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Emergency personnel recognized at downtown banquet

Unless they are involved in an emergency situation, most people don’t spend too much time dwelling on the vast array of emergency personnel required to help the sick or injured. Yet, everyone – from the dispatcher who takes the emergency call and helps keep victims calm, to the paramedic who hold’s a patient’s hand during an ambulance transfer, to the doctor who performs life-saving operations -are dedicated to ensuring those who need it get help fast.

Emergency personnel from Lycoming, Sullivan, and Tioga counties came together to recognize the past year’s achievements at a dinner held Thursday in the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport.

Ciera Sausser, EMT with the First Ward Fire Department, received special recognition at the dinner. At the age of 31, Sausser, a mother of two, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She chose to have a radical double mastectomy and was cancer free. During this time, she took an EMS class and responded to more than 70 emergency situations with her department. In February, Sausser was diagnosed with Stage IV brain and bone cancer. She is undergoing weekly chemo and radiation treatments, but continues to inspire her co-workers with her positivity and bravery.

Stacey Girven, president of the Lycoming County EMS Council, was recognized with the Kline A. Dewire Memorial EMS Lifetime Achievement Award. Girven, mother of two, helped coordinate the merge between the Muncy and Clarkstown fire departments into the Muncy Area Volunteer fire department, where she is the assistant ambulance captain. She also teaches a variety of training courses. She has been council president for more than ten years and also chairs the Public Information and Education Committee. She also helped create the East Lycoming Ambulance Alliance.

Sullivan County:

Emergency Medical Responder of the Year went to Mike Leahy, of Mildred Fire Co.

EMT of the Year went to Brock Boyer, of Dushore and Mildred fire companies.

Volunteer of the Year went to Todd Wells, of the Dushore Fire Co.

Tioga County:

Rescue Technician of the Year went to Josh McCarthy

EMS Instructor of the Year went to Peter Lupkowski

EMT of the Year went to Deborah Lupkowski of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital

Paramedic of the Year went to Andrew Tom, of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital

Prehospital Registered Nurse of the Year went to Lisa Seeley of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital

Emergency Room Registered Nurse of the Year went to Marty Williams, of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital

Physician of the Year went to Donald Shaw, medical director of Soldiers and Sailors Emergency Department

Dispatcher of the Year went to Kimberly Robinson

Lycoming County:

Rescue Technician of the Year went to Frank Shank, of the Williamsport Bureau of Fire

Dispatcher of the Year went to Mark Ranck

EMS Instructor of the Year went to Deborah Currinder

Emergency Medical Responder of the Year went to Molly Delany, of the Muncy Area Volunteer Fire Department

EMT of the Year went to Scott Delany, of the Muncy Area Volunteer Fire Department

Paramedic of the Year went to Timothy Weaver

Emergency Physician of the Year went to Maher Alhashimi, of the Williamsport Regional Medical Center

Volunteer of the Year went to Doris O’Niel of the Muncy Area Volunteer Fire Department

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