UT Health East Texas EMS

09/08/2026

UT Health East Texas EMS was honored to spend time with the children of Tyler Kids Connect & Play, providing an interactive look at the world of emergency medical services.

Paramedic Victoria Fisher and EMT Tyler Gaines gave young learners a tour of an ambulance, shared what it's like to work in EMS, and answered plenty of thoughtful questions along the way. The visit offered children a fun and engaging opportunity to learn about the healthcare professionals who respond when emergencies happen.

Community outreach and education are an important part of our mission, and we're grateful for opportunities to connect with local families and inspire curiosity in future caregivers.
Thank you to Tyler Kids Connect & Play for hosting us!

09/08/2026

Future nurses got a close-up look at critical care in the sky when UT Health East Texas AIR 1 landed at The University of Texas at Tyler School of Nursing.

Level IV nursing students toured the aircraft, explored specialized medical equipment and learned about careers in air medical transport from Flight Nurse Chris Fugate and Flight Paramedic Erica Robertson.

"Helping future caregivers take their careers to new heights is just another way AIR 1 serves the region beyond emergency response," said Operations Manager Steven Jones.

We're proud to support healthcare education and inspire the next generation of East Texas caregivers.

09/04/2026

Join us in congratulating UT Health East Texas AIR 1 Flight Nurse David Witt on an extraordinary milestone: 4,000 patient flights.

Behind every flight is a patient facing a critical moment and a dedicated medical professional ready to provide lifesaving care. David's 4,000 flights represent far more than a number. They reflect years of advanced training, clinical expertise, unwavering dedication, and a steadfast commitment to serving others when they need it most.

Through his skill, compassion and professionalism, David has made a lasting impact on thousands of patients and families across East Texas and beyond.
Congratulations, David, on this incredible achievement. Thank you for answering the call, 4,000 times and counting.

08/25/2026

When it comes to cardiac emergencies, every second counts.

Recently, UT Health East Texas EMS Education Coordinator Vicky LaMay and our EMS Clinical Education team partnered with the East Texas Food Bank to deliver hands-on AED and CPR training. Participants learned life-saving skills through interactive demonstrations designed to build confidence and preparedness.

A big thank you to the East Texas Food Bank team for investing in the safety of your employees, volunteers and community. Together, we're equipping more East Texans with the knowledge to act when it matters most.

08/21/2026

UT Health East Texas EMS is proud to add new blood coolers to our supervisor vehicles, increasing the availability of whole blood in the field for patients experiencing life-threatening hemorrhage. This effort is part of a statewide initiative to expand access to prehospital blood transfusions and improve outcomes when every second counts.

For critically injured patients, early access to whole blood can be lifesaving, helping restore circulation, improve oxygen delivery and increase the chances of survival and recovery before arrival at the hospital.

This advancement was made possible through funding from the Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council (RAC). Their partnership is helping expand access to lifesaving treatment across our region and bridge the critical gap between the scene of an emergency and definitive hospital care.
We are proud to partner with the RAC as we continue Answering the Call and improving outcomes for the patients and communities we serve every day.

08/17/2026

After completing their training, these team members have advanced within UT Health East Texas EMS and are now serving our communities as certified paramedics.

Even more impressive, every member of this class earned their Texas Paramedic certification within just one month of program completion, achieving a 100% certification rate. This accomplishment reflects their dedication, perseverance, countless hours of education and hands-on training and unwavering commitment to exceptional patient care.

Every lesson, every challenge and every shift has prepared them to answer the call when our communities need them most.

Please join us in congratulating (L-R): Samuel Smith, Danielle Neely, Austin Trosino, Sean Mangan, David Ruiz, Hamilton Orozco, Joshua Pearce and Tristan Tamlin.

Thank you for your commitment to serving East Texas. We are proud to have you on the UT Health East Texas EMS team!

08/14/2026

We’re proud to recognize UT Health EMS Paramedic Jaime Rawson and EMT Kaylee Thomas for their outstanding response during a difficult childbirth emergency.

Their calm leadership, clinical expertise and excellent communication were instrumental in ensuring both mother and baby received the care they needed. Thanks to their timely updates, UT Health Tyler was able to activate Labor & Delivery and NICU teams before arrival, helping provide a smooth transition of care.

As one team member described it, their response was simply "phenomenal."

Thank you, Jaime and Kaylee, for living our mission and making a difference when it matters most.

08/13/2026

UT Health East Texas EMS providers recently had the opportunity to teach CPR and basic life-saving skills to the first-year students at The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine.

Through hands-on training and real-world experience, these future physicians are learning the critical skills needed to respond confidently in emergencies.

We’re proud to partner in educating the next generation of physicians right here in East Texas, ensuring they are prepared to serve our communities and help save lives.

Thank you to our EMS team for sharing their skills and passion for patient care, and to the medical students for their commitment to becoming tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.

08/11/2026

The UT Health East Texas EMS Community Paramedicine Program is about more than emergency care. It's about helping people live safer, healthier and more independent lives.

After receiving a referral for 68-year-old Mabank resident Thomas Davis, Community Paramedic Brian Stites coordinated transportation services and rallied community partners to secure critical resources, including a wheelchair, shower chair, knee braces, a cooling unit and support for a future wheelchair ramp.

This is what community healthcare looks like: EMS providers, churches, nonprofits, and transportation partners working together to improve a neighbor's quality of life.

Thank you to First United Methodist Church Athens, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, the Texas Ramp Project and GoBus for helping make it happen.

07/31/2026

With temperatures continuing to hover near 100 degrees, UT Health East Texas EMS Education Coordinator Vicky LaMay spoke with KLTV 7 about the important steps everyone can take to prevent heat-related illness. Stay safe this summer and watch the full story below.

As triple-digit heat continues across East Texas, UT Health East Texas EMS says crews are seeing more heat-related medical calls—and they’re urging families to know the warning signs before an emergency happens.