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.

Michael Trent
Knox County EMS, Barbourville

• EMT Since 1986
• Captain and Training Coordinator for Knox County EMS
• Member of the Knox County Special Operations Response Team (SORT)
• Significant Involvement with community injury prevention activities including school bus safety, Trauma Day, Special Olympics, and local school projects.
• Outstanding member of the EMS team whether responding to emergencies, taking food to the elderly, competing in EMS competitions, or cheering on his co-workers.

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.

Paul A. DeSpain
Community Methodist Hospital EMS, Henderson

• Certified as a Paramedic since 1980; and an EMT since 1979
• Holds instructor certifications in ACLS, BTLS, PALS and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Coordinated paramedic training programs in the Henderson area.
• Instrumental in starting a multi-agency trauma team to improve trauma response in Henderson, Union, and Webster Counties.
• Previously involved with Henderson’s "Good To Be Alive" program bringing strong anti-drug, anti-alcohol, and anti-drunk driving message to teenagers.
• Leading force behind developing and conducting the new "Good To Be Alive II" program that focuses on teen violence and its aftermath. Developed as a follow up to the Heath High School incident, the program has been presented to high schools in Henderson, Union, Webster, and Crittenden Counties as well as to all middle schools in Henderson County.
• The "Good To Be Alive II" program incorporates live music, video taped sequences, reality based information on the consequences op violence, and interviews with penitentiary inmates.

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.

Bob Price
Somerset-Pulaski County EMS, Somerset

• Certified as a Paramedic since 1987; an EMT since 1982.
• Assistant Chief and Chief Training Officer for Somerset-Pulaski County EMS.
• Holds active instructor status in the following areas:
  • American Heart Association CPR, PALS, and ACLS
  • BTLS
  • National Safety Council First Aid & CPR
  • AIDS Awareness and Bloodborne Pathogens
  • First Responder Instructor
  • EMT Instructor
  • Paramedic Instructor
• Combined 95% success rate for students in his classes.
• Oversees EMS community and public education for Somerset-Pulaski County EMS.
• Over 15 years of significant experience and involvement in EMS education.

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.

Medical Center Emergency Medical Services,
Bowling Green

Accepting the award is EMS Director Randy Fathbruckner

• Medical Center EMS provides ALS/BLS ambulance services to Warren and Logan Counties.
• Medical Center EMS is committed to community education as evidenced by the following:
  • Providing community wide education, open houses, and ambulance/equipment exhibits, especially in Logan County following MC EMS purchase of local ambulance services, as well as over 100 events in Warren County over the past year.
  • Providing CPR and first aid classes to high school students, staff of day care centers, police officers, sheriffs deputies, and dispatchers
• Organizing and participating in injury prevention education and programs including:
  • High school drunk driving simulations
  • Safety City (teaching safe driving skills to school age children)
  • Make the Right Call
  • Halloween Safety
  • Farm Safety
  • Bicycle Safety
• Specialized education programs related to heat injuries, back safety, etc.
• Public education on the Prehospital Do Not Resuscitate form and other issues related to advanced directives
• Providing ACLS, PALS, and BTLS courses to local physicians, nurses, and other health professionals.
• Coordinating and offering EMT Transition Courses, AED courses, and related EMS training for members of local fire departments, and industrial ambulance services.

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.

Billy Miller
Somerset-Pulaski County EMS, Somerset

• Joined the Lake Cumberland EMS system in 1979; became Chief of Somerset-Pulaski County EMS in 1984.
• Certified as an EMT in 1980; Paramedic in 1983.
• Overseen the growth of Somerset-Pulaski County EMS from 2 ambulances, 8 employees and an annual budget of $122,000. This year, the service has 10 ambulances, 38 full-time and 20-part time employees, a 15,000 square foot base station, 2 substations, rescue vehicles (ground and water), and an annual budget of approximately $2,000,000.
• Under Billy Miller’s direction, Somerset-Pulaski County EMS has become an integral and key component of the local and regional medical and emergency response system to include the following:
  • Community injury prevention activities
  • Disaster planning and participation in community disaster exercises
  • Community education activities including CPR, ACLS, PALS, and others
  • EMT and paramedic training programs in conjunction with Kentucky Tech
  • Introduction of new technologies over the years including external pacemakers, 12-lead ECG, AEDs, etc.
• Served as Director of the Pulaski County Communications 911 Center from 1992-1995.
• In addition to his numerous EMS roles, Billy Miller serves as a Board Member on a number of other community and regional organizations including: Southeastern KY Area Health Education Center, Western KY Area Health Education Center, KAPA, SARA Title III LEPC, and the Somerset-Pulaski County 911.
• Pastor of the Jordan Baptist Church and Administrator of the Jordan Christian Academy.

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

The 1999 EMS Awards Review Committee recommended that the following be given a special meritorious service award in recognition of their service on December 1, 1997.

.

Responders to the Heath High School
shooting incident
Mercy Regional EMS, Paducah

• Paramedic Ben Bradford *
• Paramedic Rickie Driskill
• EMT G. T. Garrison
• EMT Stoy Gates
• Paramedic Jeramy Jeffrey *
• Paramedic Jason Lane *
• EMT Kevin Lynn
• Paramedic Tracy Rudolph

*has become certified as a paramedic since the incident.

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.

Bobby Burnett
Campbellsville

• Member of Campbellsburg Volunteer Fire Department from 1965 until 1976, retiring as Assistant Chief.
• Member of the Henry County EMS District 1 since 1971 and remains active there today.
• Became an EMT in 1971.
• American Red Cross instructor in 1973
• Kentucky EMT instructor in 1978
• American Heart Associaion instructor in 1980
• Kentucky EMT instructor in 1993
• Has taught 29 EMT classes and trained 725 students.
• Was on the regional EMS Advisory Board when the Army Medical Air Ambulance from Fort Knox were first put into service.
• Served as triage officer at the Carrollton bus accident tragedy in 1988.

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

Beverly Hart, PH.D, RN, CEN

Bev has been a member of ENA for 14 years and has served on local, state, and national committees.

• BSN – Eastern Kentucky University
• MSN- Bellarmine
• Ph.D. – University of Cincinnati
• Certification in Emergency Nursing
• In 1997, became ENA's Kentucky State Education Chairperson. Since then she has facilitated a statewide course for the Certified Emergency Nurse’s Exam, helped with several workshops related to emergency nursing, and continued with research involving alcohol related emergencies in our state.
• In 1999, Bev became active on the Research Vision Council for the National ENA.
• Serves on the Faculty of the Nursing Program at Eastern Kentucky University.
• Serves as a PRN nurse at Southeast Baptist Medical Center, Corbin.

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.

John Isfort
University of Kentucky Air Medical Services,
Lexington

John was the founder of the Kentucky Chapter, Association of Air Medical Services and instumental in drafting the current Kentucky air medical regulations.

Runner Ups:

• EMT of the Year: Sandee Glenn, Yellow Ambulance Service of Owensboro-Daviess County.
• Paramedic of the Year: Larry J. Granstaff, Crittenden County EMS
• EMS Educator of the Year: Rudy Garrett, Somerset-Pulaski County EMS
• EMS Special Recognition Award: Joe Bradshaw, Knox County EMS
• EMS Provider Public Eduation: Ambulance Inc. of  Laurel County