Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma Announces 2019 Scholarship Winner

Recipient will Receive Registration and Travel to EMS World Expo 2019 in New Orleans

WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA (September 17, 2019) — The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma has selected Weslie Powell, operations manager and critical care paramedic at Blount EMS Ambulance in Oneonta, Ala., as the winner of the 2019 Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma Scholarship for EMS World Expo 2019.

The Childress scholarship recognizes providers who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in the performance of pediatric emergency medical services, with their primary role being prehospital patient care. Winners receive a full core program conference registration and a stipend toward travel, hotel and meals at EMS World Expo on Oct. 14–18 in New Orleans.

“It is always an honor to highlight the hard work of emergency responders,” said the Childress Institute’s Executive Director Bob Gfeller. “We reviewed more than 60 applications and every individual was deserving of a scholarship. It is tough for us to select only one, but Weslie’s dedication to bringing pediatric-focused education and training back to his community to improve care for injured children made him the perfect candidate for this year’s award.”

Powell has been in EMS since 1992, serving as field paramedic, critical care-certified flight paramedic, and instructor with several EMS programs. He is the “go-to” provider for pediatric emergencies and upholds the highest level of pediatric training, said Brent Dierking, director of Northstar EMS, who nominated Powell for the award. “He is always advocating and helping teach pediatric courses, and even helps teach at Children’s of Alabama Nursing Education and for the Children’s Critical Care Transport,” added Dierking.

Powell currently serves as operations manager for Blount EMS, managing a busy rural ALS service. He was instrumental in rolling out new EZ-IO drills to the service following a series of pediatric calls. Influential in receiving a pediatric grant to equip transport units countywide with pediatric restraint systems, Powell seeks out and attends pediatric and trauma training whenever available, said Dierking.

“Weslie is an excellent candidate for the scholarship, because he consistently shares his training and experiences with the EMS and emergency medicine community,” Dierking said.

For more information please find the Childress Institute at https://saveinjuredkids.org, or on social media at https://www.facebook.com/SaveInjuredKids or Twitter @injuredkids.

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About the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma

Life threatening injury is the No. 1 killer of kids in America. More than 10,000 children lose their lives every year from serious injuries. In addition, almost 300,000 children are hospitalized and over 8 million children are treated in the emergency department for serious injuries each year, many of whom struggle with long-term recoveries and disabilities. It can happen anywhere, at any time, to any child. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma discovers and shares the best ways to prevent and treat severe injuries in children. The Institute funds research, education and advocacy to help improve the care and treatment injured kids receive across the U.S. The Childress Institute was founded at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in 2008 through a generous gift from Richard and Judy Childress. Visit www.SaveInjuredKids.org to learn more.