WVEMS e-NEWSLETTER - November 20, 2025
WVEMS e-NEWSLETTER – November 20, 2025
WVEMS Welcomes New Executive Director
After an extensive search, the Western Virginia EMS Council (WVEMS) Board of Directors announces the appointment of the next Executive Director, Debbie Akers. This comes after the position was vacated earlier this year, when previous Executive Director, Steve Simon, stepped down to take on the role of Fire Chief for the City of Salem.
Akers, who is originally from the New River Valley, previously worked for WVEMS from 2002 to 2011 at the council’s Regional Education Director. More recently, she has worked for the past 14 years for the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services as the Division Director for Accreditation, Certification, and Education.
Debbie is known for her passion and dedication to the EMS community, that she has demonstrated throughout her career. Debbie got her start with the Christiansburg Rescue Squad and has spent the last 45 years teaching, mentoring, and advocating for prehospital care and EMS providers in the Commonwealth. She has been a certified paramedic in the Commonwealth and with National Registry since 1999 and still maintains those credentials today.
“I’m honored and humbled to serve as the Executive Director of the Western Virginia EMS Council. My goal is to listen, learn, and work with our EMS community to continue strengthening the care our region depends on. With your assistance, we will drive innovation, support our dedicated EMS workforce, and build on the Council’s strong foundation of service across Western Virginia,” said Akers.
“I am thrilled to welcome Debbie back to where she began her journey in Western Virginia. Debbie possesses a unique skillset that our Executive Board feels certain is exactly what WVEMS needs at this critical point in time. The EMS system in Virginia has changed significantly in the past two years. Debbie is already a trusted and well-respected stakeholder who can develop new relationships, reinforce existing ones, and provide a renewed focus on our mission, said Jason Ferguson, President of the WVEMS Board of Directors.”
Executive Director Akers will begin serving in her new role on January 12, 2026.
The WVEMS Board of Directors would like to extend its thanks to former Executive Director, Steve Simon, who has remained on the team while the search for his replacement took place; as well as Interim Executive Director, Sandi McGrath, who has been vital to maintaining the day-to-day business operations of the council.
Regional EMS Awards - Recognize Your Heroes! Deadline to Nominate is December 12, 2025
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The time has come to open nominations for the 2025 WVEMS Regional EMS Awards and Scholarship! Click here for more information and to find the nomination forms; please email completed forms to wvawards@PROTECTED Recognize your heroes for these awards! Nominations will close December 12, 2025. Nominations are being accepted in the following categories:
- Excellence in EMS (Capstone award for long-time service and dedication to the field of EMS)
- Outstanding EMS Telecommunicator/Dispatcher
- Outstanding EMS Educator
- Outstanding EMS Leadership
- Physician with Outstanding Contribution to EMS
- Outstanding EMS Provider
- Outstanding EMS Agency
- Outstanding Contribution to EMS for Children
- Scholarship for Outstanding Contribution to EMS by a High School Senior
Special WVEMS Regional Award: Once again, you have the opportunity to nominate someone for the Regional "WVEMS Benny Summerlin Award for Service to Local Government" This very special award honors Benny Summerlin (1958-2012), a public servant who dedicated 40 years of his life to service in EMS, including serving as a WVEMS board member and president.
Regional winners will be nominated for statewide Governor’s awards.
WVEMS – RUC Paramedic Program – Roanoke
Western Virginia EMS Council in conjunction with Radford University at Carilion will hold an EMT to Paramedic Course in Roanoke. The course will run June 18, 2026 - May 14, 2027. Class meets in person on Fridays with the occasional Thursday. There will be a significant amount of independent, online work assigned weekly. The application can be found in this email as well as on our website.
Radford University at Carilion – Spring EMT
Please find the attached flyer for the upcoming Spring EMT Course for Radford University at Carilion. Application Deadline is January 5th, 2026, with the course beginning on January 13, 2026.
Western Virginia EMS Council
1944 Peters Creek Road NW
Roanoke VA 24017-1613
tel 540.562.3482
fax 540.562.3488
www.wvems.org
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