AWARDS PRESENTED AT EMSAC's ANNUAL COLORADO STATE EMS CONFERENCE  

Meet the 2024 Award Recipients Here   Remember our Colleagues Lost Last Year 

Make a 2025 Nomination Here

COLORADO STATE EMS AWARDS CRITERIA 

1. Robert Marlin ALS EMS Professional of the Year (Formerly EMT-Intermediate and EMT-Paramedic of the Year)

The ALS Professional of the year Award annually recognizes one EMS professional who, by outstanding actions and contributions to the advancement of excellence in the delivery of emergency care to the citizens of Colorado, is identified as representing the ideal EMT.

 Criteria: Colorado Certified A-EMT, EMT-I or Paramedic active in delivery of EMS for at least one year, attached to or employed by an EMS professional.

2. BLS EMS Professional of the Year (Formerly EMT-Basic and EMS First Responder of the Year)

Annually recognizes a person who, by outstanding actions and contributions to the advancement of excellence in the delivery of emergency care to the citizens of Colorado, is identified as representing the ideal EMS professional First Responder.

Criteria: Colorado Certified EMT-B or certified EMS first responder (or equivalent, i.e., National Ski Patrol Outdoor Emergency Care) active in the delivery of EMS for at least one year, attached to or employed by an EMS agency; or serving in an emergency service capacity within a private entity (i.e., industrial safety team) or any other emergency service discipline (i.e., law enforcement, SAR, etc.).

3. Critical Care Paramedic of the Year

Annually recognizes one individual who, by outstanding actions and contributions to the advancement of excellence in the delivery of Critical Care paramedicine to the citizens of Colorado, is identified as representing the ideal Critical Care Paramedic.

 Criteria: Colorado-certified Paramedic with the Critical Care Paramedic endorsement at the time of nomination.  Active in delivery of EMS for at least one year and attached to or employed by a Colorado EMS organization.

4. Community Paramedic of the Year

Annually recognizes one individual who, by outstanding actions and contributions to the advancement of excellence in the delivery of Community Integrated Health to the citizens of Colorado, is identified as representing the ideal Community Paramedic.

 Criteria: Colorado-certified Paramedic with the Community Paramedic endorsement at the time of nomination.  Active in delivery of EMS for at least one year and attached to or employed by a Colorado EMS organization.

5. RN of the Year

The RN of the year award recognizes an RN who, by outstanding actions contributes to the advancement of emergency care provided to the citizens of Colorado. Must be an active RN in emergency care.

6. EMS Dispatcher-of-the-Year

Honors a dispatcher for outstanding effort in processing and dispatching a specific, or multiple, EMS call(s). If available, please include a copy of the taped call.

7. EMS Ambulance Service-of-the-Year

Honors an ambulance service that has become a leader in patient care, medical control, quality assurance, public education, public access and training and education.

8. EMS Executive-of-the-Year 

Honors an individual EMS executive—whether at a response agency or professional, governmental or NFP organization—who has become a leader in EMS and serves as a role model for EMS managers throughout the state.

9. EMS Region-of-the-Year

Honors a group or individual for outstanding achievement in developing an EMS system in a multiple county area or region of the state.

10. Dr. Gerald Gordon EMS Instructor-of-the-Year

Honors an outstanding instructor of an approved training program for EMTs or paramedics. Eligibility: Any state-approved I/C. Written endorsement from the training program medical director must accompany the nomination.

11. Dr. Valentin E. Wohlauer Award for Physician Excellence in EMS

Honors the memory of Dr. Wohlauer, who directed the EMS section of the Colorado Department of Health and brought into being many of the outstanding EMS components now existing in Colorado. It is presented to a Colorado physician who has made a substantial contribution to the advancement of EMS in Colorado.

Criteria: Colorado licensed physician (M.D. or D.O.); Currently involved in EMS as a physician advisor or educator. Extensive biographical information will assist the awards committee.

12. EMSAC Award for Valor (formerly the Gold Honor for Saving Life)

 This award recognizes prehospital providers who perform exceptional or heroic acts to serve their community.  The nominee may have been subject to grave personal danger in their service or they may have stepped forward to serve the community in an exceptional manner not typical for day-to-day service.  EMS personnel routinely provide life-sustaining services in potentially dangerous environments.  This award chooses to recognize the exceptional valor displayed by the provider despite the significant risk to their own life and/or in an environment significantly outside the normal for EMS. 

 Criteria: Colorado Certified EMT (any level), active in the delivery of EMS for at least one year and is attached to or employed by an EMS professional; Documentation of incident required.

13. EMSAC Citizen Rescuer Award for Valor

Members of EMSAC, primarily, actively provide emergency medical care to residents of, and visitors to, Colorado. Whether paid or volunteer professional EMTs, our members have chosen to train themselves and stand ready to aid those in distress.  Nevertheless, we acknowledge professionals cannot always “be there” in time for everyone. And, we recognize that untrained “civilians” frequently step forward, usually without a second thought or moment’s hesitation, committing themselves to save another human in peril. EMSAC wishes to recognize such civilians, who, without training or regard for personal consequence, have shown unselfish personal valor by attempting the rescue, be it friend or stranger.

Criteria: Any person not trained in, active in or affiliated with the provision of emergency medical or rescue service who has shown valor in an attempt (successful or unsuccessful) to rescue another. The incident in which the nominee intervened will have taken place in Colorado, however, the nominee need not be a resident of Colorado.  The nominator need not have been involved in the incident. The nomination should include a personal profile of the nominee; a detailed account of the incident and the nominee’s actions; letters of support from emergency responders involved in the incident. Also include, if available, any news reports of the incident, in the form of newspaper/magazine clippings, videotapes, etc.

14. C.J. Shanaberger Award for Lifetime Achievement

Recognizes an individual whose contributions to prehospital care have been consistent and long-lasting, representing in effect, a lifetime of outstanding service to the profession and the public.  Honors the memory of Carol J. Shanaberger, an EMT-paramedic and attorney, who diligently worked for many years to improve EMS in Colorado and the nation.

15. Francis Mildred Roth Women in EMS Award

A tribute to women in Colorado EMS, and for those who have served their community and integrated safety prevention, education, and their love for the community in their lives. The Roth Award is for outstanding women who have helped carve out the history of Colorado EMS. Women who have made a difference through innovative contributions at a local, state, or national level.

Francis Mildred Roth was one of the first female EMS professionals in Colorado. She embodied the true spirit of volunteers. She saved lives, fought fires, and taught basic first aid and CPR. She helped build the first local firehouse in her community, coached little league baseball and was also recognized as teacher of the year.

16. Dr. Robert Campbell Award for Distinguished and Meritorious Service

This award honors the dedicated service to EMSAC of Dr. Robert Campbell and recognizes individuals for their dedication and devotion to excellence in EMS, or for dedicated service to EMSAC or EMS. Examples: Exceptional service as an EMSAC officer or committee member; service on an EMS committee or organization at any level; assistance to an EMS professional (helping with fundraising, membership drive, etc. while not a member of the organization).

Criteria: Active in EMSAC or EMS.

17. EMSAC Life Honor Membership Award

This award recognizes those who, by exceptionally devoted service and dedication to EMSAC and EMS in general, have merited a permanent no-fee membership. The membership shall not include voting rights unless the criteria for regular membership are met.

Criteria: Active in EMSAC or EMS in Colorado.

18. The “Peg Hamilton” Award

This award honors Peg Hamilton as a founding member, secretary, treasurer and vice-president of EMSAC; and her devotion and dedication to EMS in Colorado. The award recognizes a member of the Board of Directors who has shown the most outstanding performance and highest involvement in EMSAC and EMS over the past year.

 Criteria: Member of the EMSAC Board of Directors. Nominated by a member of the Board of Directors, selected by secret ballot of the Board of Directors.

19. EMSAC President’s Award

Presented by the president to a deserving individual or organization at the president's discretion.

20. Children’s Hospital Colorado Award for Commitment to Pediatric Emergency Care

Recognizes an EMS agency, medical facility, or local or regional EMS system, either individually or in any combination, for their prehospital or out-of-hospital care and transport of pediatric patients.  

Selected by Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Make a Nomination Here