Being recognized for your hard work, leadership skills and a job well done can be seen through many different eyes, but it only takes one set of eyes to see that you deserve to be nominated for a prestigious award. This is exactly what Ellinwwood Emergency Medical Services Director Brittney Glenn did for one of her fellow workers – Mark Pohlman.
Pohlman, a paramedic/IC with Ellinwood EMS and Captain with Great Bend Fire and EMS, was the recipient of the 2016 Paramedic of the Year Award from the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association.
“I was honored to receive this award,” Pohlman said. “I got into this business because of my father. He was a firefighter and a paramedic and watching him as I grew up got me interested in doing this job.”
Pohlman received the award at the “Honoring Our Own” awards banquet that took place on Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Kansas Star Event Center in Mulvane during the annual Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association Conference and Expo.
“Mark was nominated for this award because he is an amazing person, fabulous paramedic, leader, and a teacher,” Glenn said.
Pohlman works full time for Great Bend Fire Department/EMS as a paramedic and serves as a captain. He also works part-time for Ellinwood Fire and EMS. He has worked with Ellinwood EMS since 1992.
In addition, Pohlman also teaches multiple classes with Barton County Community College, and is a cardiopulmonary resuscitation and advanced cardiac life support instructor for American Heart Association.
“Mark is a very active member of the Ellinwood community and can be seen at any community event,” Glenn said. “Mark is a humble person, but I felt he should be recognized for his great passion and service he provides to the community.”
According to Glenn, on one occasion, he was even able to remain calm as he saved the life of his co-worker and partner whose mother happened to be the EMS director and driver of the ambulance that day. “He used every tool in his arsenal, his skills and knowledge, his compassion and his ability to remain calm in the worst conditions helped him take care of all of us.”
Glenn went on to say, “Ellinwood is very lucky to have Mark Pohlman as a Paramedic, with the knowledge and skills that Mark has. Barton County is very fortunate to have an individual like Mark who helps out everyone in the county and is always willing to donate his time to make improvements in the world of EMS. Our service and our county would not be where we are today without his hard work and commitment to EMS.”
This award is for a Kansas paramedic who has significantly contributed to EMS at the community, state and/or national level. It can be any Kansas paramedic whose primary responsibility is providing direct patient care.
KEMSA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the improvement of EMS in Kansas. KEMSA has members throughout Kansas and in surrounding states at every level of EMS. KEMSA was formed in 1996 after members from several EMS factions decided to unite to have a single voice for EMS in Kansas. Learn more at kemsa.org.