Brianna Keach is a new EMT who quickly earned the respect of her peers and colleagues through her calm leadership and stellar patient care. In her role as an EMT at Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Service, she has been the lead on two cardiac arrests where no ALS providers were initially available. In one instance, a patient had a full reversal in the field, which is a remarkable feat for a BLS provider. Her calm demeanor and focus on positive patient outcomes are consistently notable, even in highly stressful and emotional situations. As a Lieutenant and Field Training Officer, Brianna also models humility and teamwork for her peers, continually seeking to learn and promote the excellence of others. For her dedication to her patients, her peers, and her leadership in her agency and the EMS field, Brianna Keach is awarded the New York State BLS Provider of the Year Award for 2025.

Meghan Kiefer is the perfect example of an EMS professional, consistently providing the public with the care they deserve. As a Paramedic for Livingston County EMS, she is committed to continuous learning and growth, which is evident in her clinical work and strong work ethic. A prime example of her excellence was when she led a team that saved the life of a male patient who had collapsed. With her clinical expertise, Meghan administered life-saving medications and provided nine shocks while remaining calm and focused. Thanks to her leadership and skill, the patient regained full consciousness and was discharged just six days later with no neurological damage. Beyond her clinical work, Meghan is a dedicated mentor, training new paramedics and leading the New Employee Orientation Program. For her dedication and leadership and profound impact on Livingston County EMS and the community it serves, Meghan Kiefer is awarded the New York State ALS Provider of the Year for 2025.

Greenport Rescue Squad, Inc. is a forward-thinking EMS agency that has set an exemplary standard in the EMS industry. In a time of nationwide staffing challenges, the agency has prioritized the well-being and mental health of its employees. This focus led to the creation of the first-ever EMS Minister position and combined with its employee assistance program, has resulted in a 100% staff retention rate and a waiting list of 27 EMTs and paramedics. The agency also invests heavily in state-of-the-art training and equipment for its providers. Beyond its commitment to its staff, Greenport Rescue Squad is dedicated to community engagement, offering free training in life-saving skills like CPR and Narcan administration. The agency is also developing a program to provide patients with iPads during transport to enhance their comfort and reduce stress. For their commitment to their providers and their community, Greenport Rescue Squad, Inc. is awarded the NYS EMS Agency of the Year award for 2025.

Nancy L. Montesano has dedicated her life to EMS since she was "tricked" into joining her local volunteer fire department in 1988. Over her 37-year career, she has consistently worked as a volunteer or career provider, currently holding three paramedic shifts a week with Greene County EMS in addition to her full-time teaching position at the SUNY Cobleskill Paramedic Program. She is praised for her infectious "can-do" spirit, passion, and compassionate approach to teaching students. Nancy has served as the Certified Instructor Coordinator for nearly 1,000 students and has been an integral part of the education of at least 1,267 students in total. Her students are known for their rare combination of skill and compassion, which is a direct result of her teaching. Even after announcing her retirement, she couldn't stay away from the field, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to EMS care and education. For her passion, dedication, and inspiring commitment to excellence, Nancy L. Montesano is awarded the NYS EMS Educator of Excellence for 2025.

Catheryn Bell is recognized for her unwavering dedication to improving pre-hospital care and her exceptional contributions to quality assurance and safety. As a Clinical Quality Improvement Specialist at AMR Rochester, she uses data analysis and targeted education to help providers adopt evidence-based practices. Her work has led to significant improvements in key areas like pain management, cardiac arrest care, and airway management. For example, her initiatives have led to a greatly improved first-pass intubation rate at her agency. Catheryn has also spearheaded efforts to better equip providers with the knowledge and resources needed to deliver compassionate and effective care to patients experiencing mental health emergencies. For her collaborative spirit and passion for enhancing patient outcomes championship for improving pre-hospital care, Catheryn Bell is awarded the NYS Excellence in EMS Quality and Safety Award for 2025.

Sean O'Brien is being nominated for his exceptional dedication to advancing EMS education, workforce development, and patient care as the Director of Operations at Empress EMS. He is a leader in innovative recruitment strategies, notably at the forefront of the Australian paramedic initiative, which helps international paramedics transition into the U.S. healthcare system. His meticulous work ensures these paramedics are well-trained and supported as they begin their careers. Despite his administrative duties, Sean remains committed to frontline EMS work, serving patients directly and building strong relationships with other key agencies. Through his dedication, innovation, and passion, Sean has become a trusted leader and mentor who continues to serve both the EMS community and the public. For these reasons Sean O'Brien is recognized as the New York State Harriet C. Weber EMS Leadership Awardee for 2025.

On May 3, 2024, Kylie Adams, a 911 dispatcher at the Ulster County 911 Center, received a call for an unresponsive 42-year-old female. She quickly determined the patient wasn't breathing and began providing CPR instructions. Despite the long wait time for responding units to arrive, Kylie stayed on the line for 25 minutes, continuing to provide guidance and encouragement to the caller while also gathering additional information for the responders. She remained on the phone until the responders were on the scene and had made contact with the patient. Thanks to her calm leadership and persistence, the patient began breathing on her own and survived. Kylie's dedication and exceptional performance in a high-pressure situation went above and beyond all expectations. For her calm demeanor and exceptional professionalism, Kylie Adams is recognized as the NYS EMS Communications Specialist of the Year for 2025.

Linda Surgrue, a Registered Nurse with over 30 years of clinical experience, is a respected advocate for EMS. She is the Stroke Coordinator at Phelps Hospital and has worked for years to improve EMS performance. In 2024, she started a new EMS Education initiative at Phelps Hospital, where she and other experts visited agencies across Westchester County to provide targeted education on stroke care. The training focused on pre-hospital assessments, pre-notification, and workflows, empowering EMS crews with the knowledge and confidence needed to care for stroke patients. Linda also created a custom "stroke badge buddy" for EMS teams, a portable visual aid with tips on pre-hospital stroke care. Additionally, she provides formal, detailed feedback to EMS leaders on cases their crews have brought to Phelps. This feedback helps crews understand the outcomes of their work and validates their critical role in patient care. For her dedication to quality patient care and support of EMS education, Linda Surgrue is awarded the NYS Registered Professional Nurse of Excellence Award for 2025.

Dr. Douglas Isaacs is nominated for his outstanding leadership, innovation in education, and unwavering commitment to EMS in New York City and beyond. For over 16 years, he has served as Deputy Medical Director for the FDNY, the Medical Director for Manhattan, the Special Operations Command, Safety Command, and the Rescue Paramedic Program, among other key roles. He is a respected educator who founded the nationally recognized Medical Special Operations Conference and delivers impactful educational sessions. His efforts have significantly improved patient care, enhanced system readiness, and raised educational standards throughout the region. He is also an active member of several key state and regional EMS committees, where he helps shape policy and guide the next generation of EMS leaders. Dr. Isaacs’s commitment to clinical excellence, provider well-being, and system growth makes him a distinguished and deserving candidate. For these reasons Dr. Douglas Isaacs is awarded the NYS Physician of Excellence for 2025.

Seventeen-year-old Junior Firefighter Zachary Restorff acted with incredible composure during a critical school emergency. He observed a fellow student sustain a severe arm injury, which resulted in a severed artery and rapid, pulsing blood loss. After an assistant principal's attempts to stop the bleeding failed, Zac immediately took charge. He applied a tourniquet, and when the bleeding continued, he calmly guided the placement of a second one, which finally stopped the hemorrhage. As he worked, he directed other teachers and staff to call 911 and prepare for the ambulance. He then held the injured student and calmly talked to him until paramedics arrived. Zachary's rapid and professional intervention ensured a full recovery for the student and highlights the vital role young people can play in emergencies. For his composure and professionalism, Zachary Restorff is recognized as the NYS Youth Provider of the Year for 2025.

The 2025 Recruitment & Retention Innovation Award is presented to the West Islip Fire Department for its groundbreaking, people-centered approach to strengthening the EMS volunteer pipeline in the face of rising demand and nationwide declines in volunteerism.

Covering a diverse 20-square-mile district with more than 2,500 EMS calls annually, the West Islip Fire Department recognized the urgent need for innovative strategies to recruit and retain dedicated providers. Through the creation of a Fire Prevention and Recruitment Committee, the department developed a multi-pronged initiative anchored by its interactive "Day in the Life of a Firefighter and EMT" event. This hands-on experience gave community members the chance to engage directly with scenarios, equipment, and providers, leading to an unprecedented surge in new membership.

Complemented by year-round outreach at community events, an enhanced Junior Program that fosters early exposure to EMS, and improved onboarding and mentorship, these efforts have produced lasting results. In 2024 alone, the inaugural “Day in the Life” event recruited 12 new members, 10 of whom joined the EMS division, while the Junior Program achieved nearly 100% transition into active service. Improved expectation-setting and mentorship further bolstered retention and morale, ensuring long-term sustainability of the volunteer workforce.

By modernizing recruitment and retention through engagement, education, and mentorship, the West Islip Fire Department has built a thriving, motivated EMS membership, ensuring the community is served by a strong and committed volunteer team well into the future.

The 2025 Organizational Innovation Award is presented to the Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps for their pioneering work in addressing the critical challenge of emergency department offload delays through data-driven solutions and regional collaboration.

With a proud 74-year history of serving southern Saratoga County, Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps continues to stand at the forefront of EMS leadership and innovation. In 2024, the organization responded to more than 8,500 calls with its team of 85 EMTs and paramedics. Facing increasing offload delays that strained operations and crew morale, Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps leveraged its GPS-based fleet management platform to design a geofence-driven reporting system that objectively tracks and trends hospital offload times. The resulting real-time dashboards and daily reports empowered administrators to make targeted staffing and deployment adjustments, ensuring system readiness and protecting crews from excessive utilization even during the height of influenza season.

This innovation not only strengthened Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps internally but also fostered regional impact: neighboring agencies including Malta-Stillwater, Ballston Spa, Wilton, Colonie, and Rotterdam adopted the program, creating a shared dataset of more than 1,100 ambulance transports per month. The objective reporting further drew hospital leadership into meaningful dialogue, leading to improvements in ambulance-to-ER turnover times across the Capital District.

Through creative use of existing technology, collaboration, and data transparency, Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps has set a new benchmark for organizational innovation, demonstrating how EMS agencies can drive system-wide improvements to benefit patients, providers, and communities alike.

The 2025 Education Innovation Award is presented to the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) Paramedic Program for creating a groundbreaking educational pathway that expands opportunities for New York’s EMS providers.

Recognizing that many practicing paramedics completed certificate-level training before degree programs were widely available, the Borough of Manhattan Community College developed an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree option tailored for paramedics who wish to return and complete their college education. This innovative program acknowledges prior paramedic training and experience, giving providers credit toward their degree while offering flexible coursework designed to fit the demanding schedules of working professionals.

By bridging the gap between certificate training and higher education, Borough of Manhattan Community College has opened doors for career advancement, academic achievement, and lifelong learning among New York’s paramedics. This initiative not only elevates the professional standing of EMS providers but also strengthens the field by fostering a highly educated workforce prepared to meet the evolving needs of patients and communities.

The 2025 EMS Innovation Award for Clinical Delivery Innovation is presented to the Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (B-HEARD) for its transformative approach to emergency response and patient care.

Launched in June 2021 with a pilot in Harlem, B-HEARD deploys FDNY EMTs and paramedics alongside mental health professionals from NYC Health + Hospitals as the first response to 911 mental health calls. Operating seven days a week, sixteen hours a day, B-HEARD Teams bring both medical and behavioral health expertise to de-escalate crises, provide immediate care, and connect patients with resources beyond a hospital emergency department.

In 2024, B-HEARD responded to nearly 15,000 calls — more than doubling its 2023 volume of 7,000. By addressing mental health emergencies with a clinician-led team and without law enforcement presence, B-HEARD delivers compassionate, specialized care while simultaneously freeing other EMS units to respond more rapidly to higher-priority medical calls.

This innovative model not only improves outcomes for individuals in behavioral health crisis, but also strengthens the overall EMS system by ensuring timely, patient-centered, and resource-conscious clinical delivery across New York City.