UT Health East Texas EMS

Paramedic Chelsea Strange was recognized by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution for her outstanding service and dedication.

Chelsea truly represents the best of EMS — delivering exceptional patient care with skill, professionalism and compassion every day. She’s not only dedicated to those she serves but also a valued teammate who lifts those around her.

Congratulations, Chelsea! We’re incredibly proud to have you on our team.

UT Health East Texas EMS welcomes new caregivers to the team!

These team members are finishing orientation and will begin their field training across our service areas.

Pictured from left to right are EMT Khloe Josey, EMT Steven Everett, EMT Krys Rodriguez, EMT Rae Griffen, EMT Abigail Hill, EMT Will Barber, EMT Julia Wysocki, EMT Kalied Lorenzo, EMT Sam Reeves, Paramedic Elijah Smith, EMT Matthew Harwell, EMT Aidan Skanes, EMT Ryan Dickson, EMT Bella James, EMT Alejandro Cardona, EMT Laine Durand, Paramedic Zachary Ellsworth, EMT Hunter Romero and EMT Joseph Kellum.

Welcome to the team! If you or someone you know is interested in a career with UT Health East Texas EMS/AIR 1, learn more at the link in the comments.

We recently received a heartfelt call from a patient who wanted to share her gratitude for the care she received during her transport.

She spoke warmly about UT Health East Texas EMS Paramedic Daniel Smith, highlighting the compassion he showed — not just in his words, but in his actions. One moment, in particular, stood out. During the trip, she asked Daniel if he would hold her hand. Without hesitation, he gently said yes.

She shared that she used to hold hands often with her late husband and hadn’t felt that same sense of comfort since his passing. In that simple, human moment, Daniel gave her something incredibly meaningful — a sense of peace and connection she hadn’t felt in a long time.

She also noticed the small but thoughtful details, like when Daniel used his own phone charger to make sure her device stayed powered throughout the transport.

Moments like these remind us that at UT Health East Texas EMS, answering the call goes beyond clinical care. It’s about compassion. It’s about dignity. And it’s about a genuine human connection.

We recently received a call from a family member sharing heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional care provided by UT Health East Texas EMS EMT Jason Hargrave and Paramedic Briana Von Bargen-Soriano.

According to the family, Jason and Briana took the time to ensure both the patient and loved ones fully understood the situation — clearly explaining each step of the care provided. Their calm presence, compassion and professionalism brought reassurance during a stressful moment.
The family also highlighted the respect and empathy shown throughout the entire encounter, noting how much it meant to receive such thoughtful and attentive care.

Jason and Briana, thank you for answering the call each day with dedication, compassion and excellence in patient care.

UT Health East Texas EMS was proud to participate in a full-scale active shooter exercise at Athens Middle School alongside our public safety partners.

This critical training brought together more than 100 personnel — including law enforcement, fire, dispatch, school staff and emergency responders from across Henderson County — all working together to strengthen coordination and preparedness.

In scenarios like these, EMS plays a vital role — from rapid triage and delivering lifesaving care to coordinating patient transport and supporting unified command operations. Our teams train to respond swiftly in dynamic environments, ensuring patients receive immediate care while working seamlessly alongside law enforcement and fire personnel.

We’re grateful to Athens ISD, Athens Police Department, Athens Fire Department, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, TVCC Police, and all participating agencies for their continued commitment to readiness and community safety.

Our dedicated UT Health East Texas EMS/AIR 1 crews teamed up with Carter BloodCare today for a life-saving blood drive — proudly answering the call for donations, one pint at a time.
Our team members rolled up their sleeves to help ensure our community has the critical blood supply needed for emergencies, surgeries and patient care. When the call comes, UT Health East Texas EMS/AIR 1 doesn’t hesitate — we show up, both on and off the ambulance.
Every donation makes a difference, and we’re honored to lead by example in supporting this vital mission.

Special thanks to UT Health East Texas EMS’ Tonya Kirkpatrick and the Carter BloodCare team for making this event possible.

Two UT Health East Texas EMS providers were honored with the prestigious Lifesaver Award at the City of Tyler Fire Department Awards Banquet, and we couldn’t be prouder. Congratulations to Jordan Wright and Kenni Fleets!

Through their exceptional teamwork alongside the Tyler Fire Department, Jordan and Kenni helped save the life of a patient who went into cardiac arrest while driving. In a truly special moment, that patient attended the banquet to meet the first responders who saved his life and personally express his gratitude.

Jordan and Kenni, thank you for answering the call every single day. While we don’t always have the opportunity to reconnect with those we serve, your impact is lasting — your patients will always remember you and what you did for them.

Andy the Ambulance helped bring big smiles to little faces!

Alongside UT Health East Texas EMS EMTs Baillie Lytle and Caleb Caruso, Andy joined the East Texas Food Bank’s annual summer feeding kickoff at the Glass Recreation Center — and was an instant hit with the hundreds of children in attendance.

Kids enjoyed free meals, snow cones, games and plenty of fun while connecting with their community.

This incredible program will provide more than 100,000 meals this summer, helping bridge the gap for children when school is out.

We’re proud to partner with organizations like the East Texas Food Bank to support the health and well-being of our community — both in emergencies and beyond.

A Tyler resident recently shared a powerful experience after witnessing UT Health East Texas EMS in action. While driving to work, they saw an EMS unit responding with lights and sirens activated, but with calm, controlled and safe driving that stood out as a model of professionalism. Moments later, they came upon the same crew at the scene of a serious crash, where EMT Shawn Hernandez and Paramedic Charles Snoek were providing focused, compassionate care.

What they didn’t realize at the time was that someone close to them was involved in the accident.

Later, when they visited their loved one, the message was clear: They couldn’t say enough about how well they were treated and how reassured they felt in the hands of Shawn and Charles. “Professional, safe, compassionate. Their actions made a real impact.”

We’re proud of team members like Shawn and Charles who live out our mission every day — providing exceptional care when it matters most.

Thank you for helping us Answer the Call.