33 First Responders from GMR to Receive Highest EMS Honor

Global Medical Response (GMR) 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 33 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 Hyatt Regency Washington in Washington D.C November 10-13. 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 2024 Stars of Life recipients are:

• Frank Alba, Critical Care Paramedic, Field Training Officer, AMR, Kansas City, KS
• Johan Alvarado, Flight Paramedic, Air Evac Lifeteam, Laredo, TX
• Aubree Arneson, Advanced EMT, Cal-Ore Life Flight/REACH Air Medical Services, Brookings, OR
• Henry Barsh, EMT, AMR, Washington, D.C.
• Antoine Berenger, Firefighter, EMT, Rural Metro Fire, Tempe, AZ
• Heather James, Advanced EMT, AMR, Lagrange, GA
• Emily Chandler, EMS Programs Manager, AMR, Springfield, MA
• Josh Cavaness, Flight Paramedic, EagleMed/Med-Trans Corp., Chanute, KS
• Andrew Davalos, Paramedic, AMR, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
• Riggs Egolf, Paramedic, AMR, Hampton, VA
• Juvencio Estrada, Flight Nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam, Laredo, TX
• Brent Fisher, Flight Paramedic, Air Evac Lifeteam, Poplar Bluff, MO
• Jason Florance, Paramedic, AMR, Topeka, KS
• Scotland Hamlin, EMT, Field Training Officer, AMR, Orlando, FL
• Jason Henry, Fire Captain, Rural Metro Fire, Tempe, AZ
• Jason Hodges, Operations Supervisor, AMR, Portland, OR
• David Kingdon, Paramedic, AMR, Maui County, HI
• Daniel “Dan” Laguna, Pilot, REACH Air Medical Services, Elko, NV
• Matthew Lambert, Paramedic, Lifeguard/AMR, Florence, AL
• Miki Leslie, EMT, Field Training Officer, AMR, Yakima, WA
• Alyssa Meier, EMT, AMR/Life Line Ambulance, Prescott, AZ
• Eli Melamed, Paramedic, AMR, Prescott, AZ
• Megan Overbeck, Paramedic, AMR/Abbott EMS, Decatur, IL
• Michael Penna, Critical Care Transport Registered Nurse, AMR, Redlands, CA
• Kevin Rochford, Paramedic, AMR, Waco, TX
• Lance Smeal, Advanced EMT, Field Training Officer, AMR, Buffalo, NY
• Raquel Soto, Paramedic, AMR, West Hartford, CT
• Jason Southard, Operations Supervisor, AMR, Tucson, AZ
• Ambrose Stevens, Operations Manager, AMR Redding, CA (receiving award posthumously)
• Shane Terry, Flight Paramedic, Air Evac Lifeteam, Big Spring, TX
• Andrew Varela, Paramedic, Field Training Officer, AMR, Modesto, CA
• Lucie Walters, Flight Respiratory Therapist, AirMed International, Birmingham, AL
• Nikki Warren, Flight Nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam, Poplar Bluff, MO

“These outstanding first responders personify some of the greatest values of the EMS industry, such as commitment to patient care, integrity and compassion,” said Nick Loporcaro, president and CEO of GMR. “It is an honor to recognize them for their sacrifice, skill and continual pursuit of excellence.”