17�Թ�

Recognizing Exceptional Collaborative Effort in Education and 17�Թ� Enrichment

The 17�Թ� Foundation awards its 2023 Friends and Partners Award to Aspirus MedEvac. 

“Without question Aspirus MedEvac is a valuable partner for 17�Թ�,” says 17�Թ� Associate Dean of Public Safety Jason Goeldner. “We have a high demand for education of EMS services at the College and there is a shortage of employees for ground crews, so this partnership helps everyone.”

Aspirus MedEvac has partnered with 17�Թ� several times to help provide full-scale immersive hands-on learning simulations. “During simulations, we start from ground zero with a structure fire taking place, patients getting extricated, transferred to EMS, transferred to the nursing students, and transferred to the helicopter. Aspirus helps us provide this learning opportunity,” says Goeldner. 

The Aspirus MedEvac team is on the front lines of emergency services. Charles Kotke, Aspirus MedEvac regional manager, underscores the importance of these joint efforts. “Our collaboration with the Public Safety team and the Nursing students through simulations only continued to grow people to come in and make our community bigger and be able to support the needs of our public safety.”  

17�Թ� Foundation Board President John Schiek commends Aspirus MedEvac. “Their commitment to enhancing the education that 17�Թ� provides will have a lasting impact in our community.”

Kotke adds, “The collaboration really does grow the values of our organization, right alongside 17�Թ�. Getting an award like this inspires the entire team.” Kotke says that simulations also provide professional development opportunities for Aspirus employees, which further strengthens their skill sets.

Earlier this year, Aspirus also donated an ambulance to the 17�Թ� Foundation to help bolster 17�Թ�’s already strong experiential learning opportunities for students.

In the photo above: The 17�Թ� Foundation recently presented the 2023 Friends and Partners Award to Aspirus MedEvac for its long-standing commitment to help train future health care workers.  Pictured here for the award presentation are, left to right, Jason Wyland, MedEvac Flight RN, Amy Larson, MedEvac EMS Outreach Coordinator, Ryan Short, MedEvac Flight Paramedic, Heather Schallock, 17�Թ� Foundation Executive Director, Bob Kirkley, Aspirus MedEvac Director, Charlie Kotke, Aspirus MedEvac Manager, Joel Bach, Aspirus MedEvac Manager, Kate Ferrel, 17�Թ� President, John Schiek, 17�Թ� Foundation Board President, Jason Goeldner, 17�Թ� Associate Dean of Public Safety, Vicki Nelson, 17�Թ� Public Safety Support Specialist, Al Javoroski, 17�Թ� Vice President of Academic Affairs, Candy Dailey, 17�Թ� Dean of Health Occupations, and Mason Heldt, Aspirus HR Talent Program Specialist