Member News

The EMS Administrator of the Year Award is is named in honor of Jerry Esposito who is considered by many to be the “Father of EMS” in Pennsylvania. As director of the first regional EMS Council in the Commonwealth and in the nation, Jerry pioneered the creation and development of many EMS innovations and organizations, including the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC). Moreover, Jerry was untiring in his efforts to identify and help develop countless EMS managers and leaders who have gone on to make outstanding contributions to EMS Systems throughout Pennsylvania and the nation. Jerry has been a friend, mentor and role model to countless EMS Council Directors, regional EMS Administrators and frontline EMS Managers.
The Grottenthaler Memorial Award recognizes a Pennsylvanian, past or present, volunteer or career emergency service provider who, through his or her involvement with a volunteer Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support Ambulance Service, Rescue or Fire Service, has demonstrated the traits of professionalism, competency, dedication, leadership, integrity and loyalty, and who continually strives to improve the emergency medical services system in order to provide a high quality of patient care to the citizens it serves.
These traits were exemplified by Joel E. Grottenthaler, who was instrumental in improving the quality of prehospital emergency care, not only in his local community, but also in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This annual award, presented by the staff of PEHSC, is in memory of Joel Grottenthaler, former Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council.