Two Fla. Sunstar Paramedics Employees Receive Prestigious Industry Awards

LARGO, Fla. (July 5, 2017)—Two Sunstar Paramedics employees, Kasey Ras and Jonathan Balzer, have received the American Ambulance Association’s Stars of Life award, which recognizes ambulance service professionals for outstanding service and dedication.

“Kasey and Jon consistently demonstrate exceptional service and dedication to high-quality patient care,” said Mark Postma, chief operating officer of Sunstar Paramedics. “We’re proud that Stars of Life has recognized these two outstanding professionals and their service to Pinellas County, and we’re proud to have them on the Sunstar Paramedics team.”

Ras was honored for her dedication to patient care and patient experience. She joined Sunstar Paramedics as a paramedic in 2010, after witnessing a serious accident that led her to pursue a career in emergency medical services (EMS). Ras has steadily progressed from a paramedic to a preceptor and field training officer to her current position as assistant operations supervisor. Ras also mentors and trains new students in the St. Petersburg College EMS program. She was recognized by St. Anthony’s Hospital as an EMS Hero of the Month in 2016. 

Balzer was recognized for his commitment to safety and training, and his high performance in multiple departments throughout the organization. He started his career at Sunstar Paramedics in 2011 in the warehouse and material management department. Balzer then became an emergency medical technician (EMT) and quickly rose through the ranks to become a preceptor, then a field training officer. In addition, Balzer teaches Sunstar Paramedics’ emergency vehicle operator course and continuing medical education, including CPR classes and basic life support courses.

Ras and Balzer were among 108 emergency service personnel recognized during the Stars of Life Celebration in Washington, D.C. on June 12-14. 


About Sunstar Paramedics:

Sunstar is the 9-1-1 ambulance transport service for all Pinellas County residents, employing 550 local residents, and responding to around 500 calls a day. Highly awarded and accredited, Sunstar utilizes state-of-the-art equipment and software, and (along with parent company Paramedics Plus) is an innovator of the industry’s best practices. Sunstar’s people are heavily involved in Pinellas communities, focusing largely on public safety programs for the public and for schools. Sunstar is also a recipient of the Florida Governor's Sterling Award, the state’s most prestigious award recognizing “role models for organizational performance excellence.” More info at SunstarEMS.com.