Geisinger Doctor Named EMS Physician Of The Year

Geisinger’s Chris Berry, M.D., has been named the 2026 EMS Physician of
the Year by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Emergency Health
Services Council, an independent advisory committee to EMS agencies across the state.

Dr. Berry has been a physician in Geisinger Medical Center’s emergency room since 2024 and
is the associate medical director for Geisinger EMS. He personally responds to emergencies
using the Geisinger Physician Response Vehicle, working alongside EMS crews when not in the
emergency room, and is the medical director for multiple central Pennsylvania EMS agencies
and fire departments.

“I’m deeply grateful to receive this award from a community that means so much to me,” said
Dr. Berry. “EMS professionals provide lifesaving care and are a cornerstone of our community,
and it’s a real honor to be recognized by my colleagues in this way.”

The EMS Physician of the Year award is chosen through peer nomination and an EMS voting
committee. After reviewing nominations from across the state, the committee makes their final
choice based on the nominee’s contributions to the delivery of EMS, clinical leadership and
mentorship of EMS providers.

Mark Bertollo, emergency medicine services coordinator and award nominator, says, “Chris is
very good at what he does and is very involved — he does trainings and education, he will work
with EMS on his day off and he often invites hospital residents to join him to further their
education.”

Dr. Berry was honored at a ceremony at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville on May 5 and will
also be recognized at the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg during EMS Week,
May 17 to 23.

This year’s award is in honor of Deno Gualtieri, D.O., a Pennsylvania EMS physician, agency
medical director and emergency department director who passed away earlier this year.