Aristotle once wrote, “Pleasure
in the job puts perfection in
the work.” While observing
Paramedic William Simon at work,
people see someone whose enthusiasm
has been the driving force behind
his attentiveness and drive for perfection.
Whether he is sharing his “tricks
of the trade” or meticulously organizing
his equipment, his partners know
Paramedic Simon is passionate about
his work.
In the 1970s, as did many of the
early pioneers of EMS, Paramedic
Simon enjoyed the challenges and
excitement of applying his newly
acquired skills in an environment that
tested one’s stamina daily. At
Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan,
where he began his career as a motor
vehicle operator, he drove the former“bread trucks” as they were known at
the time.
Soon after, he trained as an EMT.
In May 1978, he graduated from the
third class of the City’s first
Paramedic training program, sponsored
by the Albert Einstein College
of Medicine at Bronx Municipal
(Jacobi) Hospital.
Many of his tours of duty featured
front-page headlines: building
collapses, bombings, train derailments
and air disasters, including the
commuter helicopter crash on top of
the Pan Am (now Met Life) building. While Manhattan had its celebrity,
Brooklyn was where Paramedic
Simon really was challenged--physically,
mentally and emotionally--by
the growing demand for emergency
medical service in the wake of the
crack epidemic. He worked at Kings
County Hospital. By 1980, under the
watchful eye of his medical director,
Dr. Araceli Aguila, his assessment
and diagnostic skills were tested,
sharpened and perfected.
While Paramedic Simon has
thrived in unpredictable environments,
the quality most valued by his
colleagues is his consistency. With a
clear sense of his priorities, he refuses
to compromise his standards for
convenience. Rather, the Paramedic
spends the extra time to perform a
thorough assessment, assures that his
patients understand their conditions
and the ED staff receives a comprehensive
briefing.
He is equally generous with his
time in mentoring the scores of EMS
newcomers. Freely sharing his experience,
he gratefully acknowledges
the “best and the brightest” and passes
on the lessons that were imparted
to him. After more than three decades,
Paramedic Simon still demonstrates a
humble appreciation for the opportunities
and experiences that have made
his career so rewarding.
His service to EMS epitomizes
the enthusiasm, motivation and dedication
of a true professional. These
outstanding characteristics demonstrate
why Paramedic William R.
Simon today is resented with the Dr.
John E. Sheridan Commendation.--JH |
