PV Ambulance service director Malawy resigns

Pinckneyville Ambulance Service administrator Shane Malawy, 43, announced Tuesday he has tendered his resignation effective at the end of the day Sept. 24.

Malawy--arguably one of the state's most respected paramedics and program chiefs--said he will pursue other opportunities in the coming weeks. "This is a great service and an organization run by a great group of people. There is no doubt it is solvent and will provide great service to the county. "At some point in time I hope to return. I would love to come back to serve this county as a paramedic. To be honest, I am tired," he said, citing the day and night commitment that has taxed his professional health.

Malawy has been program administrator since 2003.

His service includes:

• Director Perry County Ambulance Service and first responder

• Member of the Region 5 EMS Advisory Council

• Member of the Stroke Committee

• EMS representative on the Trauma Advisory Council

• ESDA and EMA member of the Disaster Planning Committee

• His commitment contributed to the effective implementation of the Prairie Heart Institute STAT Heart program at Pinckneyville Community Hospital and Marshall Browning Hospital, which successfully transfers heart patients from these hospitals to the critical care heart center and cath lab at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale (door-to-door) in less than 20 minutes.

• On two occasions in recent weeks Mr. Malawy has hosted programs to instruct the Perry County population as to how and why ambulance and air medical evacuations and transfers are made.

• Mr. Malawy regularly brings first responders and hospital personnel together to better their training and education and moreover to keep them accountable to their mission of taking care of the people and patients of Perry County.

• He also serves as ITLS and ACLS educator.

• Because of these things the Perry County Ambulance Service was named 2013 Business of the Year by the Pinckneyville Chamber of Commerce.

The nomination as Illinois EMT educator of the year said, "You should settle on Mr. Malawy because of not only who he is, but what he is as a person. He brings huge integrity to healthcare. As an outdoorsman his stewardship of our lands, our wildlife and our youth as a matter of health and safety education has never been equaled. He creates model citizens and stands alone in a class by himself while doing so."