National Emergency Medical Services Week, May 16 – 22
New City, NY, – Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Commissioner of Health Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert acknowledged local emergency medical services (EMS) practitioners for their outstanding contributions to the community. The County’s annual EMS Awards Ceremony normally held at the Rockland County Fire Training Center in Pomona was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week is now in its 46th year of celebration. EMS Week is a time for national appreciation of the daily life-saving service that EMS practitioners provide to their patients, and an acknowledgement of the important role of EMS in our nation’s healthcare system.
“It is always an honor to recognize the dedication, skill and talent of Rockland’s EMS providers,” said County Executive Day. “They are among the best in the field, and they deserve to be commended for their commitment to providing quality emergency care to our residents. The pressures and difficulties they have overcome this past year deserve our deepest recognition and thanks. Congratulations to this year’s winners; you are truly inspiring.”
The following EMS practitioners are being recognized for outstanding contributions to their EMS agencies, communities, and Rockland County:
- Basic Life Support Provider of the Year – Jacob Curland, Spring Hill Community Ambulance Corps
- Advanced Life Support Provider of the Year – Bernadette Frae, Rockland Paramedic Service
- Youth Member of the Year – Rebecca Finney, Spring Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps
- EMS Leadership Award – Leah Rothschild, Spring Hill Community Ambulance Corps
- EMS Educator of Excellence – Chris Nevin, Congers Valley Cottage Ambulance Corps
- EMS Agency of the Year – South Orangetown Ambulance Corps
- Physician of Excellence – Dr. William Greenhut, Montefiore Nyack Hospital ER
- Registered Nurse of Excellence – Kim Sgandurra, RN, Good Samaritan Hospital ER
- EMS Communications Specialist of the Year – Peter Mair, Ramapo Police Department Dispatch
- Excellence in EMS Quality and Safety – Congers Valley Cottage Volunteer Ambulance Corps
- Commissioner of Health Award of Excellence in EMS Activities – Desiree’ Leone-Stoll, Rockland County EMS
“It is only fitting to recognize the amazing achievements of these providers,” said Dr. Ruppert. “Their outstanding efforts in the face of extremely difficult conditions have exceeded all expectations. We are proud to acknowledge the contributions and dedication of EMS practitioners in safeguarding the health, safety and well-being of our communities.”
These individuals are the Rockland County award winners that will receive their award at a date to be determined. Their awards applications will be forwarded to the Hudson Valley Regional EMS Council for consideration of a regional level award.
The following individuals were selected by their agencies to be recognized as their Member of the Year and will be presented with an award at a date to be determined:
- Sylvan Klein, Chevra Hatzoloh of Rockland
- McBrien Dunbar, Congers Valley Cottage Volunteer Ambulance Corps
- Greggory Taylor, Haverstraw Vol Ambulance Corps
- Matthew Zoda, Nanuet Community Ambulance
- Timothy O’Connor, New City Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Squad
- Morgan Daly, Nyack Community Ambulance
- Kim Payton, Pearl River Alumni Ambulance
- Frank Bockowski, Piermont Fire Department EMS
- Monica Duran Garcia, Ramapo Valley VAC
- Carol Durfee, Rockland Mobile Care
- Lynn Reiter, Rockland Paramedic Services, Inc.
- Tzvi Needleman, Spring Hill Community Ambulance Corps
- Marcos Lopez, South Orangetown Ambulance Corps
- Eddie Fox, Stony Point VAC
- Joel Fried, William P Faist Volunteer Amb Corps