Global Medical Response (GMR) has announced the recipients of this year’s Stars of Life Award, which recognizes the exceptional contributions of first responders to the emergency medical services (EMS) industry. 

GMR has selected 32 honorees who have demonstrated extraordinary service and dedication to their work, making significant impacts at their respective operations and in their communities.  

They will be honored at the American Ambulance Association (AAA) Stars of Life Awards Ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel at the Wharf in Washington D.C Nov. 6 to 8.

For more than 40 years, AAA has worked to protect the future of emergency medical services through advocacy, thought leadership and education. The association advances sustainable EMS policy and empowers members to serve their communities with high-quality healthcare.

GMR’s 2023 Stars of Life recipients are:

• Danny Abalama, B200 instructor pilot, Guardian Flight, Anchorage, Alaska
• Jacob Ambach, paramedic, AMR, Spokane, Washington

• Michael Arquette, operations supervisor, AMR, Buffalo, New York
• Jack Asbury, EMT, AMR, Bushnell, Florida
• Cindy Betts, base medical manager, EagleMed/Med-Trans Corp., Wichita, Kansas
• Jason Burns, flight paramedic, REACH Air Medical Services, Salida, Colorado
• Ian Carroll, flight nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam, Logan, West Virginia
• Preston Crotwell, paramedic, AMR, Jackson, Mississippi
• Zach Dayton, firefighter engineer/EMT, Rural Metro Fire, Mesa, Arizona
• Victoria England, flight nurse, REACH Air Medical Services, Mather, California
• Rick Fikes, paramedic, field training officer, MetroCare/AMR, Abilene, Texas
• Marlon Flanders, paramedic, alternate operations supervisor, GMR Trinidad and Tobago
• Sean Fuller, paramedic, AMR, Clackamas, Oregon
• Karina Galvez-Martinez, advanced EMT, MedicWest/AMR, North Las Vegas, Nevada
• Kelly Hamill, flight nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam, Mattoon, Illinois
• Andy Hardy, paramedic, AMR, Athens, Tennessee
• Fidencio Hernandez, EMT/field training officer, AMR, San Jose, California
• Matthew Kohl, paramedic, AMR, Evansville, Indiana
• Daniel Lee, flight nurse, Airlink/Med-Trans Corp., Klamath Falls, Oregon
• Jesse Mascarenas, flight nurse, REACH Air Medical Services, Salida, Colorado
• Stephanie Nocita, paramedic, AMR, Monterey, California
• Randall Roberson, advanced EMT, lifeguard/AMR, Prestonsburg, Kentucky
• Hiram Sanchez, SOS EMT, AMR, Napa, California
• Dakota Shadwell, flight nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam, Mattoon, Illinois
• Jay Shintaku, firefighter/paramedic, Rural Metro Fire, Tempe, Arizona.
• Brad Sparks, flight nurse, REACH Air Medical Services, Oceanside, California
• Rob Spencer, paramedic/field training officer, AMR, Temple, Texas
• Michael Taboniar, paramedic, AMR, Lihue, Hawaii
• William Weber, field training officer, AMR, Lake Havasu City, Arizona
• Riley Wolfe, paramedic, AMR, Redlands, California
• Danny Workman, flight paramedic, REACH Air Medical Services, Concord, California
• Daniel Yandell, EMT, AMR, Vancouver, Washington.

“These outstanding first responders embody the greatest values of the EMS profession, including commitment to patient care, integrity, compassion and professionalism,” said Nick Loporcaro, president and CEO of GMR. “It is an honor to recognize them for their sacrifice, skill and continual pursuit of excellence.”