Here are the finalists in the 2015 Health Care Heroes First Responder category.

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

Emily Wilkes

TITLE: Paramedic

ORGANIZATION: New Hanover Regional Medical Center

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Emily gives her all to her career as a paramedic with New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s EMS. Whether it’s learning Spanish to make Spanish-speaking patients feel more comfortable, attempting to improve stroke education in the Hispanic community, or assisting with hands-only CPR education with the public, Emily strives for excellence.

Even when off duty, Emily will lend a hand or offer assistance when needed. The passion she has for helping others is apparent in the way she carries herself and in the way she brings out the best in others.

Emily continually strives for excellence in patient care by improving her education beyond the requirements of the job. She maintains her National Registry Certification and serves as an examiner for future nationally registered EMT-Paramedics.

She is a bright light to the community through her volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity and helps the homeless through various area churches. As a Stephen Minister through her church, Emily serves as a lay counselor and helps many who are going through difficult times. She also works with a hospital based in Rotifunk, Sierra Leone.”

- Iris Baker, NHRMC outreach coordinator

Stacey Wright

TITLE: EMS division chief

ORGANIZATION: Pender EMS & Fire

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Chief Wright began serving as an EMS volunteer in Pender County in 1990 and is currently an EMS Chief overseeing the Emergency Medical Services Division, Medical Transport Division, all EMS related training for all 300 volunteer and paid personnel covering the 857 square miles of Pender County.

She also serves as the Safety Officer for Pender EMS & Fire Inc.

For the past 25 years Chief Wright’s professional accomplishments, impact on the community, and assistance given to others have been one-in-the-same. In addition to her administrative and leadership responsibilities she is involved in an average of 30 patient care encounters per month. I have heard her comment ‘As a paramedic, I believe that all patients treated are lives saved because when a patient calls 911, they need some sort of help, and to the patient it is an emergency. The 911 call may involve a helping hand, a listening ear, life saving medical care, or watching a loved one pass away.’

As a chief her legacy will be her passion and dedication to the community.”

- Pamela Webster, former HR director for Pender EMS & Fire
 

Fire Departments EMT Initiative

OFFICIALS: Fire Chief Buddy Martinette (Wilmington), Fire Chief Donnie Hall (NHC)

ORGANIZATION: Wilmington Fire Department and New Hanover County Fire Rescue

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID: Though not nominated in this year’s awards, judges wanted to include the local fire departments for the impact their ongoing programs to have firefighters EMT trained has had on the community.

Wilmington Fire Department, under the leadership of fire chief Buddy Martinette, and New Hanover County Fire Rescue, headed up by fire chief Donnie Hall, require all their uniformed personnel to be trained as emergency medical technicians (EMT).

David Hines, spokesman for the Wilmington Fire Department pointed out that about half of the fire department’s calls are medically related.

The EMT training has helped patients throughout the community, Health Care Heroes judges said.

- From staff reports