HALO-Flight instructors honored with statewide EMS award

Christopher Howley, Corpus Christi Caller Times
·2 min read

Two Corpus Christi EMS instructors became the first HALO-Flight Inc. educators to receive the Texas Department of State Health Services 2021 EMS Educator Award.

Instructors Wendy Greer and Ryan Kelley were given the honor on Nov. 24.

The EMS Educator Award honors those who exemplify the highest standards of the Texas EMS and Trauma System. The award is presented to a state-certified EMS instructor every year.

Wendy Greer and Ryan Kelley became the first HALO-Flight educators to receive the statewide EMS instructor award on Nov. 24, 2021.
Wendy Greer and Ryan Kelley became the first HALO-Flight educators to receive the statewide EMS instructor award on Nov. 24, 2021.

"We were honored to even be nominated," Greer said. "As educators in the state of Texas, we are kind of a small organization compared to the major colleges and other educators, as well. … We're certainly surprised to be selected by the state."

Greer and Kelley were selected because of the effort they put into providing complimentary education courses focused on acute and critical care for pre-hospital crews of all levels.

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The two have both been with HALO-Flight for more than a decade and are dedicated to teaching the next generation of EMS workers.

"The recognition alone is enough for us," Kelley said. "We're just very happy to receive something like this. I think it also says a lot about HALO-Flight as a complete company. We're not just out there providing patient care … we're also extending educational needs into the community furthering our mission."

In 2021, Greer and Kelley combined to teach 34 classes consisting of more than 394 individuals. The duo's efforts also included 347 contact calls and safe visits, and supporting several rural hospitals during their COVID vaccination clinics.

"Despite all the COVID restrictions and precautions, we were still able to get out there into our rural and frontier areas and provide that education that's so important for everyone involved," Greer said. "(Winning this award) means what we are doing matters."

HALO-Flight flies about 1,200 emergency medical transport missions a year in the South Texas region.

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Christopher Howley covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Support more coverage like this at Caller.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: HALO-Flight instructors honored with statewide EMS award