ASSOCIATION OF AIR MEDICAL SERVICES

Leading and Serving Transport Medicine

Press Release: September 26, 2025

Annual recognition of excellence and leadership in emergency medical transport 

Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) and the Awards Ceremony Sponsor, Golden Hour, are excited to announce the nominees for the 2025 Community Awards to be presented during the 2025 Air Medical Transport Conference in Omaha, Nebraska.

"AAMS is honored to spotlight the best in medical transport through this unique recognition opportunity," said Jana Williams, AAMS President and CEO. "We’re inspired by this year’s nominees and thrilled to celebrate all of our finalists ahead of the winner announcements in Omaha.”

Please join us on Tuesday, October 28th at 3:30 pm CST at the CHI Health Center to celebrate our community. Enjoy cookies and milk while we reveal the recipients of the 2025 Community Awards, as well as recognize various professional association annual award winners. All AMTC25 attendees are encouraged to join us.

Below are the finalists for the 2025 Community Awards:

Program of the Year, sponsored by Airbus

Honors an emergency medical transport service that exemplifies excellence in patient care, leadership, safety, innovation, and community impact.

• Boston MedFlight, Massachusetts
• Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services Air Rescue Program, Florida
• Children’s Mercy Critical Care Transport, Kansas
• Corewell Health Aero Med and North Flight Aero Med, Michigan
• HALO-Flight, Inc., Texas
• Life Link III, Minnesota
• STARS, Calgary, Alberta Canada
• UNC Carolina Air Care, North Carolina

Marriott-Carlson Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Bell

Honors an individual for outstanding contributions to the growth, leadership, and promotion of the emergency medical transport community through active involvement.

• Martin Arkus, Apollo Medflight
• Clinton Burley, Healthnet Aeromedical Services
• Linda Meiner, PHI Air Medical
• The late Dr. Greg Powell, STARS
• Jacqueline Stocking, Air Medical Journal

Jim Charlson Safety Award

Recognizes a team, organization, or individual for advancing safety in air and critical care ground transport through impactful contributions and leadership.

• Joe Hand, Arkansas Children’s Hospital – Angel One Transport
• Arron Paduaevans
• Matt Schanz, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
• Erik Thresher, Air Methods

Neonatal/Pediatric Transport Award of Excellence, sponsored by

AirBorne

Honors a team for exceptional contributions to neonatal/pediatric transport through leadership, safety, education, or advocacy that improves patient care.

• Ashley Cozzocrea, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
• Children’s Nebraska Neonatal-Pediatric Critical Care Transport
• Dr. Kelli Lund and the University of Utah AirMed Neonatal Team
• Nicole Magers, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
• Aris Scott, BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS)
• Seattle Children’s Critical Care Transport Team
• UNC Carolina Air Care Pediatric/Neonatal Specialty Team

Transport Mechanic Award of Excellence, sponsored by Leonardo

Honors an individual for advancing the safe operation or maintenance of medical transport vehicles through impactful maintenance procedures.

• Russell Bradberry, Air Methods/Care Flight
• Leon Gerardi, Med Trans/Erlanger Life Force
• Tyler Lietz, Air Methods/St. Louis Children’s Hospital
• Eric Scoggins, Air Methods/UNC Carolina Air Care
• Stanley Shepherd, Arkansas Children’s Hospital – Angel One Transport
• Dave Vasquez, Med Trans/Akron Children’s Hospital

Excellence in Transport Leadership Award 

Honors a leader in air and ground critical care transport for exceptional knowledge, visionary leadership, safety, innovation, and commitment to the medical transport community.

• Julia Azua, CSI Aviation
• Chris Baker and Jamie August, Seattle Children’s Hospital Critical Care Transport Team
• John Kelvin Garcia, United States Air Force
• Robert Grabowski, Children’s Nebraska
• Chris Naples, BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS)
• Travis L. Patterson, HALO-Flight, Inc.
• Amber Payne-Gregory, Air Med International
• Leanne Reaves, UNC Carolina Air Care
• Rob Schlamp, BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS)

NEW!

Eileen Frazer Spark Award, presented in partnership with CAMTS

Celebrates bold vision and emerging leadership in out-of-hospital care. Honors an individual early in their career whose innovative idea or initiative has the potential to reshape the medical transport landscape—echoing Eileen Frazer’s pioneering work in founding CAMTS. 

• Amy Ball, Norton Healthcare
• Maryann Peterson, Cohen Children’s Medical Center
• Kevin Rixmann, Life Link III

AAMS Community Impact Award

Recognizes a team, organization, or individual for outstanding contributions that expand access, improve equity, strengthen services, and gives hope for the future of transport medicine. 

• Enterprise Rescue
• LifeMed Alaska
• Primary Care Flight Paramedic (PCFP) and Advanced Care Flight Paramedic (ACFP) Program

NEW! 

AAMS 40 Under 40 Rising Leaders Awards

Presented to young professionals driving innovation and excellence in air medical transport. The 40 Under 40 award celebrates emerging leaders advancing patient care, safety, and operations.

Finalists will be announced shortly under separate cover - stay tuned!

Join us on Tuesday in Omaha to hear the winners first-hand and celebrate the 2025 Award Winners with your colleagues.

Special thanks to our event sponsor,

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Established in 1980, the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) is an international trade association headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area. AAMS is a non-profit 501C (6) trade association that represents and advocates on behalf of the critical care transport industry to enhance their ability to deliver quality, safe, and effective medical care and medical transportation for every patient in-need.