Dr. Ciottone lives in Westminster, Massachusetts, with his wife and children.

Outstanding Contribution in EMS Award

David E. Persse, MD, FACEP
Dr. Persse’s career in medicine started with 10 years’ experience as a field paramedic and paramedic instructor in upstate New York and New Jersey. After receiving his pre-med training at Columbia University in New York City, he attended Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Dr. Persse completed residency training in emergency medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California. He was awarded a grant from the SAEM and completed fellowship training in emergency medical services and resuscitation at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and the City of Houston Emergency Medical Services program.

Following his EMS fellowship, Dr. Persse became the assistant medical director for the emergency medical services system of Houston. He then moved to California to become the medical director of the Los Angeles County Paramedic Training Institute, and the assistant medical director of the Los Angeles County EMS Agency. In 1996, Dr. Persse assumed the role of the Director of Emergency Medical Services for the City of Houston.

In May 2004, he was appointed by the City Council as Houston’s Public Health Authority. He has been the lead author or co-author on over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles. He has overseen Houston’s Public Health response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike, and Harvey, as well as the H1N1 influenza pandemic, and he is currently the incident commander for the Zika virus response.

Dr. Persse is a member of the board of directors and executive committee for the South East Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council and is past chair of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. He is the recipient of the 2007 Keith Neely Outstanding Contribution to the National Association of EMS Physicians for his leadership during the Hurricane Katrina response and the 2009 Michael K. Copass Award from the U.S. Metropolitan Medical Directors. He is a 2015 EMS Top 10 Innovator Award Winner from the Journal of Emergency Medical Services. Dr. Persse is a professor of medicine and surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine and associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Texas Medical School Houston. He is also a tactical physician with the Houston police S.W.A.T. team.

Outstanding Contribution in Research Award

Lynne D. Richardson, MD, FACEP
Dr. Richardson is professor and vice chair of emergency medicine and professor of population health science and policy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City; and system vice chair of emergency medicine for the Mount Sinai Health System.