Anderson EMS honors paramedic, EMT, officer of the year; gives first ‘Director’s Award’

Anderson County Emergency Medical Service, or EMS, honored some of its own Wednesday afternoon with a luncheon and awards ceremony.

Whitney Ellis was recognized as Paramedic of the Year. EMS Director Nathan Sweet said Ellis has great compassion for her job “and her commitment to patient care exceeds all others.

“This paramedic exemplifies our core value of ‘Service Before Self,’” Sweet added. Ellis has worked at Anderson County EMS for 7.5 years.

Shane Sexton, who has worked for Anderson County for one year, was honored as EMT-IV of the Year. Sexton “has constantly sought out ways to not only improve himself but to also make an impact on the entire (EMS) system,” Sweet said. Sexton has assisted with training new employees, although he doesn’t hold the title of field training officer, the director said.

Assistant Chief Danny McCreary was recognized as Officer of the Year. McCreary, a five-year employee, has “proven himself many times to be a great leader who does so with understanding, equality, dignity, and stability…and leads by example and places himself beside the crews to work toward our goal of being the best,” Sweet said.

The Paramedic, EMT-IV and Officer of the Year honorees were chosen by nominations from employees throughout Anderson County EMS, according to its director.

And, Anderson County EMS honored one emergency professional with the department’s first Director’s Award; the honoree was selected solely by Sweet. EMS Deputy Director Bobbi Jo Henderson received the Director’s Award.

Henderson, who has worked at Anderson County EMS for nine years, has an “excellent” attention to detail and “is meticulous in every way,” Sweet said. Henderson is in charge of the department’s Continuous Quality Improvement program, which has a 99.3-percent rating. She also oversees the department’s American Heart Association training for the community CPR program that’s instructed more than 500 local citizens in CPR over the last three years, according to Sweet.

Part of National EMS Week, the luncheon recognized EMS crews and first responders throughout Anderson County for their service to the public. The luncheon ceremony, co-hosted by Anderson County EMS and UT LifeStar, was held at EMS headquarters on Public Safety Lane in Clinton.