Here are the finalists in the 2017 Health Care Heroes First Responder category.

Honors a first responder whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.
 

Philip Jewett

TITLE: Care Coordinator and Team Lead for EmergeOrtho/ Paramedic

ORGANIZATION: EmergeOrtho

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Whenever and without any question; whether it’s a patient or co-worker, if you’re under an EmergeOrtho roof in need of medical assistance or are facing a safety issue, Phil has and will PHYSICALLY spring into action! I nominate him for his selflessness and fearlessness!”

- Victress Smith, EmergeOrtho

MORE ABOUT THE NOMIMEE: Jewett became an EMT in New Hampshire in 2000 and in 2004 became a paramedic/ firefighter working in the 911 system. In 2010, he moved to Jacksonville, North Carolina, to work for MARSOC as a contract paramedic.

At the end of that contract, he began working for Wilmington Orthopaedics in the Spinal Interventional Medicine department under Dr. Patrick Boylan. Upon Dr. Boylan’s move to Ohio, he began working under Orthopaedic Spine Specialists Dr. Mark Rodger, Dr. Jon Miller and Dr. Todd Rose as the care coordinator/team lead and later followed by mergers into OrthoWilmington and finally into EmergeOrtho.

Jewett is responsible for the triaging of new and current patients as well as managing communications pre-/ post-operatively between patients and the provider teams. He is team lead for a 17-member Care Coordinator Team.

Aaron Kasulis

TITLE: EMS manager/battalion chief

ORGANIZATION: New Hanover Regional Medical Center

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Aaron Kasulis recognized he had an interest in helping others and saving lives at a young age after receiving his first aid and lifeguard certifications as a Boy Scout. After college he began working as a paramedic and soon realized that it was more than a job; it was his calling.

Aaron has worked with NHRMC’s Emergency Medical Services for the past 22 years, first as a street medic, and now he serves as an EMS Battalion Chief. He works very closely with community partners to create medical and safety response plans. Some examples include [for] Azalea Festival, Riverfest and area races. He has also worked with UNCW and New Hanover County Schools to enhance collaborations with athletic training staff.

Aaron also leads the effort to educate the general public on life-saving skills. He is currently seeking grant funding to install hemorrhage control kits inside public buildings that could help save lives during mass casualty situations.

One of Aaron’s recent shining moments was the success of the safety plan and medical coverage for the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament in May.”

- Iris Baker, NHRMC outreach coordinator

Woody Sullivan III

TITLE: Chief

ORGANIZATION: Pender EMS & Fire Inc.

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Woody puts in long hours as the chief of Pender EMS & Fire.

I will never forget during Hurricane Matthew, the conditions, especially flooding and high winds, caused Woody to make the decision to cease rescue operations because of the danger to the staff.

Just seconds after making the announcement, a 911 call came in that a tree had fallen on a home, and four children were standing outside in the rain with power lines down. ‘We have to go,’ he said without hesitation.

We are blessed in Pender County to have selfless leaders and responders like Woody Sullivan.”

- Tammy Proctor, Pender County Tourism director