The nomination process for the Arizona Bureau of EMS & Trauma System's 2026 EMCT of the Year Award contest closed March 16. In the Central Region, two nominations were received.
The finalist will selected by the AEMS Board of Governors and Functional Group Voting members. The Central Region award winner will be announced May 20, 2026.
We are what we repeatedly do.
Aristotle
Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
2026 Nominees
AEMS would also like to thank ALL the nominees for dedicating their lives to helping others. We are grateful for their service, compassion, and contributions made to EMS for the Central Arizona Region. They are cherished caregivers and an inspiration to us all.
Below are this year's nominees. The winner will be announced May 20th during AEMS Functional Group meeting.
Sara Brunelle
EMCT-P
Phoenix Fire Department
Number of Years of Service: 23
Sara has dedicated over two decades to the Phoenix Fire Department, serving with unwavering commitment. Her extensive experience, both in the field as well as in the classroom, allows her to care and mentor both patients and new medic students with the highest standards in an effective manner.
She fosters a positive and high-performing work environment, which often can go unnoticed. Sara prioritizes professional growth. In addition to being a Captain, she currently serves as the Paramedic Program Manager for the department. While managing this role, she continues to serve the community as a paramedic.
Recently, Sara worked overtime and rescued a 5 year old child involved in a MVC where the car was on fire. Sara led this resuscitation and was successful in obtaining ROSC at the scene saving the life for this child.
Sara has been recognized by the PFD for excellence in paramedic education as well. PFD Unit Citation Award for EMS Guideline development.
Sara loves her job, is a friendly- face to all that she surrounds, and a paramedic who you want when it ends up being your worst day and need help.
Sara's service extends far beyond her scheduled shifts. She is involved within the community volunteering for free immunizations and participating in community health fairs - demonstrating a deep commitment to public education and injury prevention.
A true advocate for paramedicine and the paramedic training program at the Phoenix Fire Department. Her innovation ensures that the training team is the best prepared, and the paramedic students are highly education and trained, elevating the standard across the entire department. I is an honor to have Sara as our Paramedic Program Manager and one of the team.
Sarah Carrico
EMCT-P
Arizona Fire & Medical Authority
Number of Years of Service: 8
I am honored to submit Paramedic Sarah Carrico of Arizona Fire & Medical Authority for formal recognition following her exceptional performance during a complex, high-acuity medical emergency on I-10 involving a 53-year-old male patient experiencing a rapidly evolving STEMI and subsequent cardiac arrest.
On July 28th 2025, Sarah and the combined crews of M328 and E328 responded to a call initially reported as chest pain. Upon arrival, Sarah immediately identified the patient’s presentation as a STEMI. Her clinical instincts were sharp and her leadership decisive. She rapidly initiated guideline-driven care and coordinated treatment efforts with the rest of the team, demonstrating the calm, precise communication that defines an exceptional paramedic.
Despite timely intervention, the patient deteriorated into cardiac arrest. Under Sarah’s direction, the team initiated an aggressive and coordinated resuscitation effort. The patient received aspirin, nitroglycerin, amiodarone, code-dose epinephrine, push-dose epinephrine, and was defibrillated seven times.
This was no ordinary arrest. The patient experienced multiple episodes of CPR-induced consciousness, exhibiting purposeful movement, verbalization, and removing his iGel airway. These situations are among the most stressful and emotionally jarring events encountered in prehospital medicine. Yet Sarah remained steady, composed, and clinically focused. Her ability to maintain scene control, direct meaningful interventions, and support her team during these moments was exemplary.
Due to Sarah’s persistence and clinical judgment, the patient regained ROSC during transport and remained awake upon arrival at Abrazo West Campus. Hospital findings revealed the severity of his condition:
- 100% occlusion of the left circumflex artery
- 95% mid-segment lesion in the left anterior descending artery
- 95% stenosis in the right coronary artery
Despite these extensive blockages, the patient survived, underwent emergent catheterization, and was discharged just days later with no neurological deficits.
This outcome is nothing short of remarkable, and it is directly tied to the consistent, high-quality,never-quit care that Sarah and her team delivered in the field.
This call demonstrates not only Paramedic Carrico’s clinical expertise but also her leadership, resilience, and ability to navigate a situation that pushed beyond protocol and into the realm where instinct and heart do matter.
There is a quote by Christopher Reeve that captures the significance of her actions:
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
On that day, Sarah was exactly that hero. She found the strength to persist in the face of medical, emotional, and operational challenges that would test even the most seasoned providers. Her leadership contributed directly to saving a man’s life, giving him more birthdays, more memories, and more moments with the people he loves.
For these reasons, I wholeheartedly nominate Paramedic Sarah Carrico for this distinguished award. Her actions exemplify the very best of EMS professionalism, compassion, and excellence.