Belleville, Wis. – Patrick McDonnell, a paramedic with Belleville Area EMS, has been named Wisconsin’s top paramedic of 2024 by the Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services Association (WEMSA). McDonnell, who has served with Belleville Area EMS since 2016, has made significant contributions, from providing direct patient care to helping develop departmental budgets.
Belleville Area EMS Director, Chris Backes, praised McDonnell for his unwavering dedication. “Patrick’s contributions to our community, our ambulance service, and our team are immeasurable,” Backes said. “His approach, guidance, and experience benefit all of us in emergency services.”
In addition to his work in Belleville, McDonnell also assists other EMS departments in Oregon, Monona, and Deer Grove. Prior to joining Belleville Area EMS, he served from 2011 to 2020 with the Town of Madison Fire Department before it was dissolved due to annexation into the City of Madison.
McDonnell expressed gratitude for the honor, attributing his success to the teams he has worked with over the years. “It’s much easier to go to work in EMS for this long when you are surrounded by a team full of dedicated, hard-working, compassionate, and generally awesome co-workers,” McDonnell said.
He will receive the prestigious award during the 2025 WEMSA Conference and Expo on January 23 in Green Bay.