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Hicks' distinguished EMS career receives David A. Garcia award
October 29, 2011
Michael R. Hicks
MARCER, the Mid-America Regional Council Emergency Rescue Committee, presented the David A. Garcia award to Michael R. Hicks today in recognition of his years of outstanding support to the field of emergency medical services in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
MARCER established the Garcia award in 1995 in honor of MARC Environmental and Emergency Services Director David A. Garcia, who was killed in an automobile accident, to commemorate his strong leadership and contributions to emergency pre-hospital care in the region. The award recognizes exceptional contributions to the field of emergency medical services.
Hicks, a Lee’s Summit resident, first became involved with MARCER when the committee sponsored his paramedic training in 1974, and went on to serve as the committee’s chair in 1987. For the past four years, Hicks has provided staff support to the committee in his role as an emergency medical planner at MARC. His career has included positions as an assistant fire chief in Lee’s Summit, Mo., from 1975 to 1987; fire chief of Consolidated Fire District No. 2 in northeast Johnson County, Kan., from 1987 to 1995; and more than 20 years as an instructor and trainer for emergency medical technicians and paramedics for area community colleges and other state and local agencies. Hicks also served as a medic and medical instructor in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007.
During his long career, Hicks has been involved in numerous improvements MARCER has introduced to pre-hospital care in the region, from improving the communications systems used by ambulances and hospitals to developing new standards for the care of patients with time-critical diagnoses, such as stroke and STEMI, a potentially fatal form of heart attack.
“Mike’s hard work and dedication over the years has helped us continually improve the quality of care we can give to patients in critical situations,” said Kent Cantrell, fire chief of Excelsior Springs, Mo., and immediate past chair of MARCER. “He is an exceptional leader who really fits the mold of what Dave Garcia brought to the EMS community and the collaboration anad cooperation MARCER promotes.”
Through MARCER, emergency service professionals from area fire departments, ambulance services and hospitals work together to ensure high quality emergency medical care in Greater Kansas City. The committee also tracks and influences decisions that impact EMS at the state level. “Mike’s background in EMS has been a great asset for the region as we develop protocols for treatment and transport of patients,” said Chris Alexander, chief of emergency medical services for the Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department and current MARCER chair. “He not only helped develop our regional plans, but has also worked with the state to align our goals with theirs.”
The Garcia award was presented by David A. Warm, MARC’s executive director. “As someone who worked with Dave Garcia and one of many who still remember and value his contributions to the region, it is my honor to present this award to Mike. His long career in public service exemplifies the type of leadership MARCER brings to the region,” said Warm.
Past recipients of MARCER’s David A. Garcia award include Dr. Jack Campbell, former director of emergency medical services for the city of Kansas City, Mo.; Jason White, former associate director of MAST; Richard “Smokey” Dyer, who served 22 years with the Lee’s Summit Fire Department before taking on the role of fire chief in Kansas City, Mo.; and Richard K. Fagan, former division chief in the Lenexa, Kan., fire department.
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