Ohio EMS Honors First Responders at 2025 EMS Star of Life Awards

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Ohio Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers were recognized today for their courage and dedication in the face of difficult, life-threatening circumstances during 2024 at an annual ceremony.

Hosted by the Ohio Department of Public Safety Division of EMS, the State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services, and the Ohio Chapter of American College of Emergency Physicians, the Star of Life Awards event honors first responders from across the state.

EMS holds the Star of Life Awards ceremony each May during EMS Week, which this year (May 18-24) features the theme "We Care. For Everyone."

"As each honoree's story was shared this afternoon, there was no doubt that each of them truly cared for everyone for whom they were called: teaching students for decades; an emergency physician mentoring EMS providers; an EMS agency whose corporate culture of caring reaches deep into the communities it serves; and EMS providers who, against all odds, had to quickly adapt their training and skills to overcome highly challenging circumstances and dangerous environments to provide the best care possible to total strangers at their greatest time of need," said EMS Executive Director Robert Wagoner.

The awards bring together local communities and medical personnel to honor the devotion of those whose accomplishments rise above the day-to-day excellence of the system. Ohio EMS Star of Life Awards recipients are below.

EMS Agency of the Year

Spirit Emergency Medical Services

EMS Medical Director of the Year

Dr. Frank Orth (posthumous), Medical Director of Westerville Division of Fire and Monroe Township Fire Department

EMS Provider of the Year

Brian Fraley, Fire Chief of Clinton Township Division of Fire

Frank Giampetro Distinguished EMS Educator Award

Karen Shelby, RN, EMS Instructor, and EMS Coordinator at Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital

Jack B. Liberator Lifetime Achievement Award

Claude "Doug" Bentley, President of the Board of Trustees for the Ripley Life Squad Inc.

Ohio EMS Stars

• Akron Fire Department
• Arrowhead Joint Fire District
• BMRT Ambulance District
• Bowerston Volunteer Fire Department
• Columbus Division of Fire
• Hamilton Township Fire Department
• Hopedale Fire Department (2)
• Kirtland Fire Department
• Independence Fire Department
• Stow Fire Department

Videos of each recipient's story can be found under the playlists tab on the Ohio Department of Public Safety's YouTube page.