The award is given annually by Pinellas County Commissioner John Morroni.

PINELLAS COUNTY – Sunstar Paramedics operations manager Leslie McAllister received the 2016 Commissioner Morroni Award of Excellence in EMS at the 22nd annual Appreciation Luncheon for Emergency Personnel.

McAllister was recognized for her dedication to wellness initiatives for EMS providers in Pinellas County. According to the Journal of Emergency Medical Services, 86 percent of EMS professionals experience critical stress because of situations they often encounter on the job. McAllister helps Sunstar Paramedics’ employees in managing this stress with its employee assistance program, which provides expert care for its team members with post-traumatic stress disorder and cumulative stress.

In addition, McAllister is a board member of the Critical Incident Stress Management West Central Florida Region 5 Team, which aims to educate, advocate and facilitate the services and support needed for emergency response professionals, organizations, individuals, families and communities as a whole.

“McAllister’s dedication to supporting local EMS professionals is remarkable,” said Sunstar Paramedics chief operating officer Mark Postma. “We’re grateful for the contributions she’s made to Sunstar and our community, and we’re pleased that Pinellas County has recognized her service.”

McAllister also leads Sunstar’s employee program Sunstar Cares, which provides donated household supplies, gift cards and other services to employees experiencing a temporary crisis.

She worked as a paramedic and in several key roles from 2007 until she was promoted to operations manager in 2012.

The Commissioner Morroni Award of Excellence in EMS is presented annually to EMS professionals who display exceptional dedication above and beyond the call of duty. More than 500 people attended the luncheon on Jan. 27 at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park to honor Pinellas County’s emergency service providers.

Sunstar Paramedics is the name of Pinellas County’s ambulance service.

For information about Sunstar, go to pinellascounty.org.

Photo of Leslie McAllister receiving award courtesy of B2 Communications.

Sunstar Paramedics | Leslie McAllister | John Morroni | EMS | Award | TB Reporter

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