EMS: More Than a Job. It’s a Calling.
As we close this year’s National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) week, DEM wants to highlight the recipients of the 14th Annual EMS Agency and SF Paramedic Association Award Program. Aligning with this year’s National EMS Week theme, EMS: more than a job. It’s a calling, the recipients of this year’s EMS Awards were honored for their dedication and commitment to the field of emergency medical services and those they aid. They are SF Heroes and we are happy to recognize them in this DEM Blog.
Who Was Honored and Why
EMS Field Providers Award Firefighter Anthony Valerio, EMT-P and Lt. Vincent Perez, EMT-1 received these awards posthumously for many years of outstanding performance as a paramedic, as an EMT and for extraordinary bravery as firefighters in the San Francisco Fire Department. On June 2, 2012, Anthony and Vincent lost their lives in the line of duty fighting a fire in Diamond Heights.
EMS Hospital Provider Award Terry Dentoni, RN, MSN with San Francisco General Hospital received this award for outstanding performance in providing more than 25 years of emergency and critical care nursing at SF General Hospital, and for creative and energetic support of satellite sobering centers at special events.
EMS Community Services Award was given to Elaine Rodahl, RN for her leadership in promoting and teaching CPR to thousands of people, and for her tireless work with the American Heart Association to improve the survival rate from cardiac arrest in the Bay Area.
EMS Dispatcher Ulysses J. Levy, EMD received this award his 18 years of outstanding performance as a dispatcher, especially for his extraordinary skill in handling stressful medical calls in a calm and professional manner, as he did in November, 2011 when he assisted a father in the delivery of his baby. The family Ulysses helped was in attendance to the surprise of Ulysses, as was the paramedic who arrived on-scene to provide emergency medical care to the mother and newborn.
Paramedic Captain James M. Fazackerley, EMT-P, SFFD received the Raymond Lim Excellence in EMS for exceptional performance as a paramedic instructor, supervisor and manager for 29 years and for leadership and innovation in emergency medical services.
The Special Recognition Award went to Willie Orey, Jr, EMT-1, AMR posthumously for years of outstanding performance as a unit detailer, stocker and EMT, and for several years of service as a CCT-EMT for San Francisco Ambulance.
Congratulations to all of the award recipients. You are the REAL San Francisco Heroes!