News

May 30, 2019

Josiah Peters, Kevin Holter Honored with “EMS Stewards of the Community” Awards

METHUEN, MA – In celebration of National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) week, Steward Health Care hosted the third annual “EMS Stewards of the Community” award ceremony on May 20 at the Tirrell Room in Quincy, Massachusetts.

Dallas-based Steward, which operates nine hospitals across Massachusetts, recognized 19 EMS providers. Among these were Josiah Peters, Operations Manager, Trinity EMS and Kevin Holter, EMT, Emergency Department Technician, Holy Family Hospital. Both were recognized for “going above and beyond” to serve the patients of Holy Family Hospital.

Peters was recognized for his response to fires that erupted in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover on the same day, leaving scant emergency medical services in the area. His rapid response sent 16 ambulances, a rehab truck, several chair vans, and a bus to the emergency staging area. He manned the unified command center and assisted with tracking and assigning units to evacuate South Lawrence and surrounding highways, as well as manning ambulances at evacuation centers. Under Peters’ leadership, Trinity transported 33 patients to Holy Family and other local hospitals during this event and transported many more to shelters.

Holter was recognized for his dedication and service to the emergency services profession. He has worked for several EMS crews in the Merrimack Valley for nearly ten years and also serves as a technician in the Holy Family emergency department. Holter is dedicated to the field of healthcare and wants to further his career by attending nursing or paramedic school in the near future.

“These two professionals serve their communities in times of need and uncertainty,” said Craig Jesiolowski, FACHE, president of Holy Family Hospital. “Whether it is responding to a community-wide public emergency or comforting individual patients in need of emergency care, these men set the standard for personal, compassionate care. We are proud to work with them and consider them part of our team at Holy Family Hospital.”

The “EMS Stewards of the Community” awards show appreciation for emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians, and paramedics who not only carry out the noble work of caring for others, but do so with a high degree of expertise, professionalism, and compassion. An internal committee of physicians and EMS directors selected nominated recipients among current providers in communities served by Steward.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Christopher J. Dumont, EMT-P, delivered the “Stewards of the Community” keynote address. Trooper Dumont helped save the life of Transit Officer Richard Donohue, who was shot by one of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing suspects. Because of his heroic actions, Dumont received the Medal of Honor, the highest award given by the Massachusetts State Police.

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