Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Ayla Hudson | Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Shoemaker from Coast Guard Cutter Venturous receives the...... read more read more
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Each year the Coast Guard selects the health services technician (HS) personnel who demonstrate the professions highest qualities under the most challenging or unique circumstances. For 2020, the Clinic Health Services Technician and Independent Duty Health Services Technician of the Year are stationed in the Tampa Bay region.
Clinic Health Services Technician Petty Officer 1st Class Shelby Zaborowski, Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, was recognized for her outstanding direct patient care and mission readiness during Hurricane Dorian response operations in September 2019. Independent Duty Health Services Technician Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Shoemaker, Coast Guard Cutter Venturous homeported in St. Petersburg, was recognized for demonstrating unwavering commitment and skill with patient care while deployed to remote areas of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Zaborowski served her first four years as an HS with the air station’s clinic. When the category-five Hurricane Dorian struck the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Zaborowski voluntarily deployed in a “first of its kind integration of a clinic support team” during the Coast Guard’s first wave of aviation response.
“We would see rescue swimmers on base, but we don’t work side-by side,” said Zaborowski. “When it came down to it, we had to adapt and rise to the occasion together to help the Bahamians.”
Zaborowski and other medical professionals worked out of a makeshift garage with the Marsh Harbor Clinic on Great Abaco, Bahamas in the middle of the hardest hit area. They overcame a lack of proper medical supplies and extreme weather conditions to triage and provide stabilizing care for 258 survivors. During the deployment, Zaborowski helped facilitate the critical transitions between ambulances and helicopters.
“What stands out still is the humanitarian aspect,” said Zaborowski. “Our team relied on our medical skills, but I wanted to help more beyond the medical and evacuations. You could see the heartbreak in their eyes for their families and lost homes.”
For Shoemaker, communication and team relations are also important in ensuring the safety of crewmembers while out in the Pacific. With tours at Base Seattle Clinic and the Boston Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) before the Venturous, Shoemaker had the experience to work independently on the ship.
“Being an HS onboard a cutter is the best job in the Coast Guard,” said Shoemaker. “The comradery with our crew is amazing… it’s an honor to be trusted with my crew’s health and wellbeing.”
Last year Shoemaker coordinated with partner nations’ and international medical professionals to facilitate the medevac of five crewmembers to the United States to receive life-saving care. Additionally, Shoemaker quickly and accurately diagnosed a patient with severe pain and coordinated medevac arrangements with a flight surgeon and Costa Rican first responders.
“Working with international partners either while we are on patrol or in port has its own set of challenges,” said Shoemaker. “We needed to medevac someone for emergency surgery off the coast of Costa Rica. Managing the patient on the one-and-half hour small boat ride into port and passing off care to local EMT’s for transport to the hospital for surgery was definitely a highlight of my career so far.”
Both Zaborowski and Shoemaker were surprised and honored to be selected for the award. Looking to their futures, both will continue with the Coast Guard and their educations. Recently, Zaborowski has switched to the Coast Guard Reserves while she attends nursing school with the University of Southern Florida. Shoemaker plans to stay active-duty while also finishing his college education.
| Date Taken: | 10.19.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 10.19.2020 13:19 |
| Story ID: | 381230 |
| Location: | TAMPA, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 508 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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