Las Cruces Fire Department's Paul Ford, the driving force behind the department's Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) program, has been recognized as the 2024 New Mexico Emergency Medical Services Bureau Provider of the Year/EMT-Paramedic. This accolade was bestowed upon him for his exceptional contribution to educating EMT and paramedic students. In his dedication, Ford has charted a path for these students, enabling them to adeptly navigate the complexities of patient care within the healthcare framework.
Held each year to honor exceptional service, the award ceremony transpired during the 11th Annual New Mexico Fire and EMS Expo, an event with the New Mexico Firefighters Training Academy in Socorro as its backdrop from Oct. 23-27. Hosting emergency service professionals from across the state, the expo provided a platform for collaboration, learning, and recognition. According to the City of Las Cruces, the award celebrates Ford's steadfast commitment to healthcare education.
"Paul is a talented, dedicated and incredibly hard-working leader of the MIH program that he has initiated and built over many years," said Dr. Benjamin Divin, Medical Director for the Las Cruces Fire Department, as per the City of Las Cruces, celebrating the achievements of Paul's career, spanning over a decade with the department. Ford's contributions to the emergency medical and healthcare community have been seminal, marked not only by this recent honor but also by being named the New Mexico Public Citizen of the Year in 2021 by the New Mexico Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
Since its inception in 2017, under Ford's guidance, the MIH Program has been a beacon of innovation and care within the Las Cruces Fire Department. With a career spanning 14 years of service, he has been instrumental in charting new paths for his department, enhancing its capabilities in addressing dynamic healthcare challenges. The City of Las Cruces highlights his role not only as a coordinator for the MIH program but also as a mentor and educator, shaping the next generation of EMS providers.
