Ryan Thorne named South Carolina EMS Director of the Year

The 43rd annual South Carolina EMS Symposium was held at the Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach from March 9th through 12th. The conference, attracting speakers from across the state, and around the country, focused on the resilient efforts of pre-hospital professionals throughout the course of the pandemic.

During the conference’s annual awards banquet, named in honor of the late Debbie Hession, Ryan Thorne, Director & CEO of Greenville-based Thorne Ambulance Service was named South Carolina EMS Director of the Year. According to the nomination criteria, the award was for the “Director who has contributed most significantly to EMS at the community, state, or national level.”

Ryan has been an industry advocate, is a nationally known speaker, has been interviewed on multiple podcasts via the Journal of EMS, and has written several articles promoting leadership and advocacy in healthcare. Furthermore, Mr. Thorne’s organization experienced a sixty percent increase in ambulance responses last year as part of their expansion into Myrtle Beach and was named as one of South Carolina’s 50 Fastest Growing businesses in 2021. This award marks the sixth consecutive year where Thorne Ambulance Service has received a local and/or national award.

On receiving the award, Ryan said, “I am humbled and extremely honored by this recognition. It takes great people to make a good leader, and we truly have the best.” Mr. Thorne was joined at the banquet by several members of the Thorne Ambulance Service leadership team.

Thorne Ambulance Service is a family owned and operated mobile medical provider serving the State of South Carolina. With locations in Greenville and Myrtle Beach, Thorne serves nearly 28,000 patients annually. To learn more, visit: www.thorneambulance.com.