Rockland Honors EMS Workers During National EMS Week

NEW CITY, NY —This week, is National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, and Rockland County is honoring several local EMS workers for outstanding contributions to their EMS agency, community and the county.

In a release, Rockland County officials announced the winners of several county-wide EMS awards and highlighted people named Member of the Year by their specific agencies.

Normally, the county presents these honors at the annual EMS Awards Ceremony at the Rockland County Fire Training Center. But this year's ceremony was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"It is always an honor to recognize the dedication, skill and talent of Rockland's EMS providers," said Ed Day, Rockland County executive. "They are among the best in the field, and they deserve to be commended for their commitment to providing quality emergency care to our residents. The pressures and difficulties they have overcome this past year deserve our deepest recognition and thanks. Congratulations to this year's winners, you are truly inspiring."

This year's winners will receive their award at a later date. They also will have their award applications sent to the Hudson Valley Regional EMS Council and be eligible for regional-level awards.

The county-wide EMS award winners are:

• Basic Life Support Provider of the Year – Jacob Curland, Spring Hill Community Ambulance Corps
• Advanced Life Support Provider of the Year – Bernadette Frae, Rockland Paramedic Service
• Youth Member of the Year – Rebecca Finney, Spring Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps
• EMS Leadership Award – Leah Rothschild, Spring Hill Community Ambulance Corps
• EMS Educator of Excellence – Chris Nevin, Congers Valley Cottage Ambulance Corps
• EMS Agency of the Year – South Orangetown Ambulance Corps
• Physician of Excellence – Dr. William Greenhut, Montefiore Nyack Hospital ER
• Registered Nurse of Excellence – Kim Sgandurra, RN, Good Samaritan Hospital ER
• EMS Communications Specialist of the Year – Peter Mair, Ramapo Police Department Dispatch
• Excellence in EMS Quality and Safety – Congers Valley Cottage Volunteer Ambulance Corps
• Commissioner of Health Award of Excellence in EMS Activities – Desiree’ Leone-Stoll, Rockland County EMS

"It is only fitting to recognize the amazing achievements of these providers," said Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, Rockland County commissioner of health. "Their outstanding efforts in the face of extremely difficult conditions have exceeded all expectations. We are proud to acknowledge the contributions and dedication of EMS practitioners in safeguarding the health, safety and well-being of our communities."

The EMS workers recognized by their agencies as Member of the Year are:

• Sylvan Klein, Chevra Hatzoloh of Rockland
• McBrien Dunbar, Congers Valley Cottage Volunteer Ambulance Corps
• Greggory Taylor, Haverstraw Volunteer Ambulance Corps
• Matthew Zoda, Nanuet Community Ambulance
• Timothy O'Connor, New City Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Squad
• Morgan Daly, Nyack Community Ambulance
• Kim Payton, Pearl River Alumni Ambulance
• Frank Bockowski, Piermont Fire Department EMS
• Monica Duran Garcia, Ramapo Valley VAC
• Carol Durfee, Rockland Mobile Care
• Lynn Reiter, Rockland Paramedic Services, Inc.
• Tzvi Needleman, Spring Hill Community Ambulance Corps
• Marcos Lopez, South Orangetown Ambulance Corps
• Eddie Fox, Stony Point VAC
• Joel Fried, William P Faist Volunteer Ambulance Corps