Local EMS provider receives 2024 Governor of Virginia’s Award for Outstanding EMS Prehospital Educator

PULASKI COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) – Years of dedication, thousands of hours of service and countless students taught… The hard work paid off as an EMS provider serving our hometowns was awarded the 2024 Governor of Virginia’s Award for Outstanding EMS Prehospital Educator.

“I really didn’t believe it when they told me I won,” said Michael Garnett.

Michael Garnett has worked in EMS for 35 years in the Roanoke and New River Valleys with 22 years as an EMS educator.

“The education is being able to derive our providers the competence and confidence that they need to adequately work with patients,” explained Garnett.

The award recognizes Garnett as an educator who “exemplifies outstanding teaching and leadership qualities” and “consistently demonstrates excellence and a dedication to the education of prehospital EMS providers.” He was invited to a ceremony in the Governor’s Mansion in Richmond where Governor Glenn Youngkin gave him the award.

“It was really an honor because I never expected to be in the Governor’s Mansion and I never expected to actually win the award itself. But I have to say that it was definitely a lifetime event,” said Garnett.

Garnett’s colleagues say only 2% of EMS have an educator status.

“It’s a very small number of people putting in the time and effort and have the dedication to even become an educator, and to reach the level of excellence that Mike has done” said Nathaniel Davis, the Administrative Captain for Pulaski County Public Safety.

And the county is honored to celebrate on of their own. Johnathan Sweet, the County Administrator for Pulaski County, said “it’s just it’s confirmation that some of the best and the brightest come from Southwestern Virginia. So appropriate that some of the best and the brightest are preparing future best and brightest.”

Garnett looks forward to continuing his work in the industry.

“It actually gives me incentive to keep going forward and to be able to keep doing what I’m doing,” he said. “Just being able to keep going forward with the progression of EMS education and adding my little bit of a footprint to what these providers learn and what they’re able to do.”

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