Convoy of Champions

Bedford, MA—The Massachusetts Ambulance Association will celebrate the exceptional dedication of the Commonwealth’s emergency medical services (EMS) professionals during the 46^th Annual National EMS Week. On May 18, the MAA will host the second annual Convoy of Champions ambulance parade as well as the first-ever Massachusetts Stars of Life awards ceremony to recognize specific field providers for their personal contributions to their communities.

Second Annual Convoy of Champions Parade

A parade of ambulances (“Convoy of Champions”) will depart UMass Medical Science Park in Worcester at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, May 18, with an expected arrival at Boston MedFlight in Bedford at 1:00pm. Participating ambulance providers hail from across Massachusetts and will be escorted on the highway by the Massachusetts State Police. A UMass Memorial LifeFlight air ambulance will also fly over the parade route.

Inaugural Massachusetts Stars of Life Award Ceremony

At this year’s inaugural Massachusetts Ambulance Association Stars of Life event, 22 exemplary mobile healthcare professionals will be honored with medallions in recognition of their service. The Massachusetts Stars of Life program showcases the contributions of ambulance professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in service to their communities or the EMS profession in our state. The program recognizes the dedication of these heroes while shining light on the critical role EMS plays in our health care infrastructure, especially in the face of the crucial role that mobile healthcare has provided in COVID-19 testing and vaccination.

Speakers include MAA President Dennis Cataldo, Boston MedFlight CEO Maura Hughes, and 2021 Massachusetts College of Emergency Physicians (MACEP) ER Physician of the Year Dr. Paul Biddinger of Mass General Brigham Hospital. US Senator Edward Markey and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito will appear via video as well to congratulate the honorees. The 2021 Massachusetts Stars of Life are:

• Chris Bargmann, Paramedic, Northern Berkshire EMS
• Todd Beaudet, EMT, Atlantic Ambulance Service
• George Beckwith, EMT, Northern Berkshire EMS
• Erica Bulshey, Advanced EMT, County Ambulance Service
• Stacy Caterina, Paramedic/MIH Paramedic, Cataldo Ambulance
• Shaun Churchill, Paramedic/Base Supervisor, Armstrong Ambulance Service
• Cassandra Cohen, EMT, Boston EMS
• Mark Davenport, EMT, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Ambulance Service
• Chris Farley, Critical Care Transport EMT, Boston MedFlight
• Ronald Gigliotti, EMS Lieutenant, Worcester EMS
• Ross Griffin, EMT/Field Training Officer, Armstrong Ambulance Service 
• Kristen Hunter, EMT, Action Ambulance Service Inc
• Shawn Hunter, EMT B & Education Manager, Trinity EMS
• Fred Jeffries, Critical Care Transport Paramedic, Boston MedFlight
• Camron Kennedy, Paramedic, Patriot Ambulance
• Kevin LaPierre, Paramedic, Action Ambulance Service Inc
• Mackenzie Mills, EMT, Boston EMS
• Lana Poirier, Paramedic, Trinity EMS
• Shannon Regan, Paramedic/Field Training Officer, County Ambulance Service
• Patrick Ring, Paramedic, Worcester EMS
• Glen Timmons, Mobile Healthcare Paramedic, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Ambulance Service
• Antonio Velazquez, EMT, Patriot Ambulance

Timeline of Events for May 18

• 11:30 - Ambulances driven by Stars of Life arrive at UMass Medical Science Park (381 Plantation Street, Worcester) for line-up and boxed lunch.
• 12:00 - Convoy of Champions leaves Worcester for Boston MedFlight
• 13:00 - Convoy of Champions arrives at Boston MedFlight hangar (150 Hanscom Dr, Bedford, MA 01730)
• 13:10 - Massachusetts Stars of Life Medallion and Pin Ceremony at the Boston MedFlight Hangar
• 14:30 – Adjournment

Media are invited to join the Convoy in Worcester and/or at the Boston MedFlight Hangar in Bedford. Interviews are available with Massachusetts Ambulance Association leaders as well as the Star of Life heroes.

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About the Massachusetts Ambulance Association

The Massachusetts Ambulance Association’s membership is composed of more than 30 ambulance service providers from across the Commonwealth. MAA’s 6,000 employees provide 70% of the emergency medical services transports in Massachusetts. Together, MAA members advocate for high-quality, sustainable mobile healthcare.

About EMS Week (May 16–22, 2021)

During the 46^th Annual National EMS Week, communities will honor frontline heroes who provide emergency medical care that saves and sustains so many lives every day. The 2021 EMS Week theme is "THIS IS EMS: Caring for Our Communities."