Michael Sumner – EMT of the Year

Houston Healthcare Emergency Medical Services’ EMT of the Year is Michael Sumner.

Sumner has been an EMT for six years. He said it’s an honor being recognized by his peers.

With no interest at first in being a healthcare professional, Sumner, who is originally from Macon, said he started college in the engineering program.

To serve as an EMT, he said an individual has to be levelheaded to do the job right, and the stress should be left at home.

Over the course of his career, Sumner has had several patients who he’s successfully resuscitated and who have come up to him over the years to thank him.

“It’s probably the best part of the job. You don’t get it often, but it makes the job worthwhile,” he said.

Sumner recalled a recent situation when he helped pull a lady out of a vehicle.

“She was dead at the time,” he said. “I just recently talked to her on the phone.”

When receiving a bad call, he said, “You just have to develop a mode that you get into. You know your goal, you know your objective and you just do it. You don’t think about anything else but a successful outcome. That’s the way I handle it.”

Dave Borghelli, Houston Healthcare Emergency Medical Services director and Emergency Management coordinator, said they have criteria of what they recommend that staff look for when choosing a member as EMT of the Year.

“Our folks know each other and they know who goes above and beyond,” he said.

He said Sumner is an EMT instructor with a company that he and another paramedic started, which has become very successful.

Borghelli said Sumner was one of two EMTs in the country to be selected by the National Association of EMTs to receive a scholarship for paramedic school.

“That is quite an honor,” he said.

He said the department works 24-hour shifts. They have sleeping quarters for employees, but they’re on call during that time. Borghelli noted they’re on a call more so than sleeping. He said they responded to more than 29,000 calls in 2015 and they’re already exceeding that for 2016. They have about 70 total employees.

“We’re a family,” Borghelli said. “But, there is also a little peer pressure there.” He said they support each other and also have healthy competition in achieving as much as they can.

He said not only does Sumner dedicate his time to being an EMT, but he also volunteers his time by educating the public to improve patient care. He visits local schools to speak to students.

Borghelli said there are so many of his staff that comes in on their day off when things come up such as helping at a community event.

He said Sumner is a mirror of his peers. He said he’s proud of him and that he’s a great representation of the department.

Sumner is the son of Steve and Leann Sumner. He is married to Candace, who works at Houston Medical Center, and they have five children together.

HHJ News