The County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) is proud to recognize Fire Fighter Paramedic (FFPM) Richard “Ricky” Battle for earning the 2023 National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT)/Velico Paramedic of the Year award.
FFPM Battle will formally be honored at the NAEMT annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana during the week of September 18-21, 2023.
Nominated for his excellent patient care, FFPM Battle is known for advocating for patients and providing care that he would like his own family to receive.
“He treats paramedic trainees, emergency medical technicians, nurses, police officers, security guards, and crews from other stations as part of the family… his treatment positively impacts their behavior and makes these individuals want to do a better job, too!” said Director of Student Assessment at David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Heather Davis, EdD, NRP. “When I served as the Paramedic Program Director at UCLA, countless applicants write in their essays or tell us in interviews, ‘We are applying to paramedic school because I want to be like Ricky Battle.’”
In 2001, FFPM Battle graduated as part of Recruit Class 104. Once eligible for paramedic school, he immediately volunteered to attend the UCLA Paramedic Education Program where he became class president. FFPM Battle currently serves as an Emergency Medical Services educator and has been an instrumental preceptor to many interns since becoming a paramedic.
Congratulations Paramedic of the Year, FFPM Battle!
