Each year in the month of May, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Bureau of EMS & Trauma System (BEMSTS) observes EMS Week, EMS for Children Day, and National Trauma Awareness Month. Arizona Governor, Katie Hobbs, issued this year’s Proclamation
Arizona’s integrated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Trauma System is comprised of Emergency Medical Care Technicians (EMCTs), emergency physicians, emergency nurses, and trauma care professionals, working on ground and air ambulances, fire trucks, and emergency and trauma centers.
EMS Week 2025 (May 16-22): “We Care. For Everyone.”
Arizona’s 23,000+ EMCTs and countless emergency physicians and nurses collectively respond and manage over one million emergency calls each year. In 2023, Arizona EMS providers responded to:
- 20,818 strokes
- 5,063 STEMIs
- 15,767 Cardiac Arrests
- 17,762 Substance Use Incidents
This year’s EMS Week theme: “We Care. For Everyone.” recognizes the dedication of the EMS community to care for our community, whenever and wherever they are needed. EMS for Children Day, recognized the Wednesday of EMS Week each year, is an opportunity to thank Arizona’s EMS clinicians for their dedication to meeting the unique health needs of over 70,000 pediatric patients each year.
The ADHS Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program helps Arizona prepare for emergencies involving children by helping EMS agencies and emergency departments become pediatric-ready.
Thank you to Arizona’s EMS workforce for working 24/7/365 to protect the health and safety of Arizonans!
National Trauma Awareness Month (May 2025): “Model Safety Everyday: For a Stronger Tomorrow”
National Trauma Awareness Month promotes injury prevention and safety practices and celebrates the professionals who care for trauma patients each and every day. In 2023, Arizona’s 47 trauma centers reported 71,015 trauma cases to the Arizona State Trauma Registry (a 4% increase from the 68,245 trauma cases reported in 2022) including:
- 6,568 pediatric trauma incidents
- 36,986 fall incidents
- 16,805 Motor Vehicle Traffic (MVT) related trauma incidents
Thank you to Arizona’s trauma centers and the nurses and physicians who provide quality care for injured patients every day.
Recognizing Arizona’s 2025 Outstanding EMS and Trauma Professionals
Each year in May, ADHS BEMSTS and EMS and Trauma System Stakeholders celebrate and recognize Emergency Medical Care Technicians (EMCTs) and trauma care professionals for their extraordinary service and contributions to EMS, trauma care, and increased trauma survival rates. Congratulations to this year’s winners:
EMCT of the Year
- Louis D’Angelo, Paramedic (Central EMS Region)
- Matthew Shaw, Critical Care Paramedic (Northern EMS Region)
- Michelle Robbins, Paramedic (Southeastern EMS Region)
- Meagan Husted, Paramedic (Western EMS Region)
Trauma Awards
- Rebecca “Becky” Jones (Injury Prevention Achievement Award)
- Lisa Dowrick (Pediatric Preparedness/Pediatric Champion Award)
- Melissa Kovacs (Research/Academic Achievement Award)
- Andrew Tang, MD (Trauma Medical Director of the Year – Level I Trauma Center)
- Bart Carter, MD (Trauma Medical Director of the Year – Level IV Trauma Center)
- Tammy Eydeler (Trauma Program Manager of the Year – Level I Trauma Center)
- Shanna Cluff (Trauma Program Manager of the Year – Level IV Trauma Center)
- Jennifer Larson (Trauma Registrar of the Year – Level I Trauma Center)
