded by the EMS Branch, Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services

The Paramedic of the Year represents the best the profession has to offer. Recipients have demonstrated proficiency in patient care and have displayed professionalism which commands respect from patient and peers alike.

Jim Williams
Medical Center Ambulance Service

• Certified paramedic since 1987 and an EMT since 1985 (also a certified paramedic in Tennessee)
• Member and officer of the Kentucky Paramedic Association since 1990
• EMS Training Officer with Medical Center Ambulance Service in Bowling Green. Also serves as coordinator of the Mobile Critical Care Program and lead member of the EMS Bike Team
• Instructor credentials include ACLS, PALS, BTLS, CPR, Farmedic, Public Safety SCUBA, Dive Rescue, Fire Service, HazMat Awareness/Operations, and an EMT Instructor since 1995
• Member of the Kentucky BTLS Steering Committee
• Served 12 years as a volunteer firefighter
• Other recognitions include Barren River Fire Department's EMT of the Year and Community Service Award

EMS Educator of the Year
Awarded by the EMS Branch, Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services

The EMS Educator of Year has made significant contributions to the education of EMS personnel in his/her service or community and whose professionalism has commanded the respect of his/her peers, students, and the public.

D. Lee Brown
Allen County EMS

• Paramedic instructor and course coordinator at Western Kentucky University (South Central Kentucky Health Education Training Center)
• Certified EMT, paramedic, and registered nurse
• Paramedic with Allen County EMS and an emergency department nurse at T.J. Sampson Hospital (Glasgow)
• AHA ACLS and BLS provider/instructor
• Kentucky EMS for Children project instructor
• Proposed WKU EMS degree program
• Serves on the BLS Subcommittee work group revising EMT regulations
• Paramedic written examination review group
• WKU's EMS Career Day program
• Sponsored EMS-C instructor classes at WKU
• Special Olympics medical team
• Provides EMS continuing education to numerous EMS and fire services throughout the region

EMS Provider Public Education Award
Awarded by the EMS Branch, Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services

The EMS Provider Public Education Award is presented to an ambulance service, hospital, or other provider organization in recognition of significant contributions to the improvement of the public's understanding of EMS. The award recognizes organizations which educate the public on how to access the EMS system, provide training in CPR or first aid, or otherwise promotes effective utilization of the EMS system.

Community Methodist Hospital EMS

Accepting the award is Neil Kellen, EMS Director

Recognized for the variety, comprehensiveness, and quality of programs to educate the community about a number of EMS related topics including:

• Good to be Alive. This program to reduce teen fatalities includes handouts, video and audio tape presentations, radio interviews, and in-school presentations has been given to over 5,000 students throughout Henderson, Union, Webster, and Crittenden counties and involved more than 1,000 man hours from the three ambulance services operated through Community Methodist Hospital. The program features EMS personnel giving musical performances, spoken word, and visual clues which correct "driving myths" heard from young, inexperienced drivers; provides facts and figures with visual images on the impact of traffic crashes and injuries; show the human impact of automobile crashes; and reinforce the positive notion of the value of life.
• Medical Alert Tube. Under this program, large tubes are distributed to senior citizens which contain a form for medical history and the EMS DNR form. Also distributed are brightly colored stickers which can alert rescuers to the existence and location of the Medical Alert Tube within the home or automobile. In distributing the Medical Alert Tubes, CMH EMS personnel take the opportunity to provide general information about EMS, hold question/answer sessions, conduct blood pressure checks, and allow seniors to get to know local EMS personnel.

EMS Special Recognition Award
Awarded by the EMS Branch, Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services

The EMS Special Recognition Award was established to recognize an individual who has made significant contributions to the planning, development, implementation, or evaluation of EMS systems within their local community or the state as a whole. Recipients may be an EMS professional who has worked to improve the quality and availability of any component of EMS or trauma care systems, a public official, community leader, or other "lay person" who has spearheaded significant improvements to EMS in their community or the Commonwealth.

John Hultgren
SKYCARE

Recognized for his contributions involved in planning, creating, and maintaining The Kentucky EMS Connection, an Internet site on the World Wide Web. The site has become an invaluable source of EMS information to serve the needs of EMS providers and others with an interest in EMS across Kentucky and throughout the Web.

In addition, Mr. Hultgren is recognized for his contributions over the years to making the Kentucky EMS Conference and Trade Show a success. Since its first year in 1990, he has helped plan and organize the conference, registration procedures, continuing education documentation, and has utilized his computer knowledge (and his own computer hardware and software) to the benefit of the Kentucky EMS Conference and Trade Show as well as its speakers and attendees.

For these and many other contributions to Kentucky's EMS program and personnel, Mr. Hultgren is recognized.

EMS Special Recognition Award
Awarded by the EMS Branch, Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services

The EMS Special Recognition Award was established to recognize an individual who has made significant contributions to the planning, development, implementation, or evaluation of EMS systems within their local community or the state as a whole. Recipients may be an EMS professional who has worked to improve the quality and availability of any component of EMS or trauma care systems, a public official, community leader, or other "lay person" who has spearheaded significant improvements to EMS in their community or the Commonwealth.

Richard Bartlett
Jefferson County DES

Mr. Bartlett has provided over two decades of service to the improvement and betterment of EMS in Kentucky.

Until January 1997 he had served as the director of Louisville EMS since the late 1970s. He was instrumental in the development of the Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association and helped to develop that association to one of the most respected state associations in the country. He has served as a board member on KAPA since its charter. Also, he developed Louisville EMS from its infancy to one of the best EMS systems in the country.

Mr. Bartlett has served for many years on the EMS Advisory Committee, including several years as its chairman. He has been involved in the development of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing teams throughout the Commonwealth which shows his dedication not just to EMS patients but also for the EMS workers themselves.

Mr. Bartlett has been involved with every EMS issue that has come up in the past 15 years and has been extremely active with EMS legislative issues in Frankfort. Although he has moved out of the EMS realm, his contributions to Kentucky EMS system development in the past shall live on for many years.

Dr Jack Carey Award
Awarded by the Kentucky EMT Instructors Association

The Dr. Jack Carey Award, made possible by a grant from Rohm and Haas, Inc., is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. Carey, a Lexington physician who helped spearhead the development of emergency medicine in Kentucky, and who aided many EMS responders in furthering their education and training, assisting wherever necessary to better EMS care in the state. The award honors an EMT-Instructor who is outstanding in the training they provide, furthering the future of EMTs and all EMS providers in the state.

Gene Reeser

• Became an EMT in 1971 and an EMT Instructor in 1972
• Has taught classes for the University of Kentucky, Western Kentucky University, and Kentucky Tech
• Much of his teaching has been done as team teaching with his wife, Ann
• Being an EMT Instructor became a major part of his life, spilling over to this three children who all became EMTs (as did one son-in-law).   For Gene, family vaues mean a lot and his family came first
• Fifth Regional Coordinator for over 20 years
• A big influence on many EMTs in Kentucky as an instructor, but also as a friend and "adopted Dad" to many.

Emergency Nurse of the Year
Awarded by the Kentucky State Council of the Emergency Nurses Association

Elizabeth (Betty) G. Nolan
University of Kentucky Medical Center

• Registered nurse since 1980 with a BSN from Northeastern University, Boston
• Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
• Emergency department nurse at the University of Kentucky Medical Center since 1992
• Major in the U.S. Army Reserve, 4209th U.S. Army Hospital
• Instructor credentials include ACLS, Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC), and Emergency Nurses Pediatric Course (ENPC)
• Active member of the Kentucky State Council of ENA, currently serving as association treasurer

Wings Award
Awarded by the Kentucky Chapter, Association of Air Medical Services

The recipient of the Wings Award is a Kentucky Chapter of AAMS member in good standing who has by deeds, actions, or words, made a significant contribution to the air medical transport profession or Industry in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Rick McKinstry
SKYCARE

• Represents the air medical industry in a highly professional manner with his commitment to strong patient care, strong education, and strong research
• Flight Nurse at Jewish Hospital SKYCARE in Louisville
• ACLS course coordinator for SKYCARE. Provides a very thorough and professional class that results in the students being knowledgeable of the requirements of the ACLS course
• Goes to great lengths to clarify the role of air ambulance and ACLS protocol
• Has received numerous compliments from physicians for his strong patient care qualities
• Researched and developed new protocols which incorporate new technology and advances in pharmacology
• Actively involved in ENA, the National Flight Nurses Association, and Kentucky AAMS
• Certified as a Flight Registered Nurse, Certified Emergency Nurse, ACLS Instructor, ACLS Kentucky Affiliate Faculty, PALS Provider, Trauma Nurse Specialist, and an EMT
• Highly respected among his peers as a teacher and provider