Member of Riddle Emergency Medical Services honored as Pennsylvania Paramedic of the Year
Federal, state and Delaware County representatives join in recognizing John Goddard, longtime paramedic for Main Line Health’s EMS team.
Media, PA — John Goddard, longtime paramedic for Riddle Emergency Medical Services – Main Line Health’s EMS team – was honored today as the Pennsylvania 2024 Advanced Life Support Practitioner of the Year for his lifelong dedication and service to the field.
The award is given by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC). The honor comes as Riddle EMS marks its 40th anniversary of serving its region.
Goddard has been a first responder for 28 years. He currently serves as a prehospital paramedic, delivering care to patients during the most critical moments – before they get to the hospital – and has demonstrated top-level leadership as an operations supervisor. He also has served as a flight paramedic, providing advanced care to patients in need of rapid helicopter transport to a tertiary hospital, and as an educator, working to mold the next generation of EMS professionals.
“John’s composed demeanor and astute decision-making amid adversity have preserved numerous lives throughout his illustrious career,” said Robert P. Girardeau, MSM-HCA, FP-C, System Director, Prehospital Services at Main Line Health. “In addition, John has showcased exceptional leadership prowess as an operations supervisor, effectively coordinating operations with precision and efficacy. John epitomizes the qualities of an exceptional paramedic — professionalism, compassion, expertise and leadership.”
Jack Lynch, FACHE, President and CEO, Main Line Health, and Shelly Buck, DNP, MBA, President, Riddle Hospital, were among those at Riddle Hospital today honoring Goddard.
Representatives from the federal, state and county levels came to recognize Goddard’s achievements. They were U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, 5th Congressional District; state Sen. Tim Kearney, 26th Senatorial District; state Sen. John Kane, 9th Senatorial District; state Rep. Lisa A. Borowski, 168th Legislative District; state Rep. David Delloso, 162nd Legislative District; State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, 165th Legislative District; and Dr. Monica Taylor, Chair, Delaware County Council.
Anthony Martin, Director of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, presented the award to Goddard.
About Riddle Hospital
Riddle Hospital, part of Main Line Health, is a not-for-profit, acute-care hospital with 200 inpatient beds. Riddle has received both regional and national recognition for its excellence in providing state-of-the-art, quality care, including The Joint Commission, the Society of Chest Pain Centers and other health care rating organizations. U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals 2022–2023 rated Riddle Hospital as High Performing in six commonly occurring conditions and medical procedures. The hospital offers a full range of services, including women’s health, orthopaedic, maternity, heart, cancer and stroke care; emergency medicine; primary care services and outpatient services including imaging, sleep, wound healing, audiology, and more — aided by a dedicated team of health care professionals and advanced technology. Main Line Health and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have an affiliation to provide pediatric care to our community. CHOP providers care for pediatric patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Riddle. In summer of 2023, the new Pavilion at Riddle Hospital opened, the cornerstone of an overall campus modernization project. The five-story, 230,000-square-foot Pavilion features state-of-the-art surgical suites and modern maternity facilities, bringing comprehensive, expanded health care features to Delaware County. Health Center 4, which has LEED Gold certification, houses the Rothman Institute, the Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Center, and a variety of outpatient programs.