Maine EMS and the Board are excited to announce the 2023 EMS Award Recipients.
While the entirety of EMS Week is intended to honor EMS professionals across the State of Maine and the country, today is arguably one of the most important days of the entire week – EMS Recognition Day. Today is intended to honor members of the EMS community and beyond for their time, dedication, and support for the EMS system. It’s a day to honor those EMS clinicians and partners for their unwavering commitment to serving their communities. It is also a day to remember those who have died in the line of duty and those who have died from suicide secondary to the stressors associated with this profession. Yesterday, Maine EMS was honored to participate in a ceremony at the Maine EMS Memorial and Education Site on the capitol grounds, where members of the EMS community, Legislators, and supporters gathered to honor those who were lost in the line of duty.
That said, it is equally important to recognize individuals and entities throughout the State of Maine that go above and beyond what is expected to meet the needs of the residents and visitors of the state. The Board of EMS has identified five award categories to recognize the accomplishments and dedication of EMS clinicians and partners throughout the state.
The Governor’s Award is conferred for exceptional contribution to the EMS system at the state, national, and/or system-wide levels. Recipients have demonstrated involvement and contribution to multiple areas of EMS activity (e.g., system development, education, administration, public education, quality/process improvement, etc.).
This year, the Maine EMS Board nominated two individuals that were advanced to Governor Mills to be considered for this award. The Governor, in agreement with the Board, has decided to bestow the Maine EMS Governor’s Award on the following:
Dr. Norman Dinerman
Thomas Judge
The EMS Excellence Award is conferred for contribution to the EMS system at the regional and/or state level. Recipients have demonstrated involvement and significant contribution in one or more areas of EMS activity (e.g., system development, education, administration, public education, quality/process improvement, etc.).
This year, the Maine EMS Board would like to recognize and award the following individuals with the EMS Excellence Award:
Alberta Broomhall
Philip Greg Hodge
Andrea McGraw
The Lifetime Achievement Award is conferred for extensive involvement with EMS in Maine for at least ten years, consistently performing above and beyond expectations in system development, patient care, service involvement, and/or community involvement.
This year, the Maine EMS Board would like to recognize and award the following individuals with the Lifetime Achievement Award:
Rodney Koehn
Thomas Doak
Barbara Drake
Daniel H. Raymond (posthumous)
Karen Vickerson
The EMS Merit Award is conferred for contributions to the EMS system at the local and/or regional level. Recipients have demonstrated involvement and contribution in one or more areas of EMS activities (e.g., system development, education, administration, patient care, service involvement, public education, quality/process improvement, etc.).
This year, the Maine EMS Board would like to recognize and award the following individuals with the EMS Merit Award:
Nicholas Bryant
Angela Buck
Ross Gagne
Aiden Koplovsky
Dawn McAllister
Robert McGraw
Robert Mertz
Based on the nominations received this year, the Maine EMS Board is also introducing a new award, the EMS Community Partner Award. This award is conferred to a non-EMS organization or individual that has demonstrated excellence, support, collaboration, and integrity with the EMS system in Maine. The recipient of this award has significantly impacted the EMS system by providing resources, education, advocacy, and/or partnership that enhance the quality and safety of prehospital care in Maine.
This year, the Maine EMS Board is awarding the inaugural EMS Community Partner Award to:
Lisbon School Department
Maine EMS and the Board are excited to celebrate and honor these awardees and every EMS professional and partner working in the State of Maine. Maine EMS and the Board, in collaboration with regional coordinators, will host regional award ceremonies to present the awards where the recipients, their families, friends, colleagues, locally elected officials, and community members can attend to join us in celebrating these incredible awardees. Those award ceremonies are scheduled for the last week in June at the following locations:
Region One (Southern Maine):
June 28, 2023, at 5 PM
York County EMA
149 Jordan Springs Road, Alfred, Maine 04002
Honoring: Dawn McAllister and Robert Mertz
Region Two (Tri-County):
June 28, 2023, at 1 PM
Boofy Quimby Field
96 Howes Corner Road, Turner, Maine 04282
Honoring: Alberta Broomhall, Ross Gagne, Thomas Doak, and Lisbon School Department
Region Three (Kennebec Valley):
June 28, 2023, at 9:30 AM
Maine EMS Office Fallen Heroes Conference Room
45 Commerce Drive, Augusta, Maine 04330
Honoring: Barbara Drake and Rodney Koehn
Region Four (Northeast):
June 27, 2023, at 5:30 PM
Cole Land Transportation Museum
405 Perry Road, Bangor, Maine 04401
Honoring: Dr. Norman Dinerman, Philip Greg Hodge, Thomas Judge, Aiden Koplovsky, Andrea McGraw, Robert McGraw, and Karen Vickerson
Region Five (Aroostook):
June 27, 2023, at noon (12 PM)
Caribou Fire Department
121 High Street, Caribou, Maine 04736
Honoring: Angela Buck and the late Daniel Raymond
Region Six (Mid-Coast):
June 29, 2023, at noon (12 PM)
Central Lincoln County Ambulance
29 Piper Mill Road, Damariscotta, Maine 04543
Honoring: Nicholas Bryant
Thank you for your continued service to the residents and visitors to the State of Maine. We wish you all a Happy EMS Week and a wonderful holiday weekend.