Stokes County EMS

06/01/2026

🚨 Introducing Paramedic Jason Collins. 🚑

At Stokes County EMS, we believe that the best care isn't just about technical skill—it’s about character. We don't just hire employees; we recruit dedicated professionals with the lived experience to match their clinical expertise.

Today, we are proud to welcome Paramedic Jason Collins to the team.

Jason joins us with over 22 years of experience in EMS.

From the high-tempo demands of municipal systems to the unique challenges of rural medicine, he has seen this field from many perspectives. Beyond the ambulance, he has spent 9 years leading regional EMS educational programs, mentoring the next generation of providers.

The Credentials:
🎓 Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Medical Care
🎓 Masters Degree in Health Science (Western Carolina University)

Jason isn’t just bringing his hands to the truck; he’s bringing an advanced clinical perspective that elevates our entire mission: providing world-class, compassionate care to the citizens of Stokes County.

Progress doesn’t just happen.
It’s BUILT. 🛠️

For a veteran paramedic like Jason, the transition to our 24/72 shift rotation provides more than just a schedule—it provides "The Space In Between." It gives him the time to decompress, recharge, and be present for the moments that matter most, with his family.

Welcome home to Stokes County EMS, Jason!

Help us give him a warm Stokes County welcome by dropping a note in the comments below! 👇🤘🏻

🎥 WATCH the "BUILT" series on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDaEWIr6XUIWbohZ5DWcFexZnTzvuS5q2&si=wNzSetP_kW6uVfpZ

📸 Catch a behind-the-scenes look on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stokescountyems

05/27/2026

BUILT with Purpose. 🛠️
The Anatomy of Our Service.

Our citizens are the heart of this community. 🫀

Our crews are the lifeblood 🩸that flows in rhythm with—and sustains—its pulse.

Our administration and training staff provide the skeletal structure, 🩻 the essential framework that allows us to stand tall, move with purpose, and maintain our integrity through the demands of this vital, lifesaving, and life-changing calling.

Central to this framework is our commitment to clinical excellence:

We have built FOUR FULLY STAFFED SHIFTS organized entirely around the Double-Paramedic staffing model. This ensures that the highest level of care is consistently available to our neighbors 24/7 when they need us most.

From day one, this mission has been deeply personal to those of us guiding the agency. Our eyes and focus are fixed on the horizon, building a service that honors our providers, our community, and the legacy we build every single day.

This is how our Agency Support Structure is BUILT:

🔹 Brandon Gentry,
Director
🔹 Renee Bridges,
Operations Manager
🔹 Tim Settle,
B Shift Supervisor
🔹 Allen Overby,
C Shift Supervisor
🔹 Ryan Dillon,
A Shift Supervisor
🔹 Richard Matthews,
D Shift Supervisor
🔹 Fred Shaffer,
Training Officer
🔹 Laura Bullins, Administrative Assistant

We aren’t reinventing our identity; we are intentionally strengthening our framework to better support the people who carry the weight of this mission every day.

"It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it." — Seneca

We believe that by focusing our resources and our culture on the things that truly matter—the mental and physical health of our providers and the quality of care for our neighbors—we ensure that our time together is purposeful.

The transition to the 24/72 schedule and the evolution of our clinical capabilities are more than just operational changes; they are a fundamental commitment to the long-term sustainability of our responders.

At the center of our design is the "Space in Between."

By respecting the time our providers spend away from the station, we protect their ability to be present for their families and their own well-being.

Our role is to ensure that when they are on the clock, they are supported by an environment that values their recovery and clinical sharpness.

As we continue writing our story, we are committed to making sure every chapter reflects the dedication and resilience of this team.

Join the Conversation 👇

We love to hear from our community!

Connect With Our Story 🔗

🎥 Watch the documentary series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDaEWIr6XUIWbohZ5DWcFexZnTzvuS5q2&si=wNzSetP_kW6uVfpZ

👀 See the journey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stokescountyems

📖 Read our mission on EMS1: https://www.ems1.com/recruitment-and-retention/a-new-chapter-for-stokes-county-ems-built-for-our-people-and-our-future

05/26/2026

B Shift BUILT Day One. 🚨

The 24/72 transition marks more than just a change in rotation; it represents a fundamental shift in how we prioritize the well-being of those who answer the call.

Today, we reach the final milestone of our department-wide rollout as we highlight the professionals of B Shift.

WITH AN AVERAGE OF 11 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE , this team brings a diverse range of professional backgrounds and high-level clinical skills to the front lines.

They aren't just adopting a new schedule; they are uniting their unique experiences to fuel the momentum that drives our agency’s mission forward.

Meet the B Shift team!

🔹 Unit 1 - Walnut Cove:
Stephen Cranfill & Alyson Huybert

🔹 Unit 2 - Lawsonville:
Adriann Surratt & David Perfater

🔹 Unit 3 - King:
Courtney Easter & Lucas East

🔹 Unit 4 - King:
Amber Fulk & Kimberly W.

🔹 Unit 5 - Danbury:
Tori Bryant & Ginny Kaplan

🔹 Unit 6 - Walnut Cove:
Conor Roche & Noelia Palmeri

🔹 CP2 - Community Paramedic:
Joey Moser

🔹 Life 1 - Shift Supervisor:
Tim Settle

To our B Shift providers: Your dedication is the heartbeat of our service. By maintaining the highest standards of pre-hospital care, you ensure that every citizen has a fighting chance when seconds count. We are proud to have you on the front lines of this evolution. 🚑

At Stokes County EMS, our foundation is intentional:

⛰️ BUILT in the foothills.
📜 BUILT on tradition.
🚀 BUILT for the future.

This initiative is the result of rigorous planning and a deep respect for our providers. By valuing the "space in between," we are creating an environment where our team is consistently well-rested and prepared. It is a commitment to the long-term sustainability of our clinicians, ensuring they remain as sharp as the skills they bring to the job every day.

Epictetus famously reminded us: "No great thing is created suddenly."

True clinical excellence is not forged overnight; it is the result of consistent, disciplined effort from a team brought together by a shared purpose.

Our transition to the 24/72 model is a testament to that philosophy—a steady movement toward a more resilient service for the community we serve.

Join us in the comments!

Please drop a note of encouragement or a warm welcome for these responders as they begin this new chapter. We love hearing from the community! 👇

Connect With Our Story 🔗

🎥 Watch the documentary series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDaEWIr6XUIWbohZ5DWcFexZnTzvuS5q2&si=wNzSetP_kW6uVfpZ

👀 See the journey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stokescountyems

📖 Read about our mission on EMS1: https://www.ems1.com/recruitment-and-retention/a-new-chapter-for-stokes-county-ems-built-for-our-people-and-our-future

05/26/2026

As the sun sets today, we pause to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

The liberties we enjoy—and the work we are privileged to do every day in service to Stokes County—are built upon the sacrifices of others.

We remember their courage, we honor their legacy, and we remain profoundly grateful for the freedoms they secured for us all.

Today is a day for reflection, remembrance, and gratitude.

05/25/2026

A Shift BUILT Day One. 🛠️

As our nation pauses today to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service, we begin a new chapter at Stokes County EMS with deep appreciation for the opportunities we have to serve our community.

Today, A Shift officially adopts the 24/72 model. This isn’t just a scheduling change; it’s an investment in the professionals who serve our citizens.

This team brings AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 9 YEARS EXPERIENCE to the front lines, grounding their advanced technical proficiency in a deep-seated dedication to their craft.

Meet the A Shift Team:

🔹 Unit 1 - Walnut Cove:
Lindsay Brown & Meaghan Montgomery

🔹 Unit 2 - Lawsonville:
Michael Cassidy & Billie B.

🔹 Unit 3 - King:
Lacey Chandler & Tabitha Nicholson

🔹 Unit 4 - King:
Elissa Flowers & Brody Corn

🔹 Unit 5 - Danbury:
Matthew Smallwood & Ryan K.

🔹 Unit 6 - Walnut Cove:
Michael Fuller & Cynthia Doolin

🔹 CP1 - Community Paramedic:
Tori Spencer

🔹 Life 1 - Shift Supervisor:
Ryan Dillon

To our A Shift providers: Thank you for leaning into this new rhythm. By optimizing the "space in between," we are ensuring you have time for reflection, to stay rested, sharp, and ready, for the moments that matter most.

As Marcus Aurelius wrote: "The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way."

We have taken the challenges of our field and turned them into our greatest opportunity, building a more resilient path forward for our team and our citizens.

05/24/2026

The momentum continues. ⚡️
D Shift BUILT Day One.
A Historic first for Stokes County!

Today marks more than just a transition to the 24/72 model—it marks a new era in our agency’s history. For the first time, Stokes County EMS is operating a D Shift, a deliberate expansion of our capacity to serve this community.

As our department moves forward with the 24/72 transition, we are proud to see our vision take hold. Today, we turn our attention to the professionals of our inaugural D Shift as they pioneer this new model of care.

WITH AN AVERAGE OF 8.5 YEARS OF EMS EXPERIENCE, this crew brings a high level of clinical expertise and a professional standard to our front lines. They aren't just starting a new schedule; they are defining the legacy of the first-ever D Shift in Stokes County history.

Meet the team carrying the torch!

Our Frontline D Shift Crew

🔹 Unit 1 - Walnut Cove:
Jessica Smith & Jared Friday

🔹 Unit 2 - Lawsonville:
Mike Fickel & Daniel Austin

🔹 Unit 3 - King:
Joseph Smith & Zach Gusler

🔹 Unit 4 - King:
Aubrey Hartgrove & Kaelan Young

🔹 Unit 5 - Danbury:
Jake Murphy & Drake Butler

🔹 Unit 6 - Walnut Cove:
Cassidy Baker & Starlia Overby

🔹 CP4 CommunityParamedic:
Ashley Tilley Rummage

🔹 Life 1 - Shift Supervisor:
Richard Matthews

To our D Shift providers: Thank you for your commitment to excellence. Your presence on duty is what ensures Stokes County receives the highest tier of pre-hospital medicine. We are honored to have you on this journey. 🚑

At Stokes County EMS, our growth is deliberate:
⛰️ BUILT in the foothills.
📜 BUILT on tradition.
🚀 BUILT for the future.

This transition—and the creation of this new shift—is the result of focused, intentional planning and a team of clinicians who demand more from themselves and their equipment. By optimizing the "space in between," we are ensuring our providers stay sharp, rested, and ready for the moments that matter most to our citizens.

Marcus Aurelius once wrote: "We were born for cooperation, like feet, like hands, like eyelids, like the rows of upper and lower teeth. To work in opposition to one another is against nature."

Our service is a reminder that we are all parts of a single, coordinated body—each unit, each provider, and each role playing a vital part in the health of the community we serve.

Join us in the comments!

Drop a note of encouragement or a warm welcome for these responders as they begin this new chapter and make history as our very first D Shift. We love hearing from the community we serve! 👇

Connect With Our Story 🔗

🎥 Watch the documentary series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDaEWIr6XUIWbohZ5DWcFexZnTzvuS5q2&si=wNzSetP_kW6uVfpZ

👀 See the journey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stokescountyems

📖 Read about our mission on EMS1: https://www.ems1.com/recruitment-and-retention/a-new-chapter-for-stokes-county-ems-built-for-our-people-and-our-future

05/23/2026

C Shift BUILT Day One. 🌄

As we close out National EMS Week 2026, we are marking a historic milestone for our department and the community we are honored to serve.

Starting today, May 23, 2026, we are officially kicking off our transition to the 24/72 schedule, beginning with our dedicated C Shift crew.

WITH AN AVERAGE OF 10.5 YEARS OF EMS EXPERIENCE across this team, our community is in incredibly capable, seasoned hands. 🤝

We are proud to introduce the professionals of C Shift leading the way on this historic Day One!

Our Frontline C Shift Crew

🔹 Unit 1 - Walnut Cove:
Gray Allgood & Emma Bartle

🔹 Unit 2 - Lawsonville:
William Stack & Caryn Walter

🔹 Unit 3 - King:
Zach Peare & Charles Howard

🔹 Unit 4 - King:
Sam James & Lauren Nunley

🔹 Unit 5 - Danbury:
Courtney Matherly & Jason Collins

🔹 Unit 6 - Walnut Cove:
Luke Guckavan & Madison Hall

🔹 CP3 - Community Paramedic:
Crystal Wilfong

🔹 Life 1 - Shift Supervisor:
Allen Overby

To our C Shift team—thank you for your professionalism and the thousands of hours of collective experience you bring to the citizens of Stokes County. We are honored to serve alongside you. 🚑

At Stokes County EMS, everything we do is BUILT with purpose:
⛰️ BUILT in the foothills.
📜 BUILT on tradition.
🚀 BUILT for the future, evolving to ensure our providers are rested, resilient, and ready to provide the highest level of care when you need it most.

This change is the result of intentional planning, curated recruitment, and a commitment to progressive protocols.

It is about the "space in between"—the intentional time our providers use to recharge, train, and prepare—so that when the tones drop, they are at their absolute best.

Seneca once said, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." Today, our preparation meets a new opportunity to serve Stokes County even better.

Join us in the comments!

Drop a note of encouragement or a warm welcome for these responders as they begin this new chapter. We love hearing from the community we serve! 👇

Connect With Our Story 🔗

🎥 Watch the documentary series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDaEWIr6XUIWbohZ5DWcFexZnTzvuS5q2&si=wNzSetP_kW6uVfpZ

👀 See the journey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stokescountyems

📖 Read about our mission on EMS1: https://www.ems1.com/recruitment-and-retention/a-new-chapter-for-stokes-county-ems-built-for-our-people-and-our-future

05/19/2026

Built on Community: Thank You, King Police Chaplains! 🚑

There is a unique rhythm to public safety. There are the high-stress, fast-moving calls where training takes over, and then there is the "space in between"—the quiet moments back at the station where our crews reset, debrief, and prepare for what's next.

This week, the King Police Chaplains stepped directly into that space to take care of our team, providing meals to keep our crews fueled and ready to serve.

At Stokes County EMS, we talk a lot about being BUILT—built for our people, built for our future, and built to stand strong for our community.

But we don't do it alone. A strong agency relies on the partnerships we share with our brothers and sisters across local public safety.

To the King Police Chaplains: thank you for the support, the fellowship, and for looking out for our personnel. Your kindness goes a long way in ensuring we are the best versions of ourselves to meet the needs of our community.

Today Chaplain 680 delivered a meal to the Stokes County EMS headquarters in recognition and celebration of National EMS Week, along with a note of appreciation.
“On behalf of the City of King, NC Police Department, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the dedicated members of EMS for your continued partnership, professionalism, and support.
Thank you for all that you do each day.
We truly value your service, sacrifice, and partnership.
With appreciation,
Chief J. J. Boyette”

05/18/2026

Actions > Words. 🦅

National EMS Week is officially underway, but we aren’t here to offer hollow catchphrases.

For us, moving forward into the future means backing up our promises with real, tangible action for our providers, our service, and our community.

⏳ In five days, on May 23rd, Stokes County EMS officially transitions to our new 24/72 shift schedule—and our roster is currently FULL across ALL FOUR SHIFTS.

To our incredible crews:
Thank you for your unwavering dedication, your professionalism, and for being the backbone of this agency every single day. 🤝

"The space in between" means something to us.

It is an objective, real-world improvement to the quality of life for our team of elite clinicians, and their loved ones, who deserve a true work-life balance.

Protecting that time is vital to ensure we always show up as the best version of ourselves for our community on their worst days and in their critical times of need. 🚑

BUILT isn’t a slogan.

YOU helped us build this.
We BUILT this for you.

WHAT we do matters.

HOW we do this vital,
life-saving work matters.

YOU MATTER—to us,
and to the people we serve. ❤️

YOU are BUILT for this.

Stokes County EMS is:
⛰️ BUILT in the foothills.
📜 BUILT on tradition.
🚀 BUILT for the future.

And we’re still building.

Words should have meaning, and doing is always > talking.