HERE’S PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER AVA RASH, AN EVENT HONORING THE LEGENDS WHO DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO HELPING AND SAVING US. TODAY, SIX WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA EMS LEADERS SHARED THEIR STORIES ABOUT THEIR LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO THE PROFESSION. IT’S NO EASY TASK SERVING THE PUBLIC DAY IN AND DAY OUT. BUT FOR SIX WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MEN, THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID. FOR DECADES. IT’S, IN MY VIEW, THE BEST HELPING PROFESSION THERE IS ON THE PLANET. THESE MEN ARE NOW THE 2026 HONOREES FOR THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA LEGENDS OF EMS. THEY DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO HELPING PEOPLE, AND NOW THEY’RE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR IT. THE 2026 CLASS. IT’S OUR HALL OF FAME IN MANY, MANY RESPECTS. 2024 LEGEND AND FORMER DIVISION CHIEF FOR EMS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, KNOX WALK SPOKE ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT THESE MEN HAD ON HER AREA FROM FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGH PARAMEDICS TO CRITICAL CARE PARAMEDICS TO PHYSICIANS AND NURSES INVOLVED IN A PRE-HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT. AND WHAT THEY DO MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THEIR PATIENTS, BUT ALSO THE PATIENTS, FAMILIES, THE EXTENDED FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY. EACH HONOREE GAVE A 20 MINUTE TED TALK AND THE ROOM WAS READY TO LISTEN. IT WAS A SOLD OUT CROWD, READY TO LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM THESE TITANS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CAREERS. STEPHEN WORTH, A 2026 HONOREE. EMS ATTORNEY AND LONGTIME PARAMEDIC, SHARED THIS TO THOSE LOOKING TO GET INTO THE CAREER AND INTO IT AND █GET INTOITWITH ALL YOUR GUSTO AND ENTHUSIASM, BECAUSE THERE’S NO OTHER JOB ON THE PLANET EARTH WHERE YOU CAN HAVE SUCH A POSITIVE IMPACT ON HUMAN LIFE EVERY DAY AS WORKING EMS EVERY SINGLE DAY. FOR N
Western Pennsylvania EMS legends celebrated for decades of service
Six EMS leaders from western Pennsylvania were honored for their lifelong dedication to the profession during a sold-out event.
Updated: 12:55 PM EDT May 7, 2026
Six western Pennsylvania EMS leaders were recognized as the 2026 honorees for the Western Pennsylvania Legends of EMS during an event hosted by eServices Payment Technology. Stephen Wirth, a 2026 honoree, EMS attorney, and longtime paramedic, shared his perspective on the profession. “It’s, in my view, the best helping profession there is on the planet,” Wirth said. Knox Walk, a 2024 honoree and former division chief for EMS in Allegheny County, described the significance of the recognition. “It’s our Hall of Fame in many, many respects,” Walk said. “From first responders to paramedics, critical care paramedics to physicians and nurses involved in the pre-hospital environment. And what they do makes a difference in the lives of their patients, but also the patients’ families, the extended families in the community,” Walk said. Each honoree delivered a 20-minute “TED Talk” speech, sharing their experiences and advice with the sold-out crowd. Wirth encouraged those considering a career in EMS to approach it with enthusiasm. “Get into it with all of your gusto and enthusiasm, because there’s no other job on the planet Earth where you can have such a positive impact on human life every day as working in EMS, every single day,” Wirth said. The event celebrated the dedication and contributions of these EMS leaders, recognizing their lifelong commitment to serving the public.This was the third year for the event. The honorees included the following: Raymond E. Carlin — Former Director, Medical Rescue Team South Authority (ret.)David W. Lindell — EMS Educator, Freedom House and City of Pittsburgh, Bureau of EMSEdward R. Marasco — EMS Advocate and Board Member, Association of Air Medical ServicesVern E. Smith — Butler County EMS Director (ret.)Jeffrey J. Wess — EMS Educator (ret.)Stephen R. Wirth — Co-Founder of National EMS Law Firm, Page Wolfberg and Wirth
PITTSBURGH —
Six western Pennsylvania EMS leaders were recognized as the 2026 honorees for the Western Pennsylvania Legends of EMS during an event hosted by eServices Payment Technology.
Stephen Wirth, a 2026 honoree, EMS attorney, and longtime paramedic, shared his perspective on the profession.
“It’s, in my view, the best helping profession there is on the planet,” Wirth said.
Knox Walk, a 2024 honoree and former division chief for EMS in Allegheny County, described the significance of the recognition.
“It’s our Hall of Fame in many, many respects,” Walk said. “From first responders to paramedics, critical care paramedics to physicians and nurses involved in the pre-hospital environment. And what they do makes a difference in the lives of their patients, but also the patients’ families, the extended families in the community,” Walk said.
Each honoree delivered a 20-minute “TED Talk” speech, sharing their experiences and advice with the sold-out crowd. Wirth encouraged those considering a career in EMS to approach it with enthusiasm.
“Get into it with all of your gusto and enthusiasm, because there’s no other job on the planet Earth where you can have such a positive impact on human life every day as working in EMS, every single day,” Wirth said.
The event celebrated the dedication and contributions of these EMS leaders, recognizing their lifelong commitment to serving the public.
This was the third year for the event.
The honorees included the following: Raymond E. Carlin — Former Director, Medical Rescue Team South Authority (ret.)David W. Lindell — EMS Educator, Freedom House and City of Pittsburgh, Bureau of EMSEdward R. Marasco — EMS Advocate and Board Member, Association of Air Medical ServicesVern E. Smith — Butler County EMS Director (ret.)Jeffrey J. Wess — EMS Educator (ret.)Stephen R. Wirth — Co-Founder of National EMS Law Firm, Page Wolfberg and Wirth