Sunstar Paramedics chief administrative officer John Peterson has been elected vice president of Florida Ambulance Association (FAA), which is the statewide association for ambulance service providers in Florida. Representing both public and private providers, FAA drives policies that support continued excellence in patient care and fair reimbursement for emergency medical services.

In his volunteer role, Peterson will work with board members and policymakers to monitor state and national legislation and its impact on ambulance service providers in Florida. FAA also provides continuing education on industry issues, such as Medicaid reimbursement and employee recruitment. The organization recently became affiliated with the American Ambulance Association (AAA) to better collaborate on key issues that emergency medical service providers face.

“As FAA vice president, John will help shape policies that can positively impact patient care provided by emergency medical services in Florida,” said Mark Postma, vice president of Paramedics Plus and chief operating officer for Sunstar Paramedics. “His volunteer role ensures we continue to provide exceptional patient care and stay on the leading edge of advances in our field.”

Peterson’s two-year term as FAA vice president began in May 2016. As chief administrative officer of Sunstar Paramedics, Peterson oversees the organization’s daily operations and 615 employees.

Peterson joined Sunstar Paramedics in 2004 as a paramedic and advanced to hold several leadership roles at Sunstar Paramedics and at Emergency Medical Services Authority in Oklahoma before returning to Pinellas County in 2013. A certified occupational therapist and paramedic, he earned his master’s degree in occupational therapy from Barry University in Miami and his MBA in healthcare management from the University of Texas at Tyler.