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Georgia Emergency Medical Services Association

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2026 EMS Awards Reception

Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 7 pm
Location: Legacy Lodge at Lake Lanier, 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford, GA 30518 

GEMSA will be hosting its annual awards reception on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in conjunction with the 2026 GEMSA Directors & Leadership Conference.  

The 2025 award finalists will be recognized, and the award winners will be announced.  Hor d'oeuvres will be provided. 

Registration & Costs:

EMS Awards Reception: $25 per ticket
(Tickets are not included with a conference registration.)

Complete your registration using the link on the right. Payments can be made online with your registration or mailed to the GEMSA office.

Please RSVP your attendance and submit payment by March 6, 2026.

Payment is due in advance. If payment is not received, your spot will be forfeited as space is limited.

ONLINE REGISTRATION

  • 2026 EMS Awards Reception
    03/17/2026 7:00 PM
    Legacy Lodge at Lake Lanier - Blue Ridge Ballroom, 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford, GA 30518

GEMSA EMS Memorial nominations requested by feb. 1

Each year at the GEMSA Awards Reception, we honor those in EMS who have passed away in the last year.  We are making plans to host the next awards reception on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in conjunction with the 2026 GEMSA Directors & Leadership Conference at Lake Lanier.  Event details can be found on our awards reception page here (when available).

If you know of someone in EMS who has passed away between February 2025-February 2026, please submit their information using the button to our our online form below.

Please submit your nomination/form by Feb. 1, 2026.

Thanks for your help in remembering our fellow brothers and sisters in EMS.

 CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION FORM


2025 Georgia EMS Award Nominees

All nominees will be listed below once available.  The top finalists for each category will be recognized at the reception before the winner is announced.  If you have any questions, contact program@georgiaemsassociation.com.

Dr. J. Jeffrey Marshall Excellence in Emergency Cardiac Care

  • Cameron Cheek, Alan McQuaig, and Ben White - Franklin County EMS
  • Emily Puckett, Amanda Donis - MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service
  • Greene County EMS and Fire Rescue Med 13 and Engine 9
  • Steve Groves, Clyde Patterson - Atrium Health Chattooga EMS
  • Milton Fire-Rescue
  • Paige Johnson - Taylor County EMS

Tim Peebles Champion of Children Excellence and Advocacy Award

  • No Submitted Nominations for this Category for 2025

Charles B. Gillespie, MD, Distinguished Georgia E.M.S. Medical Director Award

  • Kevin Hardwell - Atrium Health Floyd

Georgia EMS Director of the Year Award

  • Abb Preston - Taylor County EMS
  • Chad Huff - Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services
  • Robby Hill - Atrium Health Floyd EMS
  • Joseph Johnson - Excelsior Ambulance Service
  • Mark Bramblett - AdventHealth Gordon EMS
  • Scott Roberts - Fayette County Fire & Emergency Services

Georgia EMS Educator of the Year Award

  • Dusty Johnson - Atrium Health Floyd EMS
  • Jason Anderson - Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services
  • Karolyn Mills - Camden County Fire Rescue
  • Kristina Wigington - Cherokee County Fire & ES
  • Matt Parr - Lanier Technical College
  • Stephanie Moss - Clayton County Fire & Emergency Services

Georgia EMT of the Year Award

  • Chris Jones - MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service
  • Daniela Suarez-Wilson - Greene County EMS
  • Desiree Hartmann - Atrium Health Floyd EMS
  • Joann Miller - Taylor County EMS
  • Katelin Ussery - Wellstar Spalding EMS
  • Kimberly Royer - Bryan County Fire & Rescue
  • Teryn Mize - Franklin County EMS

Georgia Paramedic of the Year Award

  • Chip Seagle - AdventHealth Gordon EMS
  • Christopher Sanders - Greene County EMS
  • Daniel Helton - Atrium Health Floyd EMS
  • Elisha Higgins - Habersham County Emergency Services
  • Jessica Kapka - MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service
  • Kortney Cheek - Henry County Fire Rescue
  • Paige Johnson - Taylor County EMS
  • Randy Nichols - Coweta County Fire Rescue
  • Ryan DeVita - Clayton County Fire & Emergency Services

Georgia Emergency Medical Service of the Year Award

  • Atrium Health Floyd Emergency Medical Services
  • AdventHealth Gordon EMS
  • Camden County Fire Rescue
  • Clayton County Fire & Emergency Services
  • Greene County EMS
  • Habersham County Emergency Services
  • Henry County Fire Rescue
  • Worth County EMS

Dr. John B. O’Neal, III EMS Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Dixon Marlow - AmeriMed EMS
  • Greg Hawkins - Atrium Health Floyd EMS
  • William Hatchett - Grady EMS

Mary Beth Bowns Excellence in Trauma Care Award

  • John Murray, Nathan Crowe, Austin Morgan, Matthew Carney, Carson Fields, and Matt Hockaday  - Hall County Fire Rescue
  • Jessica Kapka , Danial Glynn - Metro Atlanta Ambulance Service
  • Joseph Washo, Ryan Bogaards, Mike Sloan, Brian Saladino  - Henry County Fire Rescue
  • Kimberly Royer - Bryan County Fire & Rescue
  • Shane Foster - Taylor County EMS
  • Trent Jenkins - AMR Dekalb County

Dr. Zeb L. Burrell, Jr. Distinguished Service Award

  • Eric Irish - Atrium Health Floyd EMS
  • Jason Hurst and South Georgia State University
  • Zach Botkin - Clayton County Fire & Emergency Services
Joe Lane Cox Excellence in EMS Award
  • Andrea Mendence - Atrium Health Floyd Sports Medicine
  • Dr. Michael Kordecki

Dr. Joseph E. Simon & Jeff Hackney Pediatric Award of Excellence

  • Joseph Everett - MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service
  • Lans Carciopollo, Desiree Hartmann - Atrium Health Floyd EMS
  • Northeast Georgia Medical Transport
  • John Race,  Matt Hill - White County EMS

GEMSA Awards Committee:

  • Laney Wood
  • Xavier Winkler
  • Kathy Washington
  • Cathy White

The mission of the Georgia Emergency Medical Services Association is to advocate for the emergency medical provider, develop educational programs, liaison activities, provider benefit programs, and improvements to the Emergency Medical Service System in Georgia.

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