Emergency Health Sciences faculty member receives award from National Association of EMS Physicians for leadership and service during Hill County flooding

 

Department of Emergency Health Sciences Assistant Professor Stephen Harper, MD, MPH, was awarded the EMS Physician Meritorious Service Award from the National Association of EMS Physicians for his service during the July 4, 2025, flooding in the Texas Hill Country. The award is given to honor exceptional service and leadership in the field.

Harper, who is serves as deputy medical director for the San Antonio Fire Department, was recognized in January at the 2026 NAEMSP annual meeting for “extraordinary actions during the catastrophic July 4, 2025, flooding in the Texas Hill Country. Responding as an on-scene EMS physician, [Harper] led triage for hundreds of pediatric and adult evacuees, provided medical direction across multiple responding agencies and continued supporting responders and patients in the weeks and months that followed,” according to an announcement NAEMSP shared on social media.

Harper provides medical direction for first responders in the City of Kerrville Fire Department, Kerr County, Wilson County and San Antonio.

“This recognition is a true honor for me since I am being recognized by my peers, some of whom have been mentors of mine for a long time,” Harper said. “The truth is that it was a team effort in the response to the Hill Country floods, and so many people did amazing things and worked tirelessly for the community that every single one of them deserves recognition. We truly have some of the best first responders and medical directors in the nation right here in South Texas. It is a privilege serving the communities of Wilson County, Kerrville, Kerr County and San Antonio.”

Also at the conference, Department of Emergency Health Sciences Clinical Associate Professor David Miramontes, MD, FACEP, FAEMS, NREMT, was recognized for his service as an outgoing physician member-at-large for the NAEMSP board of directors. Miramontes is medical director for the San Antonio Fire Department.