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.

Francisco Ruiz Vazquez
(Pancho)
Rural/Metro Ambulance Service, Louisville

• Native of Guadalajara, Mexico.
• As a young man, worked in emergency services with the Mexican Red Cross.
• Played professional soccer in Mexico before coming to Louisville for medical treatment for a sports injury.
• Became an EMT in Kentucky six years ago after completing his EMT training at Springfield Vo-Tech.
• Has served with local fire and rescue squads in Washington County.
• Known for his compassion, empathy, and commitment to serving his community and his patients; treats everyone as if they were "family" regardless of income, walk of life, etc.
• Serves without charge as a Spanish translator for local police, social service agencies, hospitals, and other community service organizations.
• Currently works full-time at Rural/Metro Ambulance Service in Louisville; has worked for Washington County Ambulance Service and Marion County EMS.

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.

Robert McBryde
Somerset - Pulaski County EMS

• Certified Paramedic since 1986; EMT since 1982.
• Started with Somerset-Pulaski Co. EMS in 1987, advancing through the ranks and now serving as Captain.
• Has also served SPCEMS as training coordinator, chief training officer, safety officer, QA coordinator, paramedic instructor, CPR and first aid instructor, ACLS instructor, and PALS instructor
• Active in church work serving as deacon, choir director, song leader, Sunday school teacher, and youth director.
• Married and a grandfather; balances his EMS activities with family responsibilities while not neglecting either.
• Was the first paramedic on the scene of a Sept. 27, 1997 collision between a drunk driver and a hay wagon carrying a church group that resulted in 19 injured plus 2 eventual fatalities. After assuming command, Paramedic McBryde: ·
  • Established ICS
  • Assessed and communicated needs
  • Established triage area
  • Oversaw caring for family members
  • Coordinated care and response among 2 air medical services, multiple ambulances, fire, rescue, DES, law enforcement, and the press.
• During and after this incident, Paramedic McBryde shunned publicity or recognition, preferring to concentrate on patient and community needs

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.

Mike Borders

• Although Mr. Borders is not an actual instructor, this award recognizes two decades of dedication to EMS education in Kentucky.
• As director of the Barren River Regional EMS System in the 1970s, he organized the first paramedic training program for south central Kentucky.
• Following dismantling of the regional EMS systems in the early 1980's, Mr. Borders used his administrative and entrepreneurial skills, along with a commitment to improving EMS, to establish teams of educators, physicians, hospital administrators and ambulance service providers in the development and administration of paramedic training programs in Glasgow, Bowling Green, Frankfort, Elizabethtown, Shepardsville, Lebanon, Columbia, Louisville, and New Albany (IN)
• Mr. Borders also worked with American Heart Association affiliates to bring ACLS and PALS provider and instructor courses to south central and rural Kentucky.
• For over 20 years, Mike Borders has traveled Kentucky to plan, organize and deliver EMS educational programs to hundreds of past and present EMS professionals across the Commonwealth.

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.

Somerset-Pulaski County EMS

Accepting the award from Mr. Page is Billy Miller.

• Service established in 1983 following the dissolution of Lake Cumberland EMS; committed to continuing the concept of the EMS System in Pulaski County.
• SPCEMS personnel, from the beginning, have been encouraged to become instructors in EMT, paramedic, ACLS, PALS, fire, rescue, CPR, first aid, and related training to serve the needs of SPCEMS, area emergency services, and the community at large. Examples include:
  • Providing first response training for local fire and rescue organizations
  • Open house during EMS Week, and other times
  • Participation in career days at local high schools
  • Offering blood pressure checks and screening
  • Participation in "Ghost Outs" and other programs to reduce drinking and driving among high school students
  • Providing CPR and first aid training in  schools and to other community groups
  • Providing ACLS training to local physicians, dentists, and other health professions
  • Participating in child fingerprinting and other community safety programs
  • Organizing disaster training exercises including mock school bus crashes
  • Served as a model rural EMS system for other county EMS systems
  • Developed financial and community support for Pulaski County E-911; organized and developed basic and later enhanced 911; later turned over to an independent board.

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.

William D. Smith
Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County

• Began his EMS career in 1977 by completing EMT training through Vo Tech and purchasing the local ambulance service from the funeral home.
• Has continuously maintained his EMT certification since 1977.
• Has been the sole owner of what is now the Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County since 1978, initially making runs out of his home.
• Upgraded the ambulance service to ALS in 1986 becoming the first ALS service in southeastern Kentucky.
• Served as a police officer with the City of London for 10 years eventually becoming Chief of Police, serving in that capacity for 8 and ½ years.
• Initiated the planning for central dispatch for Laurel County emergency services in 1979.
• Initiated the planning for Laurel County's E-911 system in 1984.
• Implemented the D.A.R.E. program in Laurel County schools in 1989.
• To this day, provides leadership and support to EMS in southeast Kentucky through Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County's many programs including: · EMS training, Southeast KY EMS Competition, and Expanded Search and Rescue Operations Teams.

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.

Edward Kuehne

• Mr. Kuehne was selected by the Kentucky EMT Instructors Association at their April, 1998, annual conference.

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

Kathleen Ferriell
University of Louisville Hospital

• Director of the Emergency Department, University of Louisville Hospital.
• Active member of the ENA for over a decade.
• Active leadership role in numerous nursing organizations including KNA.
• Special area of interest in governmental affairs at the state and national level.
• Instrumental in communicating nursing priorities related to delivering quality health care to citizens of the Commonwealth.
• Member council of specialty nursing organizations.
• Leadership in the committee on emergency nursing and critical care, KNA

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.

David Kerins
Louisville Medical Center STATCARE

• Executive Director of Louisville Medical Center STATCARE.
• Nominated because of his efforts that made the difficult process of merging three-competing air medical programs as professional and non-damaging to the air medical industry.