Congratulations are in order for Gary Samuels, one of our EMS coordinators. Last month, he received the 2022 Governor’s EMS Award “Excellence in EMS” at the 42nd Annual Virginia EMS Symposium and Governor’s EMS Awards ceremony!
Gary is a member of our Bon Secours EMS Outreach Team and represents Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital as well as Bon Secours Rappahannock General Hospital.
These awards, given in Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s name, recognize EMS providers and organizations from across the Commonwealth for their outstanding level of excellence and dedication to the EMS system.
“This award is very humbling,” Gary shares. “I’m not one to be in the limelight, rather one supporting others. Just to receive a nomination was an honor and I had no idea I would ever be on the stage receiving an award. In my 42 years in fire and EMS, this is the first award I have received at a regional or state level.”
Gary adds that there are many others that deserve this recognition. In fact, the totality of receiving the award set in after a friend and mentor shared his thoughts with Gary.
“He told me, ‘every year there are almost 80,000 people in Virginia that could have been selected for this award. This includes physicians, nurses, administrators, EMS educators and EMS providers. You are in a very distinguished group of award winners. Feel good and be proud that your hard work was recognized as you deserve this recognition,’” Gary says.
Gary adds that he finds his personal values align with our ministry’s values.
“I find it easy to serve others with integrity, stewardship and compassion.”
Overall, Gary believes his mission in life is to serve others, and he feels he gets to do this every day as an EMS outreach team member.
“I get to collaborate and work alongside great people throughout Bon Secours,” he says. “We share ideas and find ways to improve our ability to provide support to our EMS partners throughout Virginia. It takes a village to do what we do for the communities we serve.”
Gary continues, “as an EMS outreach coordinator, paramedic and EMS educator, my sole motivation is to make sure people have ‘all the things’ they require to provide quality prehospital care. I wake up every day trying to find ways to ‘be good help’ to the communities we serve.”
At Bon Secours, we empower our EMS outreach team to find avenues to improve the health and well-being of the community through outreach activities. In participating at local, regional and state levels, our outreach team brings valuable help to our EMS partners.
“Our ability to help others through our outreach is a blessing,” Gary shares. “I see our mission play out every day as we provide education, feedback, support and resources to the EMS agencies who respond to help those in crisis. It is a patient’s worst day when they call 911. So, knowing we had a hand in making it better is always refreshing.”
Colin M. Greene, MD, MPH, state health commissioner, adds, “Virginia is blessed to have an outstanding network of highly skilled EMS providers and organizations who stand ready 24/7 to provide life-saving care within minutes of a 911 call. My congratulations to the individuals and organizations being recognized this year, and a sincere thanks to those who strive every day to make emergency medical services in Virginia the example for others to follow.”
Learn about the health care services we provide at Bon Secours.
