Family: Husband, Patrick; a son, Patrick, 18; daughters, the late Amanda; and Ashley, 10.
Occupation: Wertz is the executive director of the Pediatric Alliance, a pediatric practice based Carnegie.
Notable: Wertz received the first Amanda E. Wertz Memorial Emergency Medical Services for Children Award from the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council. The award honors an EMS provider who has made a difference in the lives of children in the state. The award is named for Wertz's daughter, the late Amanda Wertz, a child with special needs who died in 2001 at age 14.
Credits/Activities: Wertz has written a textbook, "Emergency Care for Children"; she developed an educational program for providing emergency care to children with special health care needs and has presented it around the country; she is an active participant in the Emergency Medical Services for Children's Family Advocacy Network; and she coordinated the American Academy of Pediatrics' "Every Child Deserves a Medical Home" program in the Pittsburgh area.
Hobbies: She enjoys writing, photography and participating in her daughter's extra-curricular activities.
Quote: "I was absolutely shocked. I never even considered myself as a candidate. I was tremendously honored to get the first award. It is especially nice to be honored by your peers."
