Photo by ELIZABETH A. MUNDSCHENK Allan Chrysler, EMS Program Coordinator. Portrait done at the #3 Mill in New York Mills on Wednesday, September 5, 2001.

By LINDA MURPHY
Observer-Dispatch

UTICA — If suddenly stricken with a medical emergency, you would want to be treated by one who is extremely knowledgeable, calm, personable and who pays close attention to detail.

Allan D. Chrysler Jr., emergency medical services program director at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, embodies these qualities. For that reason he was chosen to receive an Accent on Excellence award.

Andrew E. Peterson, president and CEO of Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, nominated 32-year-old Chrysler because he is not only a valuable employee but also a true community asset.

“Allan’s leadership, compassion and his ability to work with so many different groups are just a few of his strengths. He makes decisions in a well thought-out manner, always insuring that a safe standard of care is provided at all times,” Peterson said. “He is an exceptional role model and we are proud to have him as part of our team.”

As the EMS program director, Chrysler is responsible for working directly with 2,500 care providers such as paramedics and EMT’s and 109 agencies including fire departments and ambulance corps in three counties.

Chrysler also has been an EMS instructor since 1993.

The Ava resident has been working for years with Mohawk Valley Community College and SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome to develop a two-year college degree program in EMS/Paramedic services.

In his spare time, Chrysler is the main coordinator for the Boilermaker Road Race’s EMS and medical volunteers. He has been involved with the road race for the past 11 years.

This summer, Chrysler coordinated the 350 emergency medical volunteers who were on hand for the 2001 Empire State Games. He also is the one who manages the EMS response for the summer concerts at Vernon Downs, Peterson said.

In 1999, he volunteered his time to Oneida County to provide emergency services during the Woodstock festival.

“I really do enjoy (my volunteer work),” Chrysler said. “It’s a lot of work and there’s some grumbling at times, but it’s a job I know I can do and hopefully do it very well.”

Chrysler already has reached many of his life goals.

“I’m about seven years ahead of where I thought I’d be with my goals,” Chrysler said. “I wanted to be a certified paramedic by 2000, but I reached it six years ahead. My plan was to be teaching EMS classes by 1995 but I got it by 1994,” Chrysler said.

Chrysler is married and the father of three young sons.