Aetna Paramedic Sam Dybdahl received a “Challenge Coin” from the gentleman (a Vietnam Veteran), pictured above, for the tremendous care rendered to his family member. Originally a military tradition, challenge coins are presented to individuals who have demonstrated a significant achievement. Sam has over a decade of experience as Critical Care Flight Paramedic. Sam is also an active member of the Armed Forces who has served overseas.
Thanks to the support and dedication of ASM and Aetna employees, Team ASM-Aetna ha reached its goal of 15 participants for the CT Brain Freeze this coming Sunday, March 4th! For anyone interested in joining, the deadline for online registration is tomorrow, February 27th. All proceeds go directly to the National Brain Tumor Society.
Click below to join!
http://events.braintumor.org/connecticut-brain-freeze/
HARTFORD — On February 8th, 2017, eight EMTs were added to the Aetna team. As part of our continued growth, Aetna and ASM seek out only the best candidates. We look for employees who are focused on high-quality patient care, are team oriented and conduct themselves in a professional manner. During the orientation, employees learn about company philosophy and goals, quality assurance, and policies and procedures.
Andrew Choi: PART TIME, EMT. I am 25 years old and currently attending Central Connecticut State University to attain my B.S in biology. I spent my formative years in West Hartford, CT and now reside in Manchester, CT. I received my EMT certification at Bristol Hospital EMS and volunteered for about a year at Newington EMS. I became an EMT to gain patient care experience in my strive to become a P.A. I am thrilled to continue my education in the medical field and very grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the Aetna team.
Brianna Senato: FULL TIME, PARAMEDIC. Hi, my name is Brianna and I am from Maryland but have been in Connecticut for 5 1/2 years now. I first obtained my EMT in the ARMY and worked as an EMT in AMR Waterbury for 4 years. I recently completed and graduated Paramedic School at New Britain EMS Academy. In my down time I enjoy weightlifting and cooking. My future goal as a Paramedic is to be a Fire Medic, Flight Medic or Maryland State Trooper Flight Medic and I am excited for the opportunity and experience at Aetna.
Madison Nixon: PART TIME, EMT. Hello, my name is Madison Nixon and I am 22 years old. I recently graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from Bryant University and realized I wanted a career change. I am currently on path to apply to PA school and hope to gain patient care hours with Aetna Ambulance! I grew up and currently reside in Wethersfield, CT. I am also a medical scribe through Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and I work in the Department of Bariatric Surgery. However, I hope to one day work in Obstetrics or Pediatrics. I spend all my spare time at the gym as I am currently training for a NPC competition. I am extremely passionate about fitness and leading a healthy lifestyle. For this reason, I chose to become a healthcare provider!
Chevaughn Smith: PART TIME, EMT. My name is Chevaughn Smith and I am 21 years old. I am originally from Jamaica, and currently reside in Windsor CT. At the moment I am finishing up my Bachelors of Science degree as an Allied Health Sciences major at the University of Connecticut. I became an EMT to gain patient experience to develop proper bedside manner to become a better care provider for my future plans. I hope to one day attend medical school and pursue a career as an electrophysiologist. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the Aetna Team, and look forward for the journey ahead. I am also a die-hard giants fan.
Katherine Garger: PART TIME, EMT. My name is Katherine Garger. I am 21 years old and I am currently a senior at UConn majoring in biology. In the future, I hope to become a PA in either the NICU or pediatric oncology. I was born in Chicago, Illinois and lived in Arizona for many years before moving to Connecticut. In my free time, I like to read, hang out with my three dogs and take long walks on the beach.
Emma Becroft: FULL TIME, PARAMEDIC. Hi my name is Emma and I am from Wallingford, CT. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Biomolecular Sciences from CCSU. I worked in a genomics research lab throughout my time at CCSU. More recently, I went to paramedic school at New Britain EMS Academy. In my downtime I enjoy hiking and kayaking with my two German Shepherds, as well as weightlifting. I look forward to starting my paramedic career at Aetna.
Paige Vosburgh: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Paige Vosburgh. I am 24 years old and originally from West Hartford, CT. I recently finished my EMT course at New Britain EMS Academy. After spending the last several years a full time Nanny, I’ve decided to take the leap into the world of EMS. In my free time I enjoy snowboarding and spending time with my family on the beaches of Cape Cod. I can’t wait to see where this new path takes me and am thrilled to be a part of the Aetna team!
Brittany Lemire: FULL TIME, EMT. Hi, My name is Brittany Lemire and I am 22 years old. In May I graduated from Elms College with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in in Business Management. I received my EMT certification from CPR Training Professionals in South Windsor. My goal is to gain patient care experience before applying to PA school. I love to watch sports and enjoy traveling. I am excited to be a part of the Aetna team!
West Hartford Fire Department
Department of Fire Service, Engine 1
January XX, 2018
To: Gary Allyn Chief, Chief of Department
I just wanted to send you a quick Email regarding a favorable response from Aetna Ambulance last evening. E-1 responded to [a nursing home] for difficulty breathing. E-1 and Medic-1 found the patient critical. Bradycardic, and No blood pressure and needed BVM assistance. Medic- O’hara dropped a few lines into him, intubated him etc…
The Medic on the rig was a guy named Preston who was FANTASTIC!!!! The EMT was great as well. If you have the ability can you please pass on the praise, it was a huge relief to have such a genuine crew show up with a truly challenging call that had so many problems to long to explain via Email.
Once again, thank you for the assistance and professionalism of your staff.
LT. [Engine 1]
Below are a few recent quotes from the comment section of Aetna’s Patient Satisfaction Surveys. Keep up the great work!
Absolutely Amazing. I asked a million questions and they were able to answer everything and keep me calm.
Professional, caring, sensitive to my feelings, reassuring and kind.
Very kind and caring, comforting.
They were some of the kindest people around.
MANCHESTER-The results are in for the first ASM Coat Drive! Thanks to employees, family members and friends, a total of 26 jackets along with multiple, hats, coats and scarves were collected. ASM’s Laura McHugh was the driving force for this initiative. All donations were delivered to the Manchester Area Conference of Churches (M.A.C.C.) clothing store “Community Threads” located at 466 Main Street in Manchester. A quote from Laura, the event organizer is provided below.
Thanks so much to everyone involved! Year one turned out to be more of a success than anticipated. It’s amazing to see how your compassion for helping others does not end with patient care. Can’t wait for next year’s results!
MANCHESTER – In early January, The Ambulance Service of Manchester received a hand written thank you note addressed to Paramedic Robert Balkun and EMT Mike Sparks. The note, as depicted below, is in regards to a transport completed a few weeks prior.
The EMT team tried to make the transport as pain free as possible. They kept talking to me the entire ride to the hospital. Someone stayed with me the entire time at the hospital (I was alone) until I was put into an ER room.
Manchester- In early December, Ambulance Service of Manchester employee, Laura McHugh, motivated by her experience as a road crew EMT, took it upon herself to set fourth an annual coat drive to benefit MACC and HVCC local charities. She describes her inspiration for setting things in motion in the note below.
Despite participating in “Stuff a Cruiser” and “Emergency for Hunger” for the past couple of years, I still felt there was more that I could be doing for my community. While on calls, I was constantly disheartened by seeing not only patients, but their family members, and even bystanders without seasonally appropriate clothing. It constantly left me wondering how I could help. Earlier this year while going through winter clothes, I realized I had more than I needed for my family and decided to donate what I could. With the help of Patrick Gleason, Ambulance Service of Manchester employees have begun collecting new and gently used jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves. Donating an old winter jacket could be a small gesture from us, however, this could make a world of a difference to someone in our community. Please help us “Give the Gift of Warmth.”
MANCHESTER- On Wednesday, December 13th, 2017 Ambulance Service of Manchester Director of Operations, Stephen Conley was recognized as a Patriotic Employer by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Nominated by United States Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class, and ASM EMT Charles Lodge, the award was presented by a member of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Past and present members of every military branch work here at ASM. Their level of dedication and commitment is evident on a daily basis. ASM is honored to accommodate these individuals but more importantly, proud to have such devoted professionals on staff.
Aetna Ambulance Service is happy to release the third issue of The Grady Report, the Aetna employee newsletter. Released quarterly, The Grady Report features numerous articles outlining company news and events, training opportunities, case studies (periodically), health and wellness tips, and more. Additionally, each issue will contain an Employee Spotlight article, recognizing an EMT or Paramedic that has demonstrated a commitment to patients and co-workers alike via positive attitude, work ethic, and overall inspiring demeanor. Please enjoy!
MANCHESTER — On December 5th, 2017, ten EMT’s were added to the ASM team. As part of our continued growth, Aetna and ASM seek out only the best candidates. We look for employees who are focused on high-quality patient care, are team oriented and conduct themselves in a professional manner. During the orientation, employees learn about company philosophy and goals, quality assurance, and policies and procedures.
MATTHEW BURRELL: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Matthew Burrell, I am 32 years old and originally from Columbia, CT. I received my first emergency medical training through the Marine Corps infantry taking Combat Lifesaver and T-CCC courses. After getting out of the military in 2010, I took an EMT course in Middletown, CT. I have since used my training to act as a remote EMT in disaster response deployments to Haiti, Indonesia, Malawi and during three seasons as a Wildland Firefighter on a Hotshot crew out of Southern Oregon. In June of 2016, I attended a Wilderness EMT course at SOLO Wilderness Medicine in North Conway, NH and re-certified as a NREMT-B. In the fall of 2016, I started Paramedic school at Bunker Hill Community College in Chelsea, MA and will graduate with my A.S. in Paramedic Studies this month. I look forward to joining the ASM team and working towards my goal of serving the community as a competent and compassionate provider and instructor.
ANDREA WIMBERLY: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Andrea and I am a current resident in the town of Bloomfield, CT. I am an alumna from University of Connecticut with a liberal arts and science degree. I took my EMT course at Code One in East Hartford, CT and I completed the course this past summer 2017. My future goal is to gain medical experience and later become a nurse. I am thankful and excited to be given the opportunity to work at ASM and can’t wait to be a part of the community.
KAULMAN LENGYEL: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello my name is Kaulman Lengyel and I am 21 years old. I received my Associates Degree from Manchester Community College. I am a volunteer for my hometown fire department. I have been a firefighter/ first responder since 2012. I wanted to broaden my knowledge in the field of emergency medicine and received my EMT from Glastonbury EMS in 2017.
In my spare time I enjoy going to the gym, playing basketball and spending time with family and friends. I look forward to joining the ASM team and furthering my ability to become the best provider I can be.
DANIELLE CHOWANIEC: FULL TIME, EMT. Hi! My name is Danielle Chowaniec and I am 29 years old from Middletown, CT. I completed my initial EMT course at CPR Training Professionals in South Windsor in January of 2016. I have recently received my EMT-B certification and I am very excited to begin my career with ASM! After gaining some experience, my goal is to return to school to become a Paramedic.In my free time I can be found on some hiking trail with my pup Skylar, at Crossfit, or under a log at a GORUCK Challenge.
JACOB PIERCE: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello, my name is Jacob Pierce and I am 26 years old. I finished two years of undergraduate studies at Bucknell University before taking a gap year to work and travel in Australia. When I returned in 2013, I finished my third undergraduate year at UConn before deciding to get some working experience to better direct my studies. I took my EMT course at CPR Training Professionals and received my EMT-B certificate in 2016. I’ve been working at Eastern Mountain Sports since 2013, educating and outfitting people for adventure and travel, using experience I’ve gained from my own adventures hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, and more. And now I look forward to being apart of the ASM team and making a difference in the lives of those who need it!
THEMALINA NISYRIOS: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello! My name is Themalina Nisyrios, but everyone calls me Malina. I’m 29 years old, was raised in Wethersfield, and currently live in Vernon. I’ve been in the medical field since I graduated high school, working in many different types of doctor’s offices that were affiliated with Hartford Hospital. For the last few years, I have been a PCA in Hartford Hospital’s Emergency Room while taking the EMT course at Code One. I currently attend Goodwin College with plans to gain my nursing degree. With my free time, I enjoy being with my friends, family and my dog Zeus. I’m excited to join the ASM team and experience the pre-hospital aspect of medicine.
CONNOR COPPOLA: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello, my name is Connor and I’m 22 years old. I graduated Killingly High School in 2013 and went onto basic training for the Army National Guard where I am still actively drilling. I’ve been a member of South Killingly Fire Co for 3 years and have also been volunteering at KB ambulance for almost a year, which is where I took my EMT course. I look forward to advancing my certification level in the future and becoming a paramedic.
AMIE LACASSE: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Amie Lacasse and I have been an EMT for 2 years. Over the last 2 years, I have been volunteering for North Coventry Fire Department. For the last year, I worked for Vintech at Glastonbury Ambulance. I also help teach EMT students skills at CPR Professionals. Prior to EMS, I spent 10 years as a pharmacy tech. In my free time I enjoy the outdoors. I like hiking and building on my hobby of landscape photography.
MICHAEL SANTIANA: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Michael Santiana and I grew up in Milford, CT. I’m 23 years old and a recent graduate from the University of New Haven with a Bachelors in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Medical Studies. After enrolling in an EMT class, I started volunteering at Stratford and soon realized I made the right decision in pursuing a career in healthcare. I hope, after gaining more experience in EMS, to go to PA school. I appreciate ASM for giving me the opportunity to strengthen my patient care skills and grow as a heath care provider.
JASON DESCHENE: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Jason Deschene, I am a Full Time EMT, I’m 22 and from Windham CT. I volunteer with the Windham Center Fire Department and I am currently taking classes at three rivers community college.
ASM is proud to announce the winners of the first annual No Shave November competition. Please join us in congratulating Team Captain Mikhail Uddin and Alternate Charlie Lodge.
Team Captain
Runner Up
Thank you to everyone who donated to the cause and partook in this event. With all of your generous contributions, Team ASM/Aetna was able to raise $635 to support Men’s Health!
Cub Scout Pack 223 had an exciting visitor this past week to explain what it takes to be a first responder. ASM Paramedic Michael Levasseur fielded questions from 20 eager scouts and parents. The scouts gave thanks by creating some beautiful artwork!
MANCHESTER – The 9th Annual “Emergency of Hunger” Food Drive, composed of first responders, Rotary members, and others, was a great success! Their combined efforts continue to make a deep and widening impact on hunger in greater Hartford. This year volunteers from Manchester, Vernon, and South Windsor collected a staggering 31,000+ food items, 675+ turkeys, and $16,000 in gift card and monitory donations. Please click here to read Contact Reporter Jesse Leavenworth’s article in the Hartford Courant!
HARTFORD — On November 20th, 2017, six EMTs were added to the Aetna team. As part of our continued growth, Aetna and ASM seek out only the best candidates. We look for employees who are focused on high-quality patient care, are team oriented and conduct themselves in a professional manner. During the orientation, employees learn about company philosophy and goals, quality assurance, and policies and procedures.
Antonina M. Miller: PART TIME, EMT. My name is Nina Miller and I am 25 years old. I received my EMT certification at Code One in New Haven. I have a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and I am currently working on a second Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science at the University of Bridgeport. I am also an NSCA certified Personal Trainer. My goal is to get quality direct patient care experience as a BLS provider. My long term plan is to apply to a PA program. I’m looking forward to becoming a contributing member of the Hartford Aetna team!
Matthew Allard: FULL TIME, EMT. Hi, my name is Matt Allard. I am 36 years old and I’m from Middletown, CT, where I live with my two children. I am a UMass Lowell graduate, and I’ve been volunteering at Windsor EMS for about a year and a half. Emergency medicine has been an extremely rewarding experience for me, and I decided to transition to this career field after my years of experience in the Air Force, corporate technology, sales, marketing, and training. I plan on furthering my career by attending Paramedic school within the next year. In my downtime I enjoy photography, hiking, swimming and the beach. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the Aetna team!
Sean DiFilippo : FULL TIME, EMT. I am 23 years old and graduated from UCONN with a B.S. in Biology. My goal is to gain medical experience before becoming a PA that specializes in one of the following fields: orthopedics, emergency medicine or neurology. I grew up in Killingworth, CT and currently reside in Berlin, CT. I enjoy being outdoors and reading.
Chris Burdick: FULL TIME, EMT. My Name is Chris Burdick I am 24 years old and from East Hampton CT. I am currently a volunteer certified Firefighter /EMT for my home town, as well as a volunteer EMT for the local ambulance Association. I come from a family of first responders ranging from police, fire, and EMS. I am expanding my knowledge in the EMS field and looking into becoming a paramedic in the future. I am excited and eager to learn and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Aetna team. I look forward to serving the communities with everyone.
Shivani Patel: PART TIME, EMT. Hi! My name is Shivani Patel. I am 22 years old and recently graduated from UCONN with a BS in Biology and Psychology. I’m from the small town of Jewett City (out by the casinos). I decided to become an EMT to gain patient care experience for PA school and have been working at Wethersfield for about 8 months. I love to eat and binge watch Netflix. I also enjoy traveling, and really want to visit Europe one day!
Darrell Salley: FULL TIME, EMT: My name is Darrell Salley and I’m 37 years old. I am looking forward to starting a rewarding new career as an EMT. I attended New Britain EMS Academy and finished in June of this year. I’m currently a volunteer firefighter and I’m looking to take my experiences at work to be a bigger asset to my department and community.
