The Yuma Ambulance Service and Yuma District Hospital headlined the Northeast RETAC awards ceremony last week.
The annual awards ceremony was held at the Thompson Valley EMS building in Loveland.
The Yuma Ambulance Service’s Keriann Josh was honored as EMS Leader of the Year.
The Yuma Ambulance Service’s Michael Brophy was honored as the BLS EMS Professional of the Year.
Yuma District Hospital’s Dr. Matt Nowland was honored as Trauma Medical Director of the Year.
The Northeast Colorado Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Services Advisory Council (NCRETAC for short) is a cohort of dozens of EMS agencies across nine counties in northeastern Colorado (Jackson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, and Yuma counties).
The NCRETAC Annual Awards celebrate the people and organizations who quietly and consistently strengthen emergency medical and trauma care across Northeast Colorado. These recipients represent the best of our regional system — professionals who show up for their communities, support one another across agencies, and help ensure patients receive high-quality care no matter where or when they need it. By recognizing leadership, clinical excellence, education, and collaboration, these awards highlight the individuals and teams whose work makes our EMS and trauma system safer, stronger, and more connected for the communities they serve.
Following are the write-ups for each that were read at the ceremony.
EMS Leader of the Year
Keriann Josh, NRP
City of Yuma Ambulance Service
Keriann Josh exemplifies the kind of leadership that strengthens both a local agency and the entire regional system.
As a leader within the City of Yuma Ambulance Service, Keriann demonstrates vision, integrity, and a steady commitment to advancing high-quality patient care. She supports her team, promotes accountability, and fosters collaboration across disciplines and partner organizations.
Beyond her local responsibilities, Keriann also serves as Treasurer for NCRETAC — a role that, in practice, functions much like a part-time job and is performed without compensation. In that capacity, she provides financial oversight, supports responsible stewardship of regional resources, and ensures transparency and accountability across the council’s operations.
Her dedication to the region extends far beyond her own agency. She invests time, energy, and expertise into strengthening the entire EMS and trauma system in Northeast Colorado. That level of commitment reflects a leader who understands that regional success depends on shared responsibility.
For her professionalism, service, and sustained commitment to both her community and the broader region, we are proud to recognize Keriann Josh as our EMS Leader of the Year.
BLS EMS Professional of the Year
Michael Brophy, NREMT-B
City of Yuma Ambulance Service
Michael Brophy represents the kind of steady, dependable excellence that strengthens a system every single day.
As a Basic Life Support provider with the City of Yuma Ambulance Service, Michael exemplifies professionalism, teamwork, and a deep commitment to patient-centered care. The nomination submitted on his behalf describes a provider who is consistently reliable, clinically sound, and calm under pressure — someone colleagues trust and patients immediately feel confident with.
BLS providers are often the first point of contact in moments of uncertainty and crisis. Their ability to assess, stabilize, communicate clearly, and coordinate next steps sets the tone for everything that follows. That role requires strong foundational clinical skills, composure, and compassion.
Michael’s daily practice reflects those qualities. His dedication strengthens his agency, supports his team, and contributes meaningfully to the effectiveness and safety of EMS care in his community.
Michael Brophy’s service reflects the professionalism and commitment that define high-quality Basic Life Support.
We are proud to recognize Michael Brophy as our BLS EMS Professional of the Year.
Trauma Medical Director of the Year
Matthew Nowland, M.D.
Yuma District Hospital
Dr. Matthew Nowland exemplifies the role of a trauma medical director who strengthens both clinical practice and system performance.
As Trauma Medical Director at Yuma District Hospital, Dr. Nowland provides thoughtful leadership across the trauma continuum. His work reflects a commitment not only to high-quality patient care, but to continuous improvement, education, and collaboration with EMS partners throughout the region.
The nomination submitted on his behalf highlights his dedication to strengthening clinical standards, supporting multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring that trauma care remains coordinated, accountable, and responsive to the needs of the community. In rural systems especially, medical leadership plays a critical role in aligning hospital capabilities with prehospital care.
Dr. Nowland’s engagement with EMS agencies, quality improvement initiatives, and system development efforts reinforces that connection. His leadership helps ensure that trauma patients receive timely, evidence-informed care from the scene through definitive treatment.
For his commitment to clinical excellence, system collaboration, and advancing trauma care across Northeast Colorado, we are proud to recognize Dr. Matthew Nowland as our Trauma Medical Director of the Year.