Hospital To Honor EMS Providers

DANBURY — Danbury Hospital will host emergency medical services professionals at the Stony Hill Inn in Bethel on Tuesday, May 18, at 6 pm, for its fourth annual recognition dinner during National EMS Week.

This year’s theme, “EMS: There When You Need Us,” pays tribute to the more than 500 EMS members who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of the medical “front line” in the region.

The group represents the 12 Danbury Hospital-sponsored ambulance services, as well as 17 collaborating ambulance and air ambulance services that work with Danbury Hospital throughout the year.

The event features opening and welcome remarks by Danbury Hospital/Danbury Health Systems President and CEO Frank J. Kelly. The Rev Brian Gray, Danbury Hospital’s Catholic chaplain, will provide the blessing before dinner. The keynote guest speaker is Leonard Guercia, Jr, director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services in the State Department of Public Health, who will address the topic “The Future of Emergency Medical Services.”

Following the keynote address, an awards presentation will be conducted announcing the names of award recipients for the following categories: MRT (medical response technician) of the Year, EMT of the Year, EMT-I of the Year, Paramedic of the Year, Service of the Year, Educator of the Year, and the Chris Blackwell Memorial Award.

A variety of donated door prizes also will be presented, followed by closing remarks from Patrick Broderick, MD, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Danbury Hospital.

Space is limited, so ambulance service personnel are encouraged to RSVP by May 7. To register, call the Danbury Hospital Marketing & Community Relations Department weekdays between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm at 797-7247.