Annual Awards
Each year, the Association of Air Medical Services
recognizes excellence and leadership
in emergency medical transport through a variety of notable national
awards.
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Community
Awards
The 2009 Call for Nominations
closed on May 15th.
Thanks to all that submitted a nomination this year!
Vision Zero Aviation Safety
Award
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Congratulations to
Senator Amy Klobuchar and Drew Dawson,
our 2009 Public Service Award Winners!
See their stories below...
Congratulations to
Children's Medical Center of Dallas Transport Services,
the 2009 Excellence in Community Service Award Winner!
See their story below...
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AAMS Community Awards
2009 Nominations NOW OPEN
- 2009 Nomination Form
Deadline to submit is Friday, May 15, 2009
Questions?
AAMS Community Awards
Attn: Blair Beggan, bbeggan@aams.org
526 King Street, Suite 415, Alexandria, VA 22314
VIA FAX: (703) 836-8920
The PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
AWARD recognizes an emergency medical program (national
or international) that has demonstrated a superior level of patient
care, management prowess, quality leadership through visionary and
innovative approaches, customer service, safety consciousness, marketing
ingenuity, community service and/or commitment to the medical transport
community as a whole.
ELIGIBILITY: The program must have been in
operation for at least 5 years in the emergency medical transport
community (rotor wing, fixed wing, and/or critical care ground),
accident free for the last 12 months, and a current Regular Member of
AAMS.
JUDGING CRITERIA: Number of years in operation,
how the program has worked to be fiscally sound, accident-free for
12 months, customer-service indicators, QA benchmarks, improvements in
reimbursement criteria/revenue generation, and winner or applicant of
other awards. CAMTS certification is highly recommended, but not
required.
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2008 Program of the Year
LifeFlight of Maine
Bangor, ME
Sponsored by American Eurocopter
As the sole provider of emergency air medical services for the
entire state, LifeFlight of Maine is known nationally and
internationally for its innovative ideas and safety conscious approach
to everyday operations. The program has always defined safety as a three
legged stool in which clinical necessity, aeronautic reality and fiscal
responsibility are distinct yet inter-dependent elements that each
support the other legs of the stool. Without equally distributed
support, the stool would collapse.
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The MARRIOTT-CARLSON
AWARD recognizes an individual who has made significant
contributions to the overall enhancement, development, leadership or
promotion of the emergency medical transport community and has been
actively involved or participated in an emergency medical transport
organization.
ELIGIBILITY: Medical, aviation, communication,
management or support personnel (operators, equipment companies, etc.)
who are actively involved in the emergency medical transport community
and are a member of AAMS or employed by an AAMS Member.
JUDGING CRITERIA: Impact on or contribution to the
industry, involvement in community organizations including leadership
positions, the number of years of membership in community organizations,
encouragement of others to join community organizations, and
encouragement of others to promote the emergency medical transport
community.
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2008 Marriott-Carlson Award
Kevin Hutton, MD
Golden Hour Data Systems, Inc.
FARE Chair
Sponsored by Bell Helicopter
Dr. Kevin Hutton is an outstanding leader in our community who has
been involved with so many organizations it is impossible to name them
all. Most recently, Kevin has dedicated countless hours to chairing the
Foundation for Air-Medical Research and Education, or FARE. Under his
leadership, FARE has raised more than one million dollars for research
and education efforts geared toward making the EMS transport community a
safer place for both medical crewmembers and the patients they
serve.
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The BARBARA A. HESS
AWARD recognizes an individual who has significantly
contributed to the enhancement, development and/or promotion of
the emergency medical industry through his/her research and/or
educational efforts.
ELIGIBILITY: Medical, aviation or support
personnel who have published, conducted research or provided quality
education or educational expertise which has contributed to the
emergency medical transport community on a local, regional, national or
international level. The candidate must be employed by a member of
AAMS (either Regular, Affiliate or Associate) or be a Personal Member of
AAMS.
JUDGING CRITERIA: Number of articles, chapters or
books published, number of research abstracts/papers presented, number
of lectures given, membership and participation in industry
associations.
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2008 Barbara A. Hess Award
Denise Landis, RN, MSA, CMTE
Survival Flight
University of Michigan Health Systems
Ann Arbor, MI
Sponsored by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
While the creation of MTLI is her crowning achievement,
Denise’s work with her program, Survival Flight at the University
of Michigan, is her first love. The dedication and affection that her
team feels for her is no small testament to her ability to guide with a
strong hand while showing compassion with an equally strong
heart.
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The JIM CHARLSON AWARD
recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the
overall enhancement, development or promotion of aviation and aviation
safety within the air medical transport community.
ELIGIBILITY: Anyone directly involved in the medical transport
community who has made a contribution which enhanced the safety of a
program, mission, or the medical transport community as a whole.
JUDGING CRITERIA: Demonstration that "Safety comes first,
aviation expertise, membership and participation in community
associations.
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2008 Jim Charlson
Award
Jonathan Godfrey
Children's Hospital
Washington, DC
Sponsored by American Eurocopter
Three years ago, Jonathan was the sole survivor of an air medical
transport that crashed into the Potomac River. This tragedy
spurred him to become even more aware and outspoken about the safety
challenges unique to air medical transport. He developed a
presentation entitled “Maximum Impact: A Story of Survival”
and took it across the country to affect positive change with every
possible flight crew and transport program he could reach.
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The MEDICAL CREW/CREW
MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD recognizes an individual/team
that has made significant contributions to enhance the development or
promote the improvement of patient care in the emergency medical
transport community.
ELIGIBILITY: Medical, aviation, communication,
management or support personnel who are directly involved with the care
and transportation of the sick and/or injured through an AAMS member
program. This may be awarded for an overall patient care
contribution or a particular transport situation/outcome.
JUDGING CRITERIA: Promotion or enhancement of patient
care while maintaining safe and proper transport procedures (not putting
themselves, any other crew members, or the patient at any risk),
clinical expertise, and participation in community associations.
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2008 Medical Crew Member of the Year
Award
Kathy Nichols
West Michigan Air Care
Kalamazoo, MI
Sponsored by American Eurocopter
Kathy has been in charge of medical crew orientation and ongoing
education since the her program’s CAMTS accreditation 14 years
ago. She organizes and instructs the surgical labs and develops written
testing for new medical crew, giving strong, compassionate encouragement
to all she touches.
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The TRANSPORT MECHANIC’S AWARD OF
EXCELLENCE recognizes an individual who has made
significant contributions to the safe operation of medical transport
vehicles or the improvement of safe maintenance procedures of medical
transport vehicles.
ELIGIBILITY: Individuals who are directly involved with the
maintenance operations of vehicles used by members of AAMS.
JUDGING CRITERIA: Number of years in the position, how
the individual has added value to the program through education of the
crew, what improvements the individual has made, how the individual
relates to the staff and community, and staff testimonials. This
individual must have made a direct impact on the safety of a transport
vehicle or implemented a safety program or procedure that enhances the
welfare of the medical team and patients in transport.
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2008 Transport Mechanic’s Award of
Excellence
Glenn "Les" Love
Flight For Life
Milwaukee, WI
Sponsored by AgustaWestland
Les his spent more than a decade of his 34 year career at Flight For
Life as an indispensable team member not only for his skills as a top
notch mechanic but also for his commitment and passion for the important
job he does.
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The FIXED WING AWARD OF
EXCELLENCE recognizes an individual/team that has made
significant contributions to enhance the development or promote the
improvement of patient care and/or safety, specifically in the fixed
wing component of the air medical transport community.
ELIGIBILITY: Medical, aviation, communication or support
personnel who are involved with the safe and professional care and
transportation of the sick and/or injured as a member or employee of a
member in an AAMS fixed wing program. This may be awarded for an
overall patient care contribution or a particular transport
situation/outcome.
JUDGING CRITERIA: Promotion or enhancement of patient care by
maintaining and or enhancing safe and proper transport procedures (not
putting themselves, any other crew members, or the patient at any risk),
professional expertise, and participation in industry associations.
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2008 Fixed Wing Award of
Excellence
Denise Treadwell, CRNP, MSN, CMTE
AirMed International, LLC
Birmingham, AL
Sponsored by LifePort, Inc.
Denise plays a role in almost every crucial decision regarding
growth and direction for her program. Her professional opinion and
business savvy are highly valued by her ever expanding transport
program.
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The CRITICAL CARE GROUND
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE recognizes an individual or team
that has made an outstanding contribution in a dedicated Critical Care
Ground program in any of the following areas: enhancing safety,
education, leadership, patient advocacy by developing or promoting
improvement of patient care in the medical transport community.
ELIGIBILITY: Medical, administrative, communication or support
personnel who are involved with the care and transport of the sick
and/or injured through a dedicated Critical Care Ground
program/service. The CCG Award of Excellence may be awarded for an
overall patient care contribution or a particular transport
situation/outcome. Candidates must be AAMS members or be employed by
members of AAMS.
JUDGING CRITERIA: Promotion or enhancement of safe and proper
transport procedures (not putting themselves, any other crew members, or
the patient at any risk) and/or enhancement of overall conditions under
which transport occurs. The improvement of patient care while
maintaining professional expertise, and participation in industry
associations.
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2008 Critical Care Ground Award of
Excellence
Scott James
Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Hartford, CT
Sponsored by MedBill Resources Corp.
Scott James is currently the nursing director of emergency services
at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. His career
path has taken him to different transport programs in the Hartford
area and afforded him countless opportunities to show that he is a true
entrepreneur in ground care.
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The PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
recognizes an emergency medical program director who has demonstrated a
superior level of knowledge and management prowess, quality leadership
through visionary and innovative approaches, customer service, safety
consciousness, marketing ingenuity, community service and/or commitment
to the emergency medical community as a whole.
ELIGIBILITY: The program director must be
employed by an AAMS voting member program and must have held
this current position for at least two years.
JUDGING CRITERIA: Number of years in the position, how
the program director has made the program fiscally sound, how the
individual has expanded the role or scope of the program, what
improvements the individual has made, how the individual relates to the
staff and community, and staff testimonials.
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2008 Program Director of the Year Award
Jason Schwebach, MBA, MSHA, CMTE
MedCenter Air
Charlotte, NC
Sponsored by Bell Helicopter
Jason is a rock in an industry that has experienced
great turbulence over the past few years. In the five years
that he has been with MedCenter Air, his leadership has refocused
the teams priorities and earned the passionate loyalty of his crew
and community.
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EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE
AWARD Sponsored by 
The AAMS Excellence in Community Service Award recognizes an
emergency medical transport individual OR organization(s) demonstrating
broad-based continuing commitment to their referring/receiving agencies
and/or the communities they serve. The award recipient will
exhibit an outstanding history of leadership or substantial
involvement/partnership in customer or community based project(s) that
contribute to the quality of life within the communities they
serve. Although eligibility requires membership with the
Association of Air Medical Services, the recipient is NOT LIMITED to
practices solely in air or ground medicine. This recipient will have
shown professional and personal values that typify the ideals of "giving
of oneself", and "making a difference in/or enhancing the lives of
others.”
The winner of the Excellence in Community Service Award receives
airfare, hotel accommodations, and conference registration to the AAMS
Spring Conference. If an organization(s) wins the award, one individual
will be determined by the winning organization(s) to receive the
airfare, hotel accommodations and Spring Conference
registration.
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Meet the 2009 AAMS Excellence in Community Service Award Winner -
Children's Medical Center of Dallas
Transport Services...
Children’s Medical Center of Dallas Transport Services has
been named the recipient of the Association of Air Medical Services
(AAMS) 2009 Excellence in Community Service Award. The organization,
located in Dallas, Texas, was honored with this distinction for its
“Know Before You Go” program, which takes a proactive role
in preventing accidental injuries by giving parents and other adults who
care for children actionable water-safety tips and strategies designed
to prevent drowning or near-drownings.
From left to right: Ray Wall, Omniflight Helicopters
(Award Sponsor) and Hector Murillo, RN, Children’s Medical Center
Dallas Transport Services
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PUBLIC SERVICE
AWARD
Sponsored by 
Traditionally given at the Congressional Luncheon at the
AAMS Spring Conference, this award recognizes a legislator, government
official, organization, or individual that has made significant
contributions to the health, viability, or interests of the medical
transport community.
Congratulations to our 2009 Public Service
award Winners for their commitment to EMS and their tireless support of
air medical transport...
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Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
"Senator Klobuchar has proven herself time and time again to be a
political groundbreaker in many ways," said AAMS President Sandy Kinkade
during a March 12 Capitol Hill ceremony honoring the senator and other
AAMS award recipients.
"Before she was ever elected to public office, Senator Klobuchar was
the leading advocate for one of the first laws in the country
guaranteeing 48-hour hospital stays to new moms and their babies," said
Kinkade.
“In addition, she has championed a number of public health and
safety initiatives in her home state, and has demonstrated a keen
interest in the role of technology in enhancing the safety of our
nation’s air medical services. And after only a short time in
public office, she has led the way in the effort to recognize returning
military veterans with military EMS experience as qualifying for
civilian EMS service.”
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From left to right: Jeff Stearns, Mayo Clinic Medical
Transport;
Senator Amy Klobuchar; Gary Wingrove, Mayo Clinic Medical Transport; and
Craig Yale, Air Methods Corp (Award Sponsor)
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Drew Dawson, Director
NHTSA Office of Emergency Medical Services
"Drew Dawson is a dedicated professional who has
devoted his professional life to promoting and advancing emergency
medical services," said AAMS President Sandy Kinkade during a March 12
Capitol Hill ceremony honoring Dawson and other AAMS award
recipients.
Dawson has served in his current position with NHTSA
since 2006. Previously, he served as EMS Director for the state of
Montana, and he is past chair of the National Association of State EMS
Directors (now known as the National Association of State EMS Officials
or NASEMSO).
Under his leadership, NHTSA has supported such projects
as the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS), the National EMS Scope
of Practice Model, EMS Workforce for the 21st Century, and the EMS
Research Agenda.
Most recently, Drew has been a driving force in the
development and organization of the National EMS Advisory Council
(NEMSAC), an industry group that provides input to the Federal
Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS).
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Congratulations to Dr. Ira Blumen
and his research team, winner of the
2008 American Eurocopter Vision
Zero Aviation Safety Award!
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Aviation Safety Award
What have you done to raise the bar for
safety?
Nominations for the 2009 Vision Zero Aviation Safety
Award will open in the summer of 2009. Tell us how you have worked
to achieve a high level of safety. If you are the Vision Zero
Aviation Safety Award winner, American Eurocopter will contribute up to
$10,000 toward your future efforts of promoting safety within your
program.
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