Linda Johnson an AEMT with Marquette EMS. For almost the last 30 years, Linda has been consistently answering the call for help when someone in Marquette dials 9-1-1. She has recruited, trained and mentored more EMS providers in her career than most. Her name is synonymous with Marquette EMS providing ALS services, something most small communities don’t have, for most of her career as an EMT-I and now AEMT.

In addition to her dedication to the department, Linda is responsible for organizing the Red Cross Blood Drives that come through the community every 8 weeks; the summer lunch program for the kids in the community; she volunteers her time at the local grocery store twice a week; she sits on the hospital board in the community adjacent to Marquette; sits on the board of a local community college EMS department; and is very active in her church and their functions.

Linda is not only a mentor for skills and patient care, but she is also listening ear when someone in the service needs to debrief. She was instrumental in getting a chaplain for the department so that crew members could have an outside source when they needed it. She is the first to send a text, make a call or offer to meet for lunch when she knows someone is having a rough day or had a rough call.

Linda works hard to make sure the community knows the history of Marquette EMS and the value of the service to the community. She gives ambulance tours to school kids and daycare kids, so they’re not scared when an ambulance shows up on scene; she helps educate adults in the community and answers questions they have; and she spends one Monday a month providing blood pressure checks at the senior center. Linda is a member of the Marquette Chamber of Commerce so she can provide information to the downtown businesses on what EMS is doing and how they can be involved, and she acts as a liaison between EMS and the Rangers/Game Wardens and state staff at Kanopolis Lake and Reservoir.

Linda takes on the role of protector and mentor of each person as they join the department making it her personal mission to make sure that when someone is going through EMS school that she is a resource. She helps EMS students’ study, quizzes them over terms or medications, practice skills and will run through scenarios with them. Once the students are certified, she continues to mentor them until they’re qualified to run calls on their own.

This award is given to a Kansas EMT who has significantly contributed to EMS at the community, state and/or national level. 

Paramedic of the Year - James Wilson

James Wilson with Coffeyville Regional Medical Center EMS. James, aka Jim, started at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center EMS in 1993 and has worked a total of 30 years between PRN and full-time. In 1999, Jim was promoted to Paramedic Supervisor and is currently one of three shift supervisors. In addition to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center EMS, Jim has been Fire Chief for a local volunteer fire department since 2000.

Jim has provided great care for many years for the citizens of Coffeyville and Southern Montgomery County and the surrounding areas. He is a great mentor for new EMTs and seasoned Paramedics, as well as all students that have pursued their EMS education over the years in Coffeyville. Jim is always willing to help train new employees by helping to make sure they’re well oriented with daily tasks as an EMS professional. He is a big influence on every EMT/Paramedic he comes in contact with, having taught every EMT/Paramedic as a preceptor and mentor currently working for Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.

Jim always provides excellent care to his patients, whether caring for them in at an ALS level or by providing assistance to his EMT or Paramedic partners to make sure every patient is getting the highest level of pre-hospital healthcare possible. He is always dedicated to helping within the hospital and is an amazing team player.

Jim has never met a stranger, he is always smiling and spreading joy everywhere he goes. He always demonstrates professionalism in interacting with patients, their families and other medical professionals and always goes above and beyond without complaint.

In addition to his work at the service, he serves on the Kansas Hospital Emergency Preparedness Committee and is Chairman of the LEPC. Jim is the homeland security representative for CRMC and has been CRMC IC Safety Officer for several years. He is also one of the subject matter experts for the local EMS education program at Coffeyville Community College.

This award is for a Kansas Paramedic who has significantly contributed to EMS at the community, state and/or national level.  It can be any Kansas Paramedic whose primary responsibility is providing direct patient care.

Donald E. White Educator of the Year - Zach Bieghler

Zach Bieghler is the EMS Director at Kingman EMS. As an educator, his students are provided quality education in both initial and continuing education courses. He seeks to inspire students to understand the material and desire to learn more about the topics. He has taught numerous EMR and EMT courses for his community and a department outside his community. He spends time developing different ways to explain the material and expand on the information; he takes pride in developing lessons and curriculum to mee the needs of the students. Zach does not simply teach to the test, but rather to ensure the students are prepared to work on the ambulance proficiently. His students are prepared for the streets.

Zach’s dedication to the educational field expands outside of teaching classes. He has been the President of the KEMSA Educator’s Society since 2015. Under previous leaders, the society had struggled to stay active, Zach took on the leadership and has grown it to become an active, vital part of Kansas EMS Education. He’s ensured educator workshops are held each year providing educational opportunities for instructors across the state to improve their teaching skills as well as their understanding of education. Educators have been able to rely on the society to be a resource for answers.

In addition to developing the workshops, Zach has become a public voice for educators. He is viewed as an educational resource for other educators and agencies. He is always available for other educators and departments to ask questions, explore problems together, and be a supportive cohort. Zach’s commitment to the educational process and quality education drives him to participate at the state level, providing comments to the board of EMS when needed and works diligently to ensure all educators across the state are represented.

Community education is also something that Zach is continuously participating in. From teaching CPR and First Aid to pop-up hands only CCR stations at community events – he is always finding ways to educate and inspire the public. Even with the lasting effects of the pandemic, under Zach’s leadership, his service was able to certify 82 members of the public in CPR and First Aid. He has also formed connections within the local hospital and through those connections has been able to open doors for training and education. Zach’s connections have allowed EMS providers and hospital staff to come together and train with each other to provide the best possible care to patients.

This award is offered to recognize any Kansas Instructor Coordinator who is recognized by the Kansas Board of EMS to conduct initial courses of instruction or continuing education instruction and is given to an outstanding instructor of initial or continuing EMS education.

EMS Support person of the year - Greg Graffman

Greg Graffman is City Manager for the City of Kingman. Since becoming the City Manager in 2017 he has been very engaged in the EMS department and their operations. He has taken the time to learn the ins and outs of EMS and he truly understands the nature of the profession. What’s more, Greg is connected to the human side of the department, not just the business side. He compassionately cares about the well-being of the staff as well as the patients whom they serve.

Greg demonstrates this by routinely following up with the department following tough and critical calls to ensure that responders are doing well mentally as well as ensuring that the city is providing adequate resources to its department members. One such example of this compassion was during the summer/fall of 2022 when the department encountered several difficult calls involving multiple fatalities in a short period of time. Greg ensured that the staff received adequate counseling and debriefing during this time and ensured that responders were taking adequate time off when needed to mentally recuperate.

Since his tenure, the department has accomplished rapid growth. Within the first few months of his employment as City Manager, he understood that the call volume was exceeding the human capabilities of the department. Employees were overworked and burned out with so many calls occurring during the working hours and on-call hours. Furthermore, the department was unable to achieve state-regulated response times because a large amount of call volume was occurring during on-call hours when response was delayed, which had a direct impact on patient outcomes. During this time, with only four full-time employees, the department was only able to staff the station from 0800-1800 hours with on-call coverage in the evening and overnight hours. Greg quickly advocated for additional staffing and in 2018 the department grew from four full-time employees to five full-time employees allowing the department to staff the station from 0700-2100 hours with on-call staff in the overnight hours. There was an immediate effect on response times, which fell into regulatory standards.

In an aggressive move in 2019, Greg advocated for a new EMS station to better serve the department’s employees and promote further growth. The city approved the purchase of an existing commercial building and remodeled it to fit the needs of a new EMS station. Within six months, the department found themselves working out of a newly remodeled station complete with full living quarters, a large training facility, a spacious ambulance bay, and a large office. With living quarters, growth was immediate, which allowed the hiring of part-time and future full-time employees who lived outside the city. The mental health of the employees improved quickly and burn-out receded as the new facility provided ample space and areas to relax during downtime.

This award is given to an individual whose efforts enhance EMS in Kansas through their actions as a First Responder, Nurse, Dispatcher, Law Enforcement Officer, Pilot, Supervisor, or other individual who would not fit into the other categories for individual recognition.

Administrator of the Year - Kevin Lanterman

With over three decades of experience in EMS, Chief Lanterman has a wealth of firsthand knowledge in the field. He has service in various roles throughout his career, starting as an EMT and steadily progressing through the ranks. This diverse experience has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and intricacies involved in delivering high-quality emergency medical care.

When Chief Lanterman assumed the Chief position at Sedgwick County EMS, he stepped into a service facing numerous challenges. Recognizing the magnitude of the situation, he fearlessly embraced the opportunity to turn things around. His ability to remain composed and focused amidst adversity set the stage for a remarkable journey of transformation. Improving morale within an organization is crucial for maintaining a motivated and engaged workforce. Chief Lanterman has been instrumental in implementing strategies to enhance morale within the service. Through his thoughtful and effective leadership, he has created an environment that fosters positivity, teamwork, and employee satisfaction. He understands the importance of open and transparent communication and he ensures that lines of communication are always accessible, allowing employees to voice their concerns, provide feedback, and contribute ideas. Regular updates, staff meetings and open-door policies have created an inclusive and supportive work environment.

Chief Lanterman recognizes the importance of acknowledging the hard work and accomplishments of his staff. He has approved various recognition programs, boosted individual morale and creating a culture of appreciation and recognition among the entire workforce. His unwavering support for his staff is at the heart of his leadership style. Recognizing the demanding nature of EMS, he has implemented various measures to ensure the well-being and professional growth of his staff. From fostering open lines of communication to providing opportunities for training and development, he has created an environment that values and supports the entire EMS team.

Some of his transformative changes within the organization include the implementation of step raises, leadership recognition, scope expansion, and overall support of his staff. His dedication to improving the organization, nurturing talent, and prioritizing the well-being of his team have resulted in a more motivated, engaged, and effective workforce, ultimately translating to improved patient care. As the head of Sedgwick County EMS, Chief Lanterman has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and expertise in the field of emergency medical services.

This award is for an administrator who has made a significant contribution to EMS Administration on a local, state or national level, and it is awarded to an EMS administrator whose primary responsibility is the direction of individuals involved in the delivery of prehospital care.

Physician of the year - Dr. Colin Windham

Dr. Windham serves as the EMS Medical Director for the Burrton Consolidated Fire District #5; District #9 Coroner; and also serves as the Medical Director for Newton Medical Center Emergency Department.

Dr. Windham has been involved with improving protocols and CQI processes for Burrton. In addition, he participates in a monthly medical review where agencies can participate, if they choose, to have EMS runs reviewed and followed up on from Newton Medical Center.  He makes himself available to meet with local EMS agencies, should issues arise from calls and he always provides feedback in a constructive way.

He has spent several hours with agencies on protocol rebuilding as they were being written to give perspective from the ER standpoint on what would work and he was able to review things that should be removed. Dr. Windham works hand-in-hand with the Medical Director for Harvey county reviewing EMS calls at their request.  Dr. Windham spends several hours not just working as Medical Director for Burrton, but also supporting agencies in Harvey County and does so without any cost to the agencies, but rather to support local EMS.

This is awarded to any Kansas licensed physician who provides commendable service to the benefit of EMS in Kansas.

Community Service Award - Anderson county

In early 2023, Anderson County EMS organized a mock DUI crash for Crest High School students in conjunction with Colony Fire and Rescue and Colony City Marhsal Angela Gardner. The event showed students the realistic consequences of making poor decisions, such as drinking and driving or distractions such as texting and driving. In the mock crash, one senior was on hood of the truck with three other injured students inside the cab. Rescue workers used the ‘Jaws of Life’ to pry open the driver’s door where empty cans and bottles of alcohol fell from the truck – much to the surprise of the students watching.

Anderson County paramedic, Ashli Gavel, organized the event and based it on a real-life fatality crash she worked about two years ago. The real-life accident involved four teenagers and when Ashli arrived on the scene, two of the teenagers were performing CPR on their friend, who was already gone. She knew the family of one of the teens and had witnessed the impact of the accident on everyone involved, from the emergency response personnel, the teens involved in the crash and the families of both the survivors and the deceased.

Ashli joined Anderson County EMS in 2022 and jumped right in to serving her community. This mock accident is the fifth she has organized over her career.

The Community Service Award is awarded to an individual or team who has been involved in the development of innovative approaches to injury/illness prevention or EMS awareness within the community.

Career Service of the Year Award - Kingman ems

Serving a population of 7,200, Kingman EMS has 14 total EMTs, 5 Paramedics and had 707 emergency runs last year along with 223 non-emergency runs.

In 2022, Kingman EMS promoted one of their paramedics to the newly created position of captain to properly fill the role of training officer while still functioning as a full-time paramedic. This position is the first for the department and allows greater focus and better outcomes for EMS training. Kingman EMS has made great efforts to improve its training division over the past year with the acquisition of adult, pediatric, and infant ALS training manikins as well as CPR feedback manikins. These manikins were purchased with grant funding as well as funds generated by the department teaching public CPR. They are the only healthcare agency in the county to have these manikins, which are invaluable for advanced training; they often loan out the manikins to other county healthcare partners and often assist in conducting training for those agencies.

Kingman EMS is unique compared to most EMS agencies across the country as the service is also the primary provider of rescue operations to the Kingman EMS 720 sq mile service area. They recently obtained grants to upgrade extrication equipment from hydraulic tools to battery-operated tools. This advancement allows crews to provide much faster and safer extrication operations by adding portability, reliability, and more efficient operations.

Kingman EMS serves a rural population with only a critical access hospital in the county. After several challenging calls in the rural setting regarding airway management when air ambulances were not available, the department worked with the department’s Medical Director and developed protocols for rapid sequence intubation in 2022. Since the protocol was implemented, three patients have benefited from the new protocol, all of whom had positive outcomes, thanks to the treatment the providers were able to perform.

The department prides itself on allowing members of the department practice to the fullest potential of their scope with progressive and liberal protocols, from the EMR level to the Paramedic level. In addition to the RSI protocol implementation in 2022, the department also adjusted their protocols that allow lower providers to administer more medications with more routes after the Kansas Approved Medication List was updated. These protocols implemented in 2022 include allowing EMRs to administer epinephrine via Ampule draw and IM injection; EMTs to administer glucagon to unresponsive diabetics; and AEMTs to administer Amiodarone to pulsatile tachycardic rhythms are just a few examples. Kingman EMS monitors actions and updates from the Kansas Board of EMS and national guidelines and routinely adjusts protocols, procedures, and standard operating guidelines to provide cutting edge pre-hospital care to their citizens.

In the community, Kingman EMS works closely with its healthcare partners throughout the region. In 2022, Kingman EMS was awarded a grant for pediatric ALS manikins and became the only healthcare agency in the county to have such training tools. As with the previously mentioned manikins, Kingman EMS allows other partners to borrow the manikins and often helps train healthcare providers of other area agencies and facilities. These partners include Kingman Healthcare Center, Wheatlands Healthcare Center, Norwich EMS, and Pretty Prairie EMS. They also recognized a need for an AED in a nursing home who didn’t have an AED. Kingman EMS transferred an AED to that nursing home and continues to maintain the AED with pads and batteries to better serve the residents. 

In addition to the CPR and First Aid education, Kingman EMS also routinely provides initial education for those wanting to enter the EMS field. Kingman EMS has provided one EMR course and one EMT course since the spring of 2022 with a 100% pass/certification rate and at the time of this nomination had an EMT class finishing up and with that class, the department will have produced 15 certified individuals into the EMS workforce. All three classes were provided by Kingman EMS for neighboring services who were in great need for responders, only one of the 15 benefits Kingman EMS, while the other 14 are benefiting neighboring agencies. Additionally, the department routinely sponsors people wishing to pursue an EMS career through a college sending them to local community colleges to obtain initial education with the use of EIG funding.

This award recognizes a service that exemplifies outstanding professionalism and service to the community, honoring agencies for their dedication, teamwork and commitment to EMS.

Volunteer Service of the Year Award - City of Washington EMS

The City of Washington EMS is a volunteer EMS department that serves 600 square miles of rural Kansas. Their department answers 200 calls annually from the 3,200 citizens served. The staff is comprised of twenty-four volunteers and one full-time employee. The agency provides 24/7 BLS coverage, filling the shifts with those that are willing to give hours of service. 

In 2022, a nearby volunteer service was no longer able to provide EMS coverage to their community. The City of Washington EMS willingly absorbed the department and began responding to calls. It was important to their department that a community is provided quality EMS services. This expanded their ambulance stations to two and increased the number of citizens served.  The department not only answers 911 emergency calls but provides hospital transfers from both the city of Washington and Hanover. All the local events such as racing, rodeos, football games, track meets, and cross-country meets are provided EMS standby coverage as well.

The City of Washington EMS is involved in the community as well. The staff believe in being integrated into the communities beyond answering emergency calls. They participate in the local parades, assist, and participate in community health fairs, including providing blood pressure checks, provide CPR demonstrations and CPR education events, and provide car seat check lanes. Citizens can count on the EMS personnel to provide educational opportunities throughout the year. 

Incredibly, they are able to provide all of these services to the communities with volunteers. The volunteers are dedicated to meet all of the needs of the citizens, both emergent and nonemergent. This speaks volumes to their dedication and willingness to serve.  Many hours are sacrificed. The staff miss family dinners, holidays, family events; they sacrifice their sleep, and their free time in order to serve their community. Many times, the volunteers do all of this with little fanfare or recognition. They would rather quietly serve rather than draw attention to themselves. 

Elizabeth Andrew said, ‘Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.’ The City of Washington EMS definitely has the heart to serve their community.

This award recognizes a service that exemplifies outstanding professionalism and service to the community, honoring agencies for their dedication, teamwork and commitment to EMS.

Lifetime Achievement Award - Dennis Shry

Dennis started his career in EMS as a First Responder at the Lyndon Station of the Osage County Fire Department in 1993 at the age of 38. He obtained his EMT in 1995 and began working as a part-time EMT on March 25, 1995, for EMS in Osage County, moving to full-time in August of that same year and continuing to work full-time status in the transition in 1998. Dennis obtained his EMT-I certification in 2000 to better serve his community.  In 2004, Dennis was awarded the Star of Life in recognition of his service above and beyond the call of duty by the American Ambulance Association. He transferred to AMR Topeka in 2007 and did not hesitate to complete the EMT-I to AEMT transition in 2016. 

Dennis is the yardstick by which all should be measured. He has been an exemplary employee without disciplinary actions or investigations for decades. He is the first to arrive, often checking in his truck 45 minutes prior to shift to make sure everything is in order. He is the last to leave, many times staying late to cover calls or assist his team. He is the first to trade a coworker in need and does not hesitate to fill extra shifts.  He will drop everything to help his EMS family. When the family member of an employee needed emergency transport to a KC Metro hospital and no units were available to take the transfer, Dennis volunteered to stay after his 12-hour shift to make sure they arrived safely. Dennis would work 30 days in a row in the busy 9-1-1 system of Shawnee County if allowed, and he would do so without complaint. He often participates in standby events to support his community, including touch-a-truck events, and is the first to contribute to our employee charity drives. 

Though he faced several obstacles throughout his career, Dennis worked through all with grace, humility, and perseverance. In the fall of 2002, Dennis was diagnosed with cancer, finishing treatment in early 2003. He continued to have multiple complications after such as dry mouth, loss of taste buds, salivary glands, and teeth. To many people these things would be life altering but, in his words, “it’s nothing serious, I’m still upright and breathing.” He never wavered in his full-time commitment to provide care to others.

Though he is a man of few words, Dennis has the ability to put patients of all ages at ease, providing comfort and stability in times of turmoil and stress. He anticipates the needs of his partner and makes even the most difficult call run smoothly. There is a reason behind every action Dennis takes, backed by his years of experience, from the way he sets up his IVs to the method he uses to wash the truck, and he does not hesitate to pass on his wisdom to younger generations. At the age of 68, Dennis is still unsure as to when he will retire. He does not work in EMS for recognition, although many have praised him. He does not do it for the money or the thrill. Dennis says, “I enjoy doing it. It doesn’t feel like work. I just like helping people.”

This award recognizes an individual whose contributions to pre-hospital care have been consistent and long lasting, representing in effect, a lifetime of outstanding service to the profession and to the public.

Celine Larson PEER Support Award - Chrissy Bartel

This award was created to honor an individual or team of Kansas first responders for their diligence and perseverance in serving others. The awarded individual was also recognized for service above what is normally required or expected of someone providing peer support. This award is the first of its kind in Kansas and only the third of such an award in the United States.

The Celine Larson Peer Support Award remembers the legacy of Celine Larson, who passed away in December 2019 at the age of 35 after a multi-year battle with melanoma. As part of the original founding of Kansas-based company Grandpa’s Best and one of its greatest promoters, it only seemed fitting to use Grandpa’s Best as the pathway to create and fund a foundation benefitting EMS/first responders and other impactful, local community projects. A portion of each sale of Grandpa’s Best products goes to fund the Hop for Heroes Foundation in memory of Celine, and to provide financial support to a wonderful, well-deserving group of individuals.

The second recipient of this award was Chrissy Bartel of Norwich. Chrissy's passion for Peer Support and the mental health of first responders is present in everything that she does. Chrissy has provided nationwide contributions to peer support and has been instrumental in developing and growing the KEMSA Peer Support Society as well as working to stand up Peer Support Programs in EMS Services across Kansas and the country. She has spent countless hours traveling and immersing herself in the peer support community traveling, as far as Canada to participate in First Responder Mental Health Education. In Kansas, she spearheaded the development of the Peer Support "coin". The purpose of this is to remind all first responders, EMS and otherwise, that they are not alone. There are six edges on the "coin", making it easy to identify in a pocket. Individuals can use this "coin" to signify that they need additional peer support a debrief.

Having sold and given out over 1,000 "coins" in Kansas and nationally, Chrissy is more determined than ever to get one in the hands of every first responder and provide as much peer support as she can.  In addition to an engraved 10-inch tower award given to Chrissy Bartel, the Hop for Heroes foundation also awarded her a check for $1,500.

Present at the awards banquet was Celine’s loving family – her husband, Chase; their four incredible daughters Tess, Wynn, Sadie, and Fern; Celine’s parents Russell and Lindsey Carlson; and Chase’s parents, Thayne and Jeanne Larson. Scott and Ruthie Waring represented Hop for Heroes Foundation and Grandpa's Best.