Sunstar Paramedics’ dispatchers work closely with the EMTs and paramedics inside the ambulance to quickly respond to emergencies in Pinellas County. Dispatchers Leah Dallaire and Mike Stevenson maintain professionalism and compassion in their work with Sunstar’s paramedics and EMTs who work on the ambulances.

They both spent a majority of their careers in the field before becoming full-time dispatchers; Dallaire is a paramedic and Stevenson is an EMT. Their background in the field allows them to understand what the ambulance staff experiences during a shift.

Dallaire has kindness and care for the EMTs and paramedics that she dispatches, and her loving attitude provides a sense of calmness to the field medics. She is able to tell when paramedics and EMTs need a few minutes to process a particularly tough call, which help crews be best prepared to respond to the next emergency situation.

Stevenson’s ability to balance heavy call volumes between crews and masterfully handle deployment logistics have earned him comparisons to a “skilled chess master.” He is cognizant of paramedics and EMTs’ needs, and his compassion for their work makes him a respected team member.

Dallaire and Stevenson make a point to recognize the crews’ hard work, which the ambulance staff especially appreciated on days with high call volumes.

The Sunstar Care Plus Award is an internal award used to recognize Sunstar Paramedics employees for their excellence in patient care, professionalism and efficiency. Award winners are nominated by their co-workers and selected by Sunstar’s employee engagement and retention committee.