Have they helped you? Acadian Ambulance honors Medics of the Year

William Taylor Potter, Lafayette Daily Advertiser
·4 min read

Two Acadian Ambulance workers in Louisiana were chosen for the company's top honor, Paramedic of the Year and EMT of the Year, selected over dozens of other finalists from the company's four-state service area.

Victoria Dantin, who is stationed in Donaldsonville, was named Acadian's Paramedic of the Year. Maddie Clesi, stationed in Baton Rouge, is the EMT of the Year. The two winners will be honored at the Acadian Ambulance Medics of the Year Celebration in Lafayette on Thursday.

Business Buzz: Acadian Ambulance launches new services, IBERIABANK to be sold again

In a news release, Acadian said Dantin consistently performs well in employee and clinical metrics. She also serves as a field training officer for new hires, is a National EMS Academy associate instructor, and is an Explorer Post advisor.

Clesi is also a field training officer and is studying at the National EMS Academy to become a paramedic. Clesi is a medic in the Louisiana National Guard.

Dantin and Clesi were chosen from a finalist pool that includes regional Medics of the Year from all of Acadian Ambulance's service regions. Both Dantin and Clesi represent the Capital Region of Louisiana.

Healthcare: Ochsner Lafayette General giving LSU Eunice $700,000 to expand healthcare programs

Here are the regional Medics of the Year for Louisiana:

Acadian Air Med

Paramedic of the Year - Jacob Musumeche

Mesumeche has worked for Acadian since 2001 and works out of Lafayette. He assists new flight paramedics and has helped with Acadian and Safety Management Systems COVID response over the last two years.

Bayou Region

Paramedic of the Year - Devin Atkins

Atkins joined Acadian and earned her EMT certification after realizing she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. Soon after, she earned her paramedic and Critical Care Transport certifications.

EMT of the Year - Bryce Poincon

Poincon works out of Thibodaux and is a field training officer for new hires and EMT students. He plans to earn his paramedic certification.

Central Louisiana

Paramedic of the Year - RaShawn Lewis

Lewis joined Acadian in 2019 as an EMT and later earned her paramedic certification. She aspires to become a Critical Care Transport paramedic and and ER doctor or orthopedic doctor.

EMT of the Year - Trenton Ewing

Ewing has helped with the COVID response in New Orleans and travels to other areas to volunteer when needed. He also helped with staffing needs in Texas and assisted after Hurricane Ida. He is a field training officer and mentors new hires and EMT students. He is the lead advisor for the Central Louisiana Explorer Post.

Northshore Louisiana

Paramedic of the Year - Jennifer Kustenmacher

Kustenmacher is a CCT paramedic, field training officer and an alternate quality improvement coordinator. In the wake of Hurricane Ida, she fed and cared for the Acadian and FEMA strike teams. She teaches EMT classes to local firefighters and helps with teaching advanced lifesaving support orientation.

EMT of the Year - Rory Ricks

Ricks assists with the schedule in the Northshore and Capital regions. He plans to become a paramedic and move into a leadership role.

North Louisiana

Paramedic of the Year - Angela Freeman

Freeman has been a paramedic, paramedic field supervisor and quality improvement coordinator. She is also a field training officer for new employees.

EMT of the Year - Jill Kennard

Kennard earned her EMT certification in 2015 and is a field training officer for new employees.

Orleans

Paramedic of the Year - Courtney Majcina

Majcina has the Critical Care Transport certification and is the New Orleans bike team captain. She is also pursuing her medical degree.

EMT of the Year - Tin Nguyen

Nguyen earned his EMT certification from the National EMS Academy and decided to get his paramedic certification. He aspires to become a physician assistant.

Safety Management Systems

Paramedic of the Year - Seth Mayeaux

Mayeaux has worked for Acadian Ambulance, Air Med, and Safety Management Systems since 1999. He has worked to develop a process to streamline reporting of offshore COVID patients.

Southwest Louisiana

Paramedic of the Year - Joseph Sylvester

Sylvester has worked for Acadian for more than 30 years, working in Lafayette, Vermilion, Acadia, Jeff Davis and Calcasieu parishes.

EMT of the Year - Martyna Trahan

Trahan has proven to be a comfortable, proficient and competent EMT, Acadian said, and several paramedics in the region have described her as one of the best EMTs they have worked with.

Hub City

Paramedic of the Year - Paul Martin

Martin has worked for Acadian for six years and is a Critical Care Transport Paramedic in Lafayette. He is a field training officer, a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management and Hub City Outreach teams, and a BLS instructor.

EMT of the Year - Julie Williams

Williams has worked for Acadian for more than 14 years as an EMT, field training officer, Critical Incident Stress Management team member, and a Coding and Documentation Center coding specialist.

CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING TODAY: Help support journalists like William Taylor Potter

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Acadian Ambulance announces Medics of the Year