San Francisco EMS Awardees Recognized For Excellence In Emergency Medical Services During National EMS Week

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - On Tuesday, May 21st, Mayor London N. Breed joined Mary Ellen Carroll, Executive Director of the Department of Emergency Management and other City leaders to honor San Francisco Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers during the 2024 San Francisco EMS Awards.

The annual EMS Awards honor outstanding achievement and contribution to the San Francisco EMS System in eight different categories: EMS System Dispatcher, EMS System Field Provider, EMS System Hospital Provider, First Responder Award, Community Award, Raymond Lim Excellence in EMS Award, Mary Magocsy Excellence in EMS and Disaster Leadership Award, and Community Paramedicine Provider of the Year.

"I am extremely proud of our Emergency Medical System providers who come to the aid of those most in need under very challenging circumstances," said Mayor London Breed. "From our 911 dispatchers taking the call from someone in crisis to the first responders stabilizing and transporting them, to the nurses and doctors who provide medical care, we honor our heroes or their commitment and dedication to our community."

"The Emergency Medical Services Agency is an integral part of our Department, and we are happy to support the EMS Awards which highlight the amazing work all our first responders do," said Mary Ellen Carroll, Executive Director of the Department of Emergency Management. "This years honorees perfectly exemplify how closely our first responders work with each other, and with the community."

"The San Francisco EMSA Awards recognize the range of services provided by our Firefighters, EMTs, Paramedics and Captains as well as Administrators, Hospital staff and the greater patient care community." said Jeanine Nicholson, Chief of the San Francisco Fire Department. "Recognition of our efforts and accomplishments is a reminder of where we stand in this larger system, all dedicated to helping others."

"The annual EMS Awards program honors and acknowledges EMS system personnel and community members who go above and beyond in service to the City and County of San Francisco's EMS System," said Andrew Holcomb, Director, San Francisco Emergency Medical Services Agency . "It is so important to recognize and celebrate our city's exceptional EMS providers, 911 dispatchers, EMTs, paramedics, first responders, nurses, doctors, and community members that support emergency medical care."

The San Francisco Emergency Medical Service Agency is pleased to announce the 2024 EMS Award Winners, as follows:

• Valerie Tucker, 2024 EMS System Dispatcher Award Recipient
  • Recognized for her response to a CPR call at Harding Park Golf Course in July 2023
• Luis Jacques, Enrique Lopez, and Francesco Kaner, 2024 EMS System Field Provider Award Recipients
  • Paramedic Instructor Lopez and EMT/Paramedic Intern Jacques are recognized for their response to a complex cardiac arrest call. Their actions saved the life of a 56-year-old male
  • EMT Kaner is recognized for his quick actions to save the life of a person actively attempting suicide outside of UCSF Medical Center
• Theresa Sandholdt, RN, 2024 EMS System Hospital Provider Award Recipient
  • Recognized for her exceptional nursing skills and commitment to EMS in her role as Base Hospital Coordinator and Nurse at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
• Deputy Barry Bloom, 2024 First Responder Award Recipient
  • Recognized for his commitment to saving countless lives by administering over one-hundred doses of naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug in the Civic Center neighborhood
• ODC, 2024 Community Award Recipient
  • Dance Company recognized for its groundbreaking Health Initiatives Program which resulted in a life being saved last Fall
• John Brown, MD, MPA, 2024 Raymond Lim Excellence in EMS Award Recipient
  • Recognized for his 28+ years of service and dedication to the San Francisco EMS System as former Medical Director of the San Francisco EMS Agency
• Section Chief April Sloan, 2024 Mary Magocsy Excellence in EMS and Disaster Leadership Award Recipient
  • Recognized for her excellent leadership skills, commitment to education, and for being a proactive and supportive Chief and colleague over her nearly 20-year career
• Emily Tam, 2024 Community Paramedicine Provider of the Year Award Recipient
  • Recognized for her professionalism, excellent work ethic, and ongoing patient advocacy while providing compassionate care as a Community Paramedic

For detailed summaries about the awardees please visit: sf.gov/emsa

The annual EMS Awards are held as part of National EMS Week which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The theme for this year's National EMS Week is "Honoring our past, forging our future," giving us an opportunity to "honor those who came before us, especially those who challenged the status quo and raised the bar for all of us. And at the same time, we look forward, building on their efforts and committing ourselves to forge a future for the next generation of EMS professionals to serve their communities."

The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) provides various emergency management functions and consists of the Division of Emergency Communications (911); the Division of Emergency Services (DES); and the Emergency Medical Services Agency. The Division of Emergency Communications is responsible for receiving 911 calls and dispatching police, fire, and EMS services. The Division of Emergency Services (DES) is responsible for developing citywide emergency plans, activating the City's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and preparing citizens for all-hazards events (i.e., earthquakes, terrorism, and tsunamis).

Since 1989, the San Francisco Emergency Medical Services Agency under DEM directs, monitors, evaluates and regulates the San Francisco Emergency Medical Services System in collaboration with DEM's Division of Emergency Communications, and private, local and EMS community providers. The EMS Agency ensures that the best possible emergency care is provided to the residents and visitors of the City and County of San Francisco. The Emergency Medical Services Agency also serves as the Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC) which is responsible for coordinating mutual aid resource requests, facilitating the development of Medical/Health response plans, and implementing the Medical/Health plans during a disaster response.

May 19 to May 25, 2024 is National Emergency Medical Services Week, which brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's front lines. Throughout the week, several special events will be held to recognize those who have dedicated their professions to saving lives.

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