News

Antonio Velazquez
EMT
Patriot Ambulance

Antonio "Tony" Velazquez began his career at Patriot back in November 2009. He took after his Father who spent 30 years working as an EMT. Tony excels at providing compassionate care and comfort to all of his patients, often putting a smile on their faces with his humor. He is a great mentor to new and seasoned employees. He is also an amazing Grandfather to his 4-month-old grandson. We are proud that he is a part of the Patriot family!

Camron Kennedy
Paramedic
Patriot Ambulance

Camron Kennedy came to Patriot Ambulance in January of 2020 after spending 2-1/2 years in Louisiana as a critical care Paramedic. His knowledge and experience came right along with him - making him a great mentor to his co-workers. Camron's positive attitude and willingness to help others is truly inspiring. His patient care is second to none. We are proud that he is a part of the Patriot family!

Mark Davenport

EMT
Spaulding Rehab Hospital Ambulance

Mark Davenport has been with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Ambulance Service since 2016. He brings an energy and drive with him every day that is unmatched. Mark is continually looking for opportunities to improve himself and his knowledge, his clinical skills and his ability to provide outstanding patient care. It was his energy and drive to succeed that made him a natural choice to help the department in our COVID-19 response. As the network was preparing to begin receiving COVID patients that were in need of post-acute care, the department needed to develop policies and practices that kept provider safety at the forefront without compromising the ability to care for patients. Mark helped to develop all our safety protocols and train all department staff. During the COVID pandemic, Mark served as our Safety Officer and made it his personal goal to keep our staff safe. The safety program that Mark developed went far beyond the written procedures and created an environment where the EMTs and Paramedics that were transporting COVID patients felt safe and secure that their safety was of the utmost priority. In the early days of the pandemic response, Mark's efforts and work in developing and implementing our safety program, helped reduce provider stress and anxiety, allowing them to focus on patient care while knowing that he had their back and was watching out for them. We thank Mark for his dedication and commitment to keeping our crews safe and are proud to call Mark Davenport our 2021 Massachusetts Star of Life.

Glen Timmons
Mobile Healthcare Paramedic
Spaulding Rehab Hospital Ambulance 

Glen has been with Spaulding Hospital Ambulance Service since 2018. From the moment he joined the organization, Glen continually goes above and beyond to provide the highest levels of clinical care and professionalism. He is seen a leader and role model by his peers and is well respected across the network. Glen's decades of experience and drive to succeed made him the ideal clinician as the department began operating a mobile healthcare program as part of the COVID-19 response. Since our mobile healthcare program launched last spring, Glen has been the primary clinical provider for the program. His clinical knowledge, dedication, and passion and commitment to the program and the patients we serve continue to drive the program forward, advancing the care we are able to provide and has been the critical key to the success of our mobile healthcare program. Whether he is comforting a patient in need, helping out a staff member or advocating for what he believes in, Glen always gives it all he has. We are extremely grateful to have him as part of the team and are proud to call Glen Timmons our 2021 Massachusetts Star of Life.

Todd Beaudet
EMT
Atlantic Ambulance

Todd has been in EMS for the past 26 years as an EMT serving the City of Lynn—a City that he is absolutely attached to. His ability to treat all patients with respect, no matter how disrespectful they may become is astonishing.

On April 3, 2020, Todd was rushed to the hospital by his co-workers for difficulty breathing. It turns out that Todd was COVID positive and that he contracted COVID through one of his patients a week earlier. Todd was on a ventilator for 42 days, and then in a Rehabilitation Hospital for another 46 days. Todd has not fully recovered from this illness and will not be able to work on the road in a position that he is absolutely committed to.

Did Todd give up? The answer to that question is no, he is not giving up. Todd is happy to be alive to be able to spend time with his family, and he will be returning to EMS in June as a full time Dispatcher. If you ask Todd, he is grateful for the opportunity to return into any role in EMS. This outlook on life, especially after what he has been through, is not a trait found in many individuals. Todd is truly one of the best EMS has ever experienced.

George Beckwith
EMT
Northern Berkshire EMS

George Beckwith started his career with Northern Berkshire EMS, formally known as North Adams Ambulance back in 1989. That’s right, George has been serving the residents of Northern Berkshire County for longer than most of our current employees have been alive.

George has been an EMT for the better part of 30 years, and while in EMS you can never say “you’ve seen it all”, George has most certainly experienced more excitement, loss, trials, and tribulations than your average bear. The war stories George has accumulated over the years are unmatched. You can always find him in the bay sharing a tale from back in the day when Paramedics didn’t exist and you had to improvise with what you had on the rig.

With those years of service comes knowledge, understanding and a sense of calmness even in the most chaotic scenes. George has been a constant on the overnight shifts here at NBEMS, a shift that requires all those attributes listed above and then some. Anyone who works overnights understands, it takes a different breed of person to work those hours. Over the years George has taken many a new partner, EMTs and Paramedics alike, and shown them the ropes. George has had a hand in molding many great providers within this agency.

In his off time, you can find George in a different uniform - standing behind home plate on a baseball diamond, or the 50 yard line of the football field. George has been an umpire for the local youth, high school and college sports teams for many a year. Sports are a passion of his and when the seasons are in full swing, George will be on the go from the moment he leaves work at 8am.

Dedication, reliability, humility and a willingness to learn are core values any EMS provider should possess. George embodies all of those traits and many more that he has acquired in his 30+ year career. It is because of these attributes, George’s peers nominated him for this year’s Star of Life recognition. Thank you George for your dedicated service to Northern Berkshire EMS, our employees and the community we serve.

Kristen Hunter
EMT
Action Ambulance

Kristen Hunter is an EMT Basic that joined Action Ambulance in 1995. She has served the Greater Boston community for over 26 years with exceptional patient care. Kristen is repeatedly nominated for recognition on a clinical basis as well as from peers for her willingness to help and teach.

The past year has taken a toll on all EMT’s, however even through a pandemic Kristen has found a way to shine. Her coworkers are always writing to leadership, recognizing her willingness to help fellow employees; stocking trucks, talking through calls, picking up shifts and just being there for fellow coworkers. Her patient care has also been exceptional, Kristen strives to continuously educate herself and treat patients with respect and compassion.

During her off-time Kristen enjoys spending time with her two labs; Liberty and Justice and takes pride in her two children who are now 19 & 21. On a sunny summer day, you may find Kristen in one of her favorite spots on the beach.

Action Ambulance is proud to call Kristen Hunter our 2021 Massachusetts Star of Life.

Kevin LaPierre
Paramedic
Action Ambulance

Kevin LaPierre is a Paramedic and has been with Action Ambulance for over two years. He has had exceptional patient care in his time with us. His skills as a paramedic are passed down to his EMT coworkers as he works a paramedic/basic truck. Recently his skills were put to the test.

Split second thinking and leaning on the basics helped Kevin through a particularly tough call recently when a trailer came in contact with a bicyclist. The trainer ran over the patient, pinning them under and between the two sets of rear tires. When Kevin arrived on scene, all non-medical first responders believed the situation to be grave. Kevin went to work with the second to arrive ambulances paramedic starting and IV and attending to immediate medical needs. They called in a local, nearby forklift and were able to extricate the patient from the trailer. The patient was alert and talking on the way to the hospital despite the extensive injuries. Not only did Kevin show his skills that day, but he showed his dedication to doing everything he can for the patient.

Kevin is also a medic for the South Hadley MA fire department and enjoys spending time with his family.

Action Ambulance is proud to call Kevin LaPierre our 2021 Massachusetts Star of Life.

Patrick Ring
Paramedic
Worcester EMS

Paramedic Ring has been a Worcester EMS paramedic for five years. During his time at WEMS, he has grown tremendously as a clinician and provider. He excels as a Field Training Officer and was recently selected to join the WEMS Tactical EMS group in support of the Massachusetts State Police. Paramedic Ring has been an EMS ambassador for our region while riding in the Fallen Angels Memorial Bike Ride. Most importantly, he is a dedicated and compassionate provider always seeking ways to hone his craft and improve his care. Paramedic Ring continues to make us proud every day and we are proud to have him as one of our 2021 Stars of Life.

Ronald Gigliotti
EMS Lieutenant
Worcester EMS

EMS Lt. Gigliotti is a decades-long EMS provider and a twenty-year veteran at Worcester EMS. His passion for patient care and caring for our providers is his outstanding attribute. He continually looks for ways to make things better for our patients and providers. He has been one of the driving forces on research around assaults on EMS providers and is a published author on EMS peer support and stress. Lt. Gigliotti is always there to lend a hand to help, a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. He exemplifies the role of an EMS mentor. He knows and writes the science without losing the hands-on touch of a caring provider. We are grateful for all that Lt. Gigliotti does for us and the patients we serve.