Category Archives: From the Team

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: Aetna Hires Five – 2017

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HARTFORD — On February 20, 2017, five 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.

Amy Lee: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Amy Lee. I am 22 years old, and a UCONN student pursuing a B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology. Currently, I am taking some time off to work in EMS. I have been working as an EMT instructor for over a year, but I am still relatively new to working in the field. I completed my EMT course in NYC about two years ago. I plan on applying to medical school or PA school within the next two years.

 Stuart Buchanan: FULL TIME, EMT. I am 24 years old, currently living in Windsor, CT. I’ve lived in Connecticut all my life and I am proud to call it home. I enjoy going to the gym, biking, swimming, the occasional video game or two, and traveling when I can find the time. I’m currently looking to get into martial arts and I am learning the German language. I attended Capital Community College, where I enrolled in their EMT course and loved it from the start. I’ve always wanted to be a part of the support that EMS brings to a community. In addition, the job has turned out to be very rewarding and it’s nice to occasionally put a smile on someone’s face when they see you arrive. I hope someday to be able to provide even more and become a Paramedic when the time and experience comes. I’ve been volunteering at Windsor Ambulance for about 7 months, and can’t wait to get started working in the city. I look forward to my new career at Aetna Ambulance and I am happy to be a part of such an amazing team!

Ryan Jano: FULL TIME, EMT. I’m Ryan Jano, full-time EMT new hire.I am 21 years old from Simsbury, CT. I have been in my town’s volunteer fire company since I was 15. I have been in EMS since I was a senior in high school. I plan on going to the Capitol Community College Paramedic Science Program. Outside of work, I enjoy fishing, working on and modifying cars, hiking, and weight lifting.

Kate Filosi: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello! My name is Kate Filosi and I am 23 years old.  I am from Killingworth, a small town down by the shoreline. I attended Michigan State University, where I majored in Kinesiology and minored in Health Promotion.  While at MSU, I competed for the Women’s Gymnastics team and absolutely loved my time as a Spartan.  Over the summer, I completed the accelerated EMT-B program at Code One Solutions in East Hartford and became nationally certified.  I am thrilled to begin learning from the Aetna team, and look forward to gaining experience in the EMS field. In the future, I hope to further my education by attending a Physician Assistant program and am especially interested in Emergency Medicine and Orthopedics.

Brandon Butler: FULL TIME, EMT. I’m 24 years old. I’m originally from Plainville, CT where I was an active firefighter from 2012 until October 2016. I then moved to East Hampton, CT with my wife and our two kids where I have been active with their fire department, as well as their EMS. I took my EMT course at Code 1 training Solutions in East Hartford. My long term goal for the future is to become a fire/medic or flight medic.

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: ASM Hires Seven – 2017

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MANCHESTER — On February 23, 2017 seven EMTs 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.

William Lund:  FULL TIME, EMT. My name is William Lund and I am 25 years old. I am originally from Monson, MA. I was a four year college athlete at Westfield State University (soccer), and currently I am an Active Air Force Reservist, serving as a Medical Technician. It is through the Air Force that  I received my EMT certification. My hobbies include anything outdoors but specifically fishing, camping, snowboarding, soccer, and corn hole.

Jenna Kinghorn:  FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Jenna Kinghorn. I am twenty-one years old. My interest in EMS came about when I started school, still not knowing what I really wanted to be, or what I wanted to do with my life. I began volunteering at Manchester 8th District Fire Department and quickly realized that I was more drawn to the medical calls. Shortly after, I enrolled in Hartford Hospital’s accelerated EMT program, and I knew I made the right decision. I immediately established a strong passion for emergency medicine. I have spent the past few months working in the Emergency Department at Hartford Hospital and while I loved the fast paced work environment, I am very excited to experience the first responder side of patient care through my role at ASM. My future goal is to become a K9 Officer. I believe ASM will help me achieve this goal by the experience I will be gaining in emergent situations, and provide me with the confidence and skill set needed for public safety. I am grateful for my opportunity to work at ASM, and I’m looking forward to becoming a part of the team.

Chris Dibenedetto:  FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Chris Dibenedetto I am 28 yrs, old, and from Manchester. I started working in the medical field as a Medical Assistant in 2010 at a doctors office. From there I took a job at ST. Francis Hospital. I received my EMT License in the summer of 2016, and started working as an ER Tech at the hospital. What made me want to become an EMT is the fact that I like being hands on with patients, and out in the field when a patient calls for help. A few hobbies of mine are being outdoors in the summer time, hanging out with my dog, or working on my car and traveling to different states to be in shows.

Orlando Diaz:  FULL TIME, EMT. Hello, my name is Orlando Diaz I’m 22 years old. I currently live in Meriden. I’m a Volunteer Firefighter/EMT for the town of South Meriden. I’ve been there for over a year now. That’s where I received my experience so far as an EMT. I joined the South Meriden Fire Department to become a career firefighter one day, but the more EMS calls I go on, the more I fall in love with EMS. Eventually, I’m hoping to become a Paramedic. I love helping others, I’m a people person. Making people smile makes my day a lot better. I’m thankful ASM has given me a chance to get the EMT experience I need to become a Paramedic one day. I’m looking forward to learning and contributing as much as I can to ASM, and all of our communities.

Elizabeth Dowdy:  FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Liz Dowdy.  I am 24 years old, and originally from Wethersfield, but currently live in Rocky Hill, CT.  I have worked as a waitress for five years and have been coaching the Wethersfield High School Gymnastics team for the past two years while going to school.  During my time in college, I studied Criminal Justice for three years and decided to expand my education in Emergency Services and obtain my EMT certification.  I took my EMT class in the Fall of 2016 in East Hartford, and developed a strong interest in EMS.  I am beyond grateful to have this incredible opportunity to not only work for such a great company as ASM, but to also gain new experiences while caring for the community.

Kaitlyn Duley:  FULL TIME, EMT. I am 25 years old and a student at Capital Community College where I am working towards my nursing degree.  When I found out that my school offered an EMT-B program, I thought that it would be a great opportunity for me.  I quickly fell in love with emergency services, and I am thrilled to become a part of the ASM team!  In my free time I enjoy riding my horse Mark, and spending time with my family.  I am a lover of nature and being outdoors, and basically anything to do with animals!

Brian Silver Jr:  FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Brian Silver Jr.  I am 24 years old.  I was born and raised in Michigan. I moved to the East Coast in 2011 and then moved to Connecticut in 2014. I currently live in Ellington, CT.  I took my EMT class in the winter of 2015 at CPR Training Professionals in South Windsor, CT.  I graduated from my class in the spring of 2016. Once I completed the class, I went on to be certified in the state of Connecticut. After earning my certifications, I started volunteering for the Somers Fire Department. I one day hope to become a paramedic, and further my career in EMS and emergency medicine. I am looking forward to joining the team here at ASM. In my free time I enjoy going for walks, spending time with my wife, reading and anything outdoor related.

ASM Presents to East Hartford Rotary Club

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EAST HARTFORD- On February 15th, ASM employees were invited to attend East Hartford Rotary Club’s weekly meeting and present as guest speakers to the group. Recognizing the longtime service to the community of East Hartford, the club reached out and requested ASM share insight on the history and progression of the company, as well as, its continued relationship and dedication to the community.

Founded in 1905, the mission of Rotary International is to “provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.” Over 110 years later, Rotary has developed into a global network with greater than 35,000 clubs worldwide. With the motto “Service Above Self,” promoting peace, fighting disease, creating clean water and sanitation programs, and supporting education are only a few of the challenging missions Rotary members tackle on a consistent basis across the globe.

East Hartford Rotary Club was chartered on February 23, 1928. 41 year member Dan Firestone graciously introduced ASM members during the meeting demonstrating the club’s true appreciation for the Ambulance Service of Manchester. Mr. Firestone conveyed the gratitude the club holds by referring to ASM as the “all too often overlooked members of the first responder community.”

 

Aetna Appears in Local News!

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Yesterday evening long time Paramedic and Operations Supervisor Matt Martinelli represented Aetna Ambulance Service Inc. on Fox 61 news. In the interview, Martinelli provides insight on the CT “Move Over” law, and offers a few simple, yet important suggestions to the public. “It seems everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere,” he said. “We just would like to be able to get to the scene in a safe manner so we can provide proper care for a patient.

The article, posted by reporter Jim Altman, and interview can be found in its entirety by clicking the link below!

 

Emergency responders say drivers aren’t paying enough attention to the “Move Over” Law

 

 

On Veteran’s Day!

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military_emblems

The Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC and Aetna Ambulance, Inc. would like to thank all past and present Veterans for their service to the United States of America. A special thank you to our employees that have served and continue to do so today. We are fortunate to have such patriotic individuals representing our team.

The Carolyn Edwards Foundation Hosting 3rd Annual Poker Run and Family Picnic

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Carolyn Edwards Foundation Motorcycle Poker Run FamilyThe Carolyn Edwards Foundation will be hosting their 3rd Annual Poker Run and Family Picnic on August 20, 2016 at Northwest Park in Manchester, in conjunction with The Road Docs motorcycle club.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN!

This is a great event for adults and kids alike with food, games, music, and great people! This is one of the biggest fundraisers for the foundation of the year and helps them continue their mission.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under, and can be purchased from www.carolynedwardsfoundation.org or from Kenya Russell, Beth Sheils, Greg Shovak, Michael Makulis, Matthew Tuttle, Francis Brunet, Nancy Brunet, Stephanie Boutot or Rachel Woods. If you are considering attending we would appreciate buying a ticket in advance so we can gauge how much food to buy!

More info can be found on the Facebook event page (3rd Annual Carolyn Edwards Foundation Poker Run & Family Picnic) feel free to spread the word!

– The Carolyn Edwards Foundation

Stephanie Boutot Represents ASM in Boom Box Parade, 2016

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Note: ASM is NOT the ambulance transport or paramedic service provider in Willimantic. In an emergency, always dial 9-1-1. 

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Submitted by ASM’s Stephanie Boutot

WILLIMANTIC — I know the 4th has come and gone, but ASM is still America Strong! It was another successful year at the annual Boom Box Parade in Willimantic. ASM, in our traditional orange and blue, proudly wore red, white and blue to celebrate with the rest of the crowd for the momentous occasion.

The radio set to the 1400 WILI AM station as they played the parade music, a tradition that began in 1986 when no marching band was available for the parade. This year’s parade was held in 82 degree weather and lasted 96 minutes, the longest since the record breaker of 117 min in 2010.

I enjoy the reactions from the parade goers, young and old, with great big smiles, waves and cheers. We may not be the first responders in the town, but they know who we are and they seem to appreciate us here. It’s an event I look forward to every year!

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: Aetna Hires Four – 2016

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HARTFORD — On June 22, 2016 three EMTs and one Paramedic 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.

Cole Ashker:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Cole Ashker and I am 24 years old. I was born in Burbank, CA, but lived in South Windsor, CT for the majority of my life. After finishing at South Windsor High School I attended UConn for 4 years. In May of 2014 I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. During school I worked on campus, and continued to do so in a full time capacity after graduation. I never saw myself working a typical 9-5 job, and unfortunately I found that the job wasn’t meeting my desire to help my community. On the recommendation of my best friend Eric Thepsiri, I enrolled in the Hartford Hospital EMT-B course in 2015 and received my certification soon after. I didn’t know what to expect when I enrolled, but I found the material engaging and suited to my interests. When I’m not working I enjoy exercising, playing recreational sports, and finding new adventures to go on with friends. In addition, I’m hoping to start travelling the world and experiencing interesting and new things. I have been looking to enter public service for a long time, and I am extremely excited to start my career in EMS with Aetna Ambulance Service. I look forward to meeting and working the exceptional people of this company.

Chris Nelson:  FULL TIME, Paramedic. Hi my name is Chris.  I am originally from Rhode Island.  I started as an EMT in Cambridge Massachusetts and I went to Paramedic school at Yale New Haven Hospital while working at Aetna.  I have been living in Texas and working as a medic at Austin-Travis County EMS.  I missed blizzards and pumpkin spice coffee so I am moving back to Connecticut and looking forward to working at Aetna once again.

Anthony Palumbo:    PART TIME, EMT. My name is Anthony and I’m 23.  I graduated from UHART in May with a B.S. in Respiratory Therapy and I currently attend Capital for my Paramedic. I am new to the commercial ambulance service but have been a EMT for two and a half years. On my off time I volunteer as a firefighter for Farmington and EMT for Rocky Hill Ambulance. I really enjoy working in the medical field and I am excited to start at Aetna and be a part of the family. In my spare time I like grill, go to the beach, fishing and practicing archery along with doing anything else outdoors.

Anthony Valentine:   PART TIME, EMT. My name is Anthony Valentine, I am 23 years old an a 2016 graduate of Central Connecticut State University I graduated with a bachelors in Biology. I am from Bloomfield, Connecticut. I have a love for medicine and a strong desire to provide service to the world. I’ve worked  at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut since 2011 in patient transport and that opportunity reinforced my desire to work in the medical field and be of service in some way. One of my goals in life is to become an emergency surgeon. I love the anatomy of the body, its function and how everything is connected in someway.   Since a child I’ve always trying to identify new ways and new methods of doing things and medicine is a field I believe still needs innovation. I have horrible sinus allergies, hopefully I can find a long lasting cure. Outside of medicine I have an additional love; the ability to create ideas and bring them to fruition. I am a young entrepreneur I currently run a lifestyle magazine that I hope to compete with well known pop culture magazines like Fader and Complex. I enjoy speaking to youth and doing my best to influence them in a more positive direction. Becoming an EMT was something I wanted since the idea was introduced. The day I passed my cert, excitement overwhelmed my prior feelings of disappointment for having thought I failed. I’m Blessed!  I am a new EMT and received my schooling through the New Britain EMS academy. I am excited to begin this new journey with Aetna Ambulance Service, a place I am excited to call home. 

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: ASM Hires Seven – 2016

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MANCHESTER — On June 7, 2016 seven EMTs 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.

Benjamin Adamik:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Benjamin Adamik and I’m 22 years old. I currently live in Manchester where I was born and raised. As a recent graduate from the Medical Laboratory Science program at the University of Vermont, I look forward to a career in medicine. In my experiences as an EMT, I have found emergency medicine to be extremely captivating, and is where I see myself contributing within healthcare. I ultimately plan to apply to Physician Assistant programs with the goal of working in an Emergency Department. During my time at college, I was involved in tumor suppression therapy research, took a medical service trip to Lima, Peru, volunteered on a local ambulance service, and had the opportunity to ski some of Vermont’s finest peaks.  In my free time I also enjoy hiking, fishing, swimming, and overall being outside. I have a strong sense of adventure and am always looking to gain new experiences. I believe our experiences are fundamental for who we are as individuals, and therefore to grow and improve ourselves we must seek out the unfamiliar. Altogether I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Ambulance Service of Manchester, and for the experiences I will be granted as I learn and grow as a healthcare provider.

Michael Cedeno:    FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Michael Cedeno I am 27 years old and I currently live in Hartford, CT. I’ve worked at Manchester Memorial Hospital for about five years. I started off in the kitchen as their Cook and Event Caterer then worked my way to the emergency department doing Patient Access. During my time working in the ED I’ve seen quite a few interesting things that intrigued me to want to learn more about patient care and all that health providers do to help save and improve the quality of life for their patients. I enjoy helping and caring for people so I took my EMT course last fall and I’m glad to have been given an opportunity to help serve and care for the people of the community that are in need and rely on EMS.

Justin Cole:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Justin Cole. I am 31 years old. I was born, and raised in Illinois and moved to New England in July of 2012. I currently reside in South Windsor, CT. The majority of my life I have had an interest in the medical field especially since I grew up with family members working in hospitals and as nurses. I am an avid outdoorsman and was looking to combine my love for climbing and my health care interests together. In the summer of 2015 I took a Wilderness First Responder class with plans to start a career in outdoor guiding as a single pitch rock climbing instructor. However, after the first responder class my interest in emergency medicine became more important to me. Following the summer, I signed up for an EMT class in the Fall of 2015 in South Windsor and after starting class I immediately fell in love with it and have developed a passion for emergency medicine. After finishing my EMT class, and earning my certifications I have become a volunteer for the Bloomfield Volunteer Ambulance Service. I am very excited for the opportunity to be a part of the ASM family and grow as an EMT. I am also looking forward to joining such an amazing team of health care providers and serve my community.

Scott Harrington:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Scott Harrington I am 29 years old and currently live in Agawam, MA.  I graduated from Western New England College in 2009 with a degree in psychology.  After I graduated I spent six and a half years as a police dispatcher with two different departments in Massachusetts.  I first obtained my EMT certification in 2007 and I finally joined the EMS community in the fall of 2014 when I began to volunteer as an EMT with Suffield EMS.  Soon after I started with Suffield I realized I had found a new career path.  I am looking forward to learn and contribute as much as I can to ASM and the communities we serve. I am also going to be attending paramedic school this fall at Greenfield Community College.  In my free time I enjoy spending time with my fiance, kayaking and target shooting.

Sean McNeff:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Sean McNeff and I am a 24 year old from Enfield.  I graduated from Central Connecticut State University (class of 2013) with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology.  I worked a couple jobs in retail and insurance, but decided my desire was to work in medical field/emergency services. I recently completed EMT class at Asnuntuck Community College and got certification shortly after. I hope to one day become a paramedic and remain in EMS. I am happy to finally find a career I am excited for, and couldn’t be happier for the opportunity to begin that career at ASM.

Erind Muco:    FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Erind Muco and I am 22 years old. I was born in Tirana, Albania and moved to the U.S. when I was six years old. I currently live in Wethersfield, CT. I recently graduated from UConn with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and now I hope to attend medical school. At ASM, I am looking to gain invaluable medical experience which will propel me further in my medical career. When given the opportunity, I enjoy traveling and learning about different cultures, as well as watching/playing soccer, football, and basketball. I am proud to be a part of such a distinguished company, and I am excited to begin working.

Karisa Welch:   FULL TIME, EMT. Full time, EMT. My name is Karisa Welch. I am 21 years old and from Somers, Connecticut.  I recently graduated from UConn with a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health and a minor in Psychology. During my time at UConn I was dedicated to serving the community through my leadership roles in Public Health House and my honor society. My experience volunteering in the ER at Johnson Memorial first peaked my interest in health care. I explored this field more by shadowing a Physical Therapist and a Physician Assistant. This helped me discover that my ultimate goal is to become a Physician Assistant.  I currently volunteer with Somers Fire Department. I am very excited to get this valuable experience in emergency care as an EMT. I’m looking forward to learning new things and helping people each day!

Worlds Apart: Part 4 – Conclusion

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by Aetna’s Tom Sopel

Read Part 1 here…

Read Part 2 here…

Read Part 3 here….

The trip was eye opening for me, both as an EMT and a human being. Seeing the disparities between life there and what we have here is astounding. The things I’ve seen and the people I’ve met were unforgettable, and I want to personally thank Dr. Rafael Vela, Jorge Antonio Hernandez, and Arturo Pineda for having us with open arms. The level at which Dr. Vela gives back to the community is incredible and I aspire to be as great a man as he. Jorge and Arturo both provided our group with amazing insight into the Guatemalan health care system and they did so eagerly and with the warmest of hearts. Thank You.

The opportunities given to us by these people were places of personal growth and understanding for me and my group. We learned so much and I’d like to think we helped some people while we were out there. Looking through the eyes of an EMT, I was very grateful for the tools and technologies available to us here in America, and although the field of emergency medical services is ever growing and developing, compared to what it could be, we are Worlds Apart.

-Tom Sopel

Worlds Apart: Part 3

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Worlds Apart 3by Aetna’s Tom Sopel

Read Part 2 here…

As for Guatemalan EMS, we were very fortunate to be introduced to Mr. Arturo Pineda, Chief of Services, EMT, who was a longtime friend of Jorges. Mr. Pineda was kind enough to show us their base of operations.

He explained that most services, like their own, were Fire/EMS, and that EMS was provided under three different systems in Guatemala. There were the private companies that catered to the wealthy, the semi-private system that catered to the elderly and special populations, and lastly there was the public system, which he operated under.

The public system, although free, was extremely overburdened and having a waiting list of calls was sometimes an unfortunate reality. Mr. Pineda and his team at Cuerpo de Bomberos Municipales de La Antigua would run one or two ambulance for all of La Antigua, covering everything. It’s more understandable when you see that La Antigua’s population of 34,000 pales in comparison to Hartford’s 125,000. They had about three ambulances total, all donated from Japan from what appeared to be the 1980s.

When asked if I could inspect their equipment I found an oxygen tank, a stretcher and an AED/3 lead ECG that dated back to what I’d assume was the 70s, a long ways away from what is available to us in our ambulances. The medications they are legally allowed to provide are oxygen, glucose, albuterol and epinephrine, however they only carried oxygen, the other 3 would have to be provided by the patient. It’s moments like these where you really appreciate being able to collar a patient, or having things like trauma pads and nasal cannulas.

As for the paramedic level, medic positions will usually be filled by doctors, because the political and financial environment pushes them into field. Even then, whether they have any medications to give is a game of chance. This all being said, the work that the men and women working for the Bomberos Municipales de La Antigua is nothing short of amazing.

Worlds Apart: Part 2

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Worlds Apart 2

Aetna on top of Mt. Pacaya!

by Aetna’s Tom Sopel

Read Part 1 here….

“So how long does it take for an ambulance to show up to these places if people need immediate attention” I asked Jorge and Dr. Vela. Hours. Not one or two, but possibly five or eight. An overburdened, underfunded EMS system meant for longer response times and some of these villages are so remote that they can only be accessed by vehicles in the dry season (summer months), otherwise the rivers grow too torrential to let cars pass. One clinic we ran was particularly deep into the jungle and hadn’t seen a clinic in over 25 years! That was the day a child saw my white, foreign face and ran away crying. It’s like he didn’t even care that I have an awesome personality…

Ok, so let’s say something happens and you can wait the few hours for an ambulance to get there. You were somehow able to stretch that golden hour of your stroke into a tarnished eight, then what? Hop in the back and start burning rubber, right? Wrong. The Guatemalan healthcare system won’t take you unless have all your paperwork signed and filled out for that particular trip, as payments need to be established BEFORE the trip, not after. That brings the interesting question: What if you’re unconscious? Well, you better hope that a loved one is around to do the paperwork for you then! Ok, stroke survived, paperwork filled out, hospital time! Wrong again.

As it turns out, treatment in Guatemala is based on a graded scale where treatment isn’t necessarily catered to acuity. You’re bumped up to progressively more and more developed health care facilities until you reach the one you need. Where first you’re dropped off at a clinic like the ones we ran or an average doctors office, and then they slowly pass you up the chain until you’re finally allowed to be transferred to a hospital. All they do in the meantime is stabilize the patient and pass them along – often a stark contrast to Hartford.

Worlds Apart: Part 1

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Dr. Rafael Vela and myself nearing the end of a successful week of clinics.

Dr. Rafael Vela and myself nearing the end of a successful week of clinics.

by Aetna’s Tom Sopel

La Antigua, Guatemala — Hello, my name is Tom Sopel and I’m an EMT here at Aetna. This past January I flew to Guatemala to work under the Medical Humanitarian Society of Uconn in order to provide patient care to rural areas of Guatemala. The culture was as vibrant as it was care free, the kind of atmosphere that lets you slow your clock down and loosen up your laces. I guess you can say that an important medical lesson I learned out there was that the human body naturally wants to smile when it’s never been exposed to (Hartford) winter. But seriously, the place was amazing. We spent two weeks in various villages across Guatemala running health care clinics, working with hundreds of patients to provide much needed medical treatment for those in need.

Out there we were met by our friend and translator, Jorge Hernandez who helped us with organizing patient care sites and Dr. Rafael Vela, who was an amazing doctor who would volunteer his time to go with us out to the different villages and coffee plantations spotted across the jungles of Guatemala. Continue reading →

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: Aetna Hires Four – 2016

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HARTFORD — On February 10, 2016 two EMTs and two Paramedics 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.

Brigid Cox:   FULL TIME, EMT.  My name is Brigid Cox, I am 22 years old, and I am from South Windsor. I graduated in May from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.  I earned my B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Anatomy and Physiology. I have always wanted to work in the medical field. Within the last couple of years I finally decided that I wanted to be a Physician’s Assistant.  I am interested in emergency medicine, making EMS a perfect way for me to work towards my career goals. I like spending my free time outdoors; hiking, camping, or swimming and I would really like to start rock climbing.  I also love traveling and trying new things, especially different foods. I am really excited to be starting my first job in the medical field and to finally be able to help out my community.

Kyle Durand:     FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Kyle Durand, I am 22 years old and I am from Bristol, CT. I graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physiology & Neurobiology. After graduation I enrolled in an EMT program in South Windsor and obtained my license in October of 2015. I originally attended UConn with the goal of graduating with a Bachelors in Fine Arts in acting, as my career goal at the time was filmmaking. While filmmaking is still a very passionate hobby of mine, my interests shifted to the medical field my first semester after I attended a Neurobiology lecture. Since then I have been enamored with the medical field, having worked for the St. Francis Radiology Department, volunteering for Americorps in Willimantic, and helping research genomic markers for familial disorders and diseases. In my spare time I like to play football, rock climb, go hiking, learn a new language and travel as much as possible. I could not be happier to work for Aetna as an EMT and help make a difference in the community I live in. The experience I gain working for Aetna Ambulance will be an invaluable asset to my future career goals and myself. I’m very excited to be a part of the Aetna Ambulance team and all of the new opportunities that lie ahead.

Dan Hope:    FULL TIME, Paramedic. My name is Dan Hope and I am 28 years old. As a recent graduate of the Capital Community College Paramedic Program. I am excited to join the team of EMTs and Paramedics at Aetna Ambulance. As a resident of Monson, Massachusetts, I have worked full and part time as an EMT-Basic for both private ambulance and municipal Fire Department services. After working mostly service-based jobs since high school, I have discovered a true passion for EMS since 2013 and have dedicated much of my time to improving my skills and knowledge base as a field provider. In my spare time, I am an avid hiker and enjoy traveling. I look forward to beginning my career in paramedicine with Aetna Ambulance.   

Amanda Kneipfer:    FULL TIME, Paramedic. My name is Amanda Kneipfer and I am 23 years old, originally from Wallingford, CT. I graduated from Colby-Sawyer College in 2014 with a degree in Child Development and a minor in Psychology. While in college, I studied abroad for a semester in Madrid and travelled to four other countries during my time there. I love to travel and have been to nine different countries to date. I originally thought that I wanted to go to grad school to become a Social Worker, but quickly found a passion for EMS after taking my EMT course. I have been volunteering for Wethersfield Ambulance for a little over a year, and just completed the paramedic program through New Britain EMS Academy. I am very excited for the opportunity to be a part of the Aetna team and can’t wait to meet and work with everyone!