Vanderbilt LifeFlight received four awards for exceptional dedication, skill and lifesaving efforts at the 17th Annual EMS Star of Life Awards, hosted by the Children’s Emergency Care Alliance on Wednesday, April 30 at Middle Tennessee State University.
The Children’s Emergency Care Alliance of Tennessee is dedicated to ensuring hospital emergency department and EMS agencies are fully prepared to provide high-quality emergency care for pediatric patients.
The annual award ceremony honors heroic actions by emergency medical services (EMS) providers who gave exemplary care to both adult and pediatric patients. This event highlights the critical role of prehospital patient care, ensuring patients receive high-quality care from the moment of dispatch to hospital arrival.
During the ceremony, 12 awards were presented, with one winner selected from each of Tennessee’s eight regions and three additional awards focused on the type of care provided. Vanderbilt LifeFlight was honored with four recognitions, including the Star of Life award for Regions 5, 6 and 7, and the Overall State Winner, which recognizes the most outstanding case from across the state.
The event is also an opportunity for award recipients to reunite with the patients whose lives were saved, giving a tangible reminder of the importance of their dedication.
“Vanderbilt LifeFlight is extremely proud of every crew member honored at this year’s EMS Star of Life Awards,” said Kevin Nooner, MSN, RN, NE-BC, director of Critical Care for Vanderbilt LifeFlight. “These crews’ dedication to quality patient care is showcased during every patient transport and we are thrilled to see them recognized for their hard work and reunited with the patients during the award ceremony.”
The Region 5 award was presented to Clarksville Fire and Rescue, Montgomery County EMS and three members of Vanderbilt LifeFlight: Greg Clore; flight paramedic Justin Zellers, CCP, FP-C, and flight nurse Lynne Kramer Tatum, MSN, RN, CFRN, for providing swift care to a stroke patient. Upon arrival, Montgomery County EMS quickly recognized the signs of stroke and immediately requested air transport. The flight arrived within minutes, and the patient was in surgery shortly after to remove a blood clot. Thanks to the swift actions of all the agencies involved, the patient went on to make a full recovery.
The Region 6 award was presented to Perry County EMS, Perry County Sheriff’s Office and three members of Vanderbilt LifeFlight: flight nurses Jacqueline Pearson, RN, EMT, and Erica Woodside, RN, EMT, and Eddie Kemp. The patient was involved in a motorcycle accident after colliding with a deer. Once the flight crew arrived and realized the severity of the patient’s injuries, they took several steps to ensure his safety during the flight. Their quick thinking and careful measures made an impactful difference in his continued recovery.
The Region 7 award was presented to flight nurses Elizabeth Luckey-Smith, BSN, RN, CEN, and Payton Downey, BSN, RN, CEN, of Vanderbilt LifeFlight and Air Methods. When a 15-month-old was found face down in a swimming pool, the crew responded with swift and skilled care to improve the child’s oxygen levels. By the time the patient arrived at the hospital, the child’s heart rate and breathing had stabilized. The crew’s actions not only saved the patient’s life but also preserved the chance of a full recovery.
The Overall State Winner was awarded to multiple EMS agencies, including flight nurse Erica Woodside, RN, EMT, James Aeschliman, CCP, FP-C, and pilot Mike Kelly of Vanderbilt LifeFlight. After first responders discovered a rock wall had collapsed on a patient, rescuers worked for over four hours to free the person before they were airlifted to Vanderbilt University Hospital with a crushed leg and life-threatening injuries. Because of the remarkable teamwork and determination of all EMS providers involved, the patient’s life was saved.
