Eleven emergency medical services workers from across Virginia have been recognized for their work.
The awards honor EMS employees who have made contributions to their communities and highlight the role of the EMS system.
The state’s 11 regional EMS councils selected their honorees earlier this year, and the winners were eligible for the statewide prizes.
Two EMS workers from Northern Virginia received the statewide Governor’s Awards this year, according to the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services. Those employees were:
» Jennie Collins, a battalion chief for Prince William County fire and rescue, who won the award for excellence in EMS. According to the state EMS office, she has improved health and safety education for emergency workers and has supervised hundreds of personnel in basic and advanced life support training programs.
» Holly Frost, the assistant dean at Northern Virginia Community College, who won the award for an outstanding pre-hospital educator. Frost also coordinates the school’s Health Careers Opportunity Program and is a member of the Sterling volunteer rescue squad. She has trained EMS workers throughout Loudoun County and, at NVCC, directed Virginia’s first course that trains registered nurses to become paramedics.
Other statewide EMS award recipients include:
» Lonny Gay, outstanding administrator, Bland County rescue squad
» Dr. Joseph Ornato, outstanding physician, Richmond Ambulance Authority and fire and emergency services department
» Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, outstanding agency
» James B. Laing, outstanding pre-hospital provider, York County fire and life safety
» Donna Hurst, contribution by a nurse, Staunton-Augusta first aid and rescue squad
» Marty Tomasek, contribution to health and safety, York County fire and life safety
» Catherine Fox, contribution to emergency services for children, Drive Safe Hampton Roads
» Nicola Tidey, contribution to emergency services communications, Culpeper and Orange counties
» Michaela Fleming, emergency services contribution by a high school senior, Woodstock junior rescue squad volunteer.
