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.
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.
Year one fundraising for Team ASM-Aetna was a great success. Through the efforts of our employees, family members, and friends, we were able to raise close to $1,100 for Breast Cancer Research. With the company match, and proceeds from the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk this past Sunday, a total of $3,288 has been donated to the American Cancer Society. Thank you to everyone involved for your generous contributions and dedication to the cause.
HARTFORD – As of October 27th, 2017, Aetna’s Blake St. John has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves. His preceptor was Paramedic Greg Kendall. Blake has been working in EMS for 11 years. He started at Aetna in August of 2015, and graduated from Capital Community College Paramedic Program.
As with all precepting phases at Aetna, Blake’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing him and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Blake the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.
The Ambulance Service of Manchester is proud to release the third issue of Pulse, the ASM employee newsletter. Released quarterly, Pulse features numerous articles outlining company news and events, training opportunities, case studies, 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 – As of October 20th, 2017, ASM’s Gabner Alcime has been cleared by Eastern Connecticut Health Network medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that ASM serves. His preceptor was Paramedic Scott Crittenden. Gabner hails from Port Charlotte Florida and started at ASM in July of 2017.
Gabner has over a decade of EMS experience working as an EMT and eventually a Paramedic for Lee County Emergency Medical Service. As with all precepting phases at ASM, Gabner’s final approval came from Eastern Connecticut Health Network after shadowing him and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.
On behalf of the ASM Family, we would like to wish Gabner the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.
MANCHESTER- Purchasing a t-shirt and bracelet in order to donate to ASM and Aetna’s Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser was only the beginning for Ambulance Service of Manchester EMT, Kristi Glowacki. In an effort to raise more money for the cause, Kristi put her talent for baking to good use. As you’ll note in the adjacent photo, Kristi dedicated a portion of her time off to prepare pink ribbon cookies, as well as pink frosted cupcakes. The first round, offered last week, sold-out in a matter of minutes. ASM anticipates the same result today.
All of the proceeds will be matched by the company and presented to the American Cancer Society at the end of the month.Thanks to Kristi, both for her baking abilities and compassion!
Important Reminder!
Aetna Call Taker Kelly Shapiro is acting as Team Captain for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Hartford Walk on Sunday, October 29th, 2017 at 930 am. Please consider joining Team ASM-Aetna or making a donation. Use the link below to register.
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/teamASM-AETNA
MANCHESTER – As of October 13th, 2017, ASM’s Tiffany Armas has been cleared by Eastern Connecticut Health Network medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that ASM serves. Her preceptors were Paramedic Supervisor’s Melissa Osborne and Joshua Traber.
Tiffany started at ASM in February of 2015 and graduated from the Capital Community College Paramedic Program. Additionally, she is a volunteer a member of North Windham Fire Department. As with all precepting phases at ASM, Tiffany’s final approval came from Eastern Connecticut Health Network after shadowing her and her preceptors in the field as they responded to emergency calls.
On behalf of the ASM Family, we would like to wish Tiffany the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.
WETHERSFIELD – In late August, Aetna Ambulance Service received a hand written letter addressed to Paramedic Matt Carter and EMT Eric Marandino. The note, as depicted below, is in regards to a transport completed a few weeks prior.
I am most pleased with the service that was provided. Thank God that this EMT/Paramedic was sent to my home that morning. The EMT/Paramedic [was able to] diagnose what I had before we left my home. I will forever be so thankful for the EMT/Paramedic who solved the mystery of what was affecting me. Please pass on this thankfulness to the one who took very good care of my health needs that day.
HARTFORD- On Sunday August 20th, 2017, employees from the Ambulance Service of Manchester and Aetna Ambulance gathered at Hartford Yards Goat’s Dunkin’ Donuts Park to watch the home team take on the Reading Fightin Phils.
Despite the Yards Goats 6-0 loss, the event provided an opportunity for EMTs and Paramedics, families and friends, to connect in a fun and relaxed environment.
Aetna Ambulance is proud to have EMT, Ryan Sullivan back to full time duty after his recent return from a volunteer Peace Corps mission in West Africa. He describes his amazing journey in the summary below!
It’s hard to describe my experience in the Peace Corps. Everything was just so different from what I was used to. I left home and four days later, I was in Guinea, a country where no electricity, no running water, and huge snakes were the norm. Guinea is close to the equator in West Africa. It has 6 months of dry season and 6 months of rainy season. No matter what season it was, the weather was always super-hot. And of course there was no air conditioning. Communication was always a problem. Guinea’s official language is French, but there are over 70 local languages used. All Guineans knew at least some French, but everyone spoke in their local languages most of the time. In my town, people spoke Pular.
Peace Corps provided language and cultural training for the first two months, and after that they placed all of the volunteers in their assigned town. Once I was in my assigned town, my closest neighbors became my family. They took care of me like I was their child. It was a super heartwarming experience to be with them. In return for the generosity, I would give them $25 each month. That is about 250,000 Guinean Francs, so they were very happy with me. I was the only American in my town, the closest volunteer was a 3 hour taxi ride away. Everyone was very eager to start working with me. I felt like a celebrity because everyone wanted to be friends with the American. I was a Public Health Volunteer, so I tried to teach people simple ways to improve their health. How to use a mosquito net, how to properly wash hands, STI prevention, things like that.
Everything had to be communicated in Pular, which made even the simplest concepts hard to explain. I never really grasped Pular, but my host family was always so happy when I could say a simple sentence. Everyone was always super kind to me and I learned many things while in Guinea. The only unpleasant part of my experience was the food. It was usually rice with some sort of dried fish sauce. I ate that 3 times a day, every day. When I got back to America the first thing I did was eat a bacon cheeseburger with a chocolate milkshake. Best meal of my life.
Now that my experience is over, there are definitely things about Guinea I will miss. But my host family calls to check up on me every day, so at least I can still be a part of their lives. And keep my Pular skills strong.
SOUTH WINDSOR – In early August, The Ambulance Service of Manchester received a hand written thank you note addressed to Paramedic Genevieve Geres and EMT Tracy Luetjen. The note, as depicted below, is in regards to a transport completed a few weeks prior.
I am ever so grateful for your patient, reassuring help on a very frightening morning for me. At every turn, you did not demean or minimize my experience. I truly felt I had competent advocates at my side.
MANCHESTER — On July 24th, 2017, two Paramedics and six 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.
Christopher Myska: FULL TIME, PARAMEDIC. My name is Chris and I am 27. I went to medic school at Capital Community College. I have been interested in patient care since watching MASH as a kid. I am a Flight Medic with the US Air Force Reserves and have been since 2010.
I am newly married and spend most of my free time outside with my wife and my dog Ellie. I have spent the last 4 years working for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center as an ER Tech.
Nicole Niwinski: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello my name is Nicole Niwinski and I am 24 years old. I have my Associates from Manchester Community College and have been working for the last few years an Associate Manager of a window covering company. I took my EMT course with Glastonbury EMS in 2016 and have been very excited about it since then. My goal is to continue in the field of EMS, and become a paramedic. I train martial arts, and enjoy rock-climbing and hiking.
Gabner Alcime: FULL TIME, PARAMEDIC. Hello my name is Gabner L. Alcime. I am originally from Miami, FL but I’ve lived in Port Charlotte, FL for all of my teenage and adult life. I received my EMT Certification in May of 2006, and my Paramedic Certification in 2012, as well as, my Associate in Science. I spent ten years serving as EMT/Paramedic for Lee County EMS, FL. My younger brother is also a Paramedic with the same company and two of my cousins are EMT’s there as well. I served as an AHA instructor for both Lee County EMS and at the same college, received my schooling. I also served as a Lab Instructor at the college for the EMT program. I’m really grateful for all the opportunities the EMS field has provided me over the years. I recently obtained my NREMT-P when I decided to relocate with my family to Windsor, CT where my wife is from. In the future, I plan to get my Bachelor’s Degree, and become a filed training preceptor. Aside from EMS, I am also a Wedding DJ, and enjoy being active in the gym and playing sports. Looking forward to being part of the ASM team.
Kristi Glowacki: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Kristi Glowacki and I have been an EMT for just over 2 years. In that time, I have helped to instruct EMT students, teach communities looking to learn CPR, and volunteered as an EMT for the City of Bloomfield. Before accepting a position with ASM, I also worked in an Emergency Room as a Tech. Being in an ER teaches you how to work fast and think quickly. However, not every patient or call is an emergency. Some just need to know that you’re listening and care. It’s for the same reason that in my spare time I’m teaching my rescue dog, Alpha, to be a therapy dog. If you ever want to talk to someone who is dog crazy you’ve found the right person!
Patrick Zimny: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Patrick Zimny. I am 22 years old and from East Hampton, CT. I’m a student at Manchester Community College working towards a degree in Criminal Justice. I received my EMT-B certification at the end of 2016 and later joined the Manchester Fire Department 8th District as a volunteer. In my free time I enjoy the outdoors, running, reading, and spending time with my nephews and niece. I am grateful for the opportunity to work for ASM and to further my career as a first responder. I look forward to joining the team!
Racquel Vaughn: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Racquel Vaughn and I am 28 years old. I am from East Hartford, CT. I took my EMT class at New Britain EMS Academy in New Britain, CT. I completed the course in the winter of 2016 and began volunteering for the town of Newington, CT for about 1 year. My goal is to go back to school and become a paramedic after gaining some more experience. I am so happy to be joining the ASM team and looking forward to learning and helping the community.
Cody Desilets: FULL TIME, EMT. Hi my name is Cody Desilets. I’m 21 and from Windham, CT. I’ve been a volunteer firefighter in Windham for about 6 years now in which I obtained my EMT and held it for the past 4 years. In my free time, I enjoy the outdoors like fishing, hiking and kayaking.
Erica Clayton: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Erica Clayton. I am 22 years old and a recent graduate of Western New England University with a B.S. in Health Sciences and minors in Chemistry and Psychology. During my schooling, I shadowed and worked with a Physician’s Assistant in the Rockville and Manchester emergency rooms acquiring approximately 250 hours of experience. That time helped me to fall in love with emergency medicine. This lead me to the decision to obtain my EMT certification while in my senior year of college.
My future goal is to become a Physician’s Assistant working in pediatric emergency medicine. I am very excited and thankful for the opportunity to work at ASM and cannot wait for the journey that is to come.
HARTFORD — On June 26th, 2017, seven 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.
Luisa F. Marulanda: PART TIME, EMT. Hello everyone! My name is Luisa Marulanda and I am 24 years old. I’ve been a BLS instructor and EMS administrator for two years at CPR Training Professionals where I also received my EMT certification. I realized a few years ago that my calling involved a career that allows me to help others. This led me to become an EMT and begin my journey as a first responder. My ultimate goal is to become a Paramedic. I plan to accomplish this in the near future and after gaining experience as an EMT for Aetna. Thank you for the opportunity.
Kristen Wall: PART TIME, EMT. Hi! My name is Kristen Wall. I am 22 years old and just graduated from the University of Maryland where I studied Kinesiology. I have lived in Avon my whole life and have returned after college to gain some more medical experience before hopefully matriculating to an east coast PA school. Ultimately, I am hoping to be a PA specializing in emergency medicine. In my free time, I like to work out and travel. I just returned from Europe where I was backpacking for 3 weeks!
Anthony Chirico: PART TIME, EMT. I am 21 years old and currently a senior at UCONN. I am pursuing a B.S. in Biology and Psychology. After college, I plan on applying to medical school or PA school. I have been a Connecticut resident for my whole life. I live in Glastonbury currently, but I grew up in Manchester, Connecticut. Outside of work, I like to get active! I enjoy hiking, skydiving, biking, and traveling. I look forward to working for Aetna Ambulance and I am happy to be a part of the team!
Kristen Askin: FULL TIME, EMT. I’m 27 and originally from Boston, but have spent most of my life in Danbury. I’ve been working at Nelson Ambulance since February 2016, and volunteering for Newtown Ambulance since November 2015. I got into EMS after lifeguarding for 3 years on Candlewood Lake in Danbury. I graduated from WCSU with a BA in writing but have found being a first responder to be a much more rewarding experience. I plan to attend the medic program at Capitol Community College. Outside of work I enjoy reading and kayaking.
Nick Caisse: PART TIME, EMT. My name is Nick Caisse. I’m 24 years old and from Portland, CT. I currently reside in East Hampton, CT. I joined the military 7 years ago as a Military Police Officer and deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 to 2013. In 2014, I re-classed to a Combat Medic and became the Training NCO of a medical unit within the state. I began volunteering in my local community where I decided to pursue EMS as a career. I’m currently coming off of active duty and attending a Paramedic program either at Capitol Community College or New Britain EMS Academy starting this September with the goal of eventually becoming a Flight Medic. I’m excited, and thankful for the opportunity to work with and learn from all of you!
Nicole Kozlak: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Nicole Kozlak and I am from Torrington, CT. I am 22 years old and I just graduated from UConn with a B.S. in Allied Health Sciences and a minor in Molecular and Cell Biology. I have been an EMT for a year and a half and I am a volunteer EMT with Winsted Area Ambulance Association. For the final two years at UConn, I was one of the instructors for the EMT class offered at the Storrs campus. I really enjoyed teaching and interacting with students and helping them to develop their skills. I also just recently became a CPR instructor. I plan on applying to PA school within the next year and a half and am very interested in Emergency Medicine and Orthopedics. I’m so grateful to now be a member of the Aetna team and can’t wait to start learning and gaining experience!
Lauren Hartwell: FULL TIME, EMT. I graduated from CCSU with a Bachelor’s degree in Bio-molecular Science. I started in EMS in 2014 at Vintech Ambulance Service in Litchfield County. Future plans involve either further school for a PA degree, or pursuing a career in pharmaceutical sales. Traveling is my passion and seeing the world is my goal.
HARTFORD — On May 6, 2017 Aetna Ambulance Service attended a Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood themed “Touch a Truck” event held at CPBN Television Station on Asylum Avenue in Hartford. The event, organized by a group of military veterans, encouraged kids to interact with Police, Fire, and EMS personnel in order to gain a sense of familiarity with first responders. Event Coordinator James Reeves’s motivation for the project was “creating, coordinating, and executing a family-friendly event that highlights the importance for children and families to “be a good neighbor” and become more involved in their communities.” Mr. Reeves also stated “we feel that kids should be unafraid of those in uniform to the point that they can communicate freely and openly, especially in times of urgent need.”
Aetna Field Supervisor Matt Campbell, and EMT’s Alexandra Zhakov and Anthony Mazzola provided ambulance tours and the entertainment for those in attendance, giving out coloring books and posing for pictures.
