Monika Heller, Paramedic/RN & Deputy Chief, Reno County EMS
Monika has worked for Reno County EMS for 22 years starting as a part-time EMT. She originally took her EMT course as a requirement for a Fire Science degree without any intention of working in EMS. During the testing process to get a job on a fire department, she took a part-time job with Reno County EMS and never left! She explained, “One shift on the ambulance and I absolutely fell in love with this career and organization and knew I had found where I was meant to be. I truly consider it a blessing to get the opportunity to have a small impact in someone’s life or make things a little better on the worst day of their life. We get to connect with our community and individuals in a way that is unique only to our profession.”
Since starting as an EMT, Monika went on to paramedic school at Hutchinson Community College and started working full-time for Reno County in 2005. In 2016, she was promoted to EMS Division Chief and was the frontline supervisor for a team of 10 people. She transitioned to the Special Projects Chief role full-time in 2021 taking on more administrative functions, and in July 2023 was promoted to Deputy Chief of Operations.
Monika has been on the KEMSA board since 2022 and has served as the Administrator’s Society secretary since 2022. She was elected as the KEMSA board secretary in August 2024. For her, it was important to become more involved with the association. She said, “As I transitioned to an administrative role [in EMS], I realized that I needed to build relationships and connections with peers at the administrative level. KEMSA is an excellent organization and the many events that are held throughout the year allow for not only quality education, but also networking opportunities across the state.”
As to why the association is important to her and Kansas EMS providers, she said, “The association is important to me personally because of the friendships and relationships that I have been able to make. KEMSA is important to me as a professional and to all Kansas EMS providers for many reasons: a voice at the state and nation levels to improve Kansas EMS, networking, shared knowledge and experience from some of the best in the profession, and high quality educational opportunities to name a few.”
Like other KEMSA board members, her favorite KEMSA event is the annual conference. She said, “There are some people from across the state who I really only get to see this one time a year, so it is a great time to reconnect with people as well as meet new people and build new relationships. We bring in outstanding national speakers, and I learn so much every year to stay relevant clinically and in leadership.”
Monika also wants you to know “she has been happily married for 18 years and is the mother to three awesome children, two daughters and one son. She is a dedicated Chiefs fan and strong supporter of her local school system, GO SALTHAWKS!” We also have three more interesting facts you might now know about Monika including:
- “I used to be a boxer when I was in my early 20s.
- I am not really a cat person because of allergies but cannot resist petting a cat if there’s one around.
- I get car sick/motion sickness pretty regularly but have never had motion sickness in the back of an ambulance.”
