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STAT MedEvac AIRPod – Mental Health Awareness for the Front Lines

STAT MedEvac, Allegheny County Medical Society, The Code Green Campaign

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, making it an important time to focus on the mental health and well-being of those who spend their careers caring for others. On this episode of the STAT MedEvac AirPod, R.J. Morrison of Morrison Enterprises and The Code Green Campaign joins Dr. Vint Blackburn of the Allegheny County Medical Society’s Physician Wellness Program to discuss mental health awareness among healthcare professionals and first responders. Together, they address the challenges of stigma, the importance of recognizing when help is needed, and the resources available to support those on the front lines.

STAT MedEvac AIRPod – Mental Health Awareness for the Front Lines2026-09-24T15:44:32-04:00

Reflections: National Aviation Week 2026

National Aviation Week is celebrated August 19 – 25 each year, beginning on National Aviation Day, also the birthday of Orville Wright, a flight pioneer. Aerospace of all kinds is recognized throughout the week, from the first flight in 1903 to modern space travel.  

At STAT MedEvac, we take this week to show extra appreciation for our pilots, mechanics and aviation communication specialists, who use helicopter technology to safely transport patients requiring critical care.  For this blog post, we specifically focus on pilots.  

Everyone’s story starts somewhere. For John Guazzo, a STAT MedEvac training pilot for EC-145 and EC135-T2 helicopters, an interest in aeronautics found him at a very early age.  

“I was always into anything that flew,” Guazzo said. “As a kid, I built model rockets and remote-control airplanes, airplane model kits, kites, etcetera. If it had wings, I was interested.” 

Guazzo […]

Reflections: National Aviation Week 20262026-08-21T12:54:17-04:00

Welcome our new Hires July 2026

Summer is in full swing, and we have even more reason to celebrate! We’re excited to introduce the new members of the STAT MedEvac team.

ME 18, Adam Amraoui Flight Paramedic ME 10, Brian Burham Flight Nurse ME 17

Front Row – Left to right: Christina Kopnitsky Flight Nurse ME 9, Autumn Bigley Flight Nurse ME 17, Taylor Richer Flight Paramedic ME 15

Welcome our new Hires July 20262026-07-22T13:21:34-04:00

STAT AirPod: Using A.I. to Assist with Prehospital Triage – Part 2

STAT MedEvac Podcast

This is a follow-up to the previous podcast with Aaron Weidman, MA, PhD from the UPMC Emergency Medicine Research department.  This follow-up conversation explains the updated real-world implementation of the research project.  Prehospital care providers, in ambulances and helicopters, will be mic’d to help with the machine learning as well as eventual chart documentation.

STAT AirPod: Using A.I. to Assist with Prehospital Triage – Part 22026-07-21T22:37:00-04:00

Marion Jones Honored with the Jim Flaherty Excellence of Service Award

Pictured: Charlene Malecki, Hollee Russell, Marion Jones, Jim Houser

 

This month, Marion Jones was honored with the Jim Flaherty Excellence of Service Award.

The Jim Flaherty Excellence of Service Award recognizes a STAT MedEvac medical crew member who demonstrates exceptional service, innovation, leadership, and dedication to the organization, community, and profession.  

Nominees: 

  • Have at least five years of service and demonstrate a strong commitment to service through volunteer work or public service.  
  • Exhibit leadership by mentoring new employees and supporting staff morale, while showing innovation and contributing ideas that improve productivity, efficiency, and system performance through the My Idea program. 

Marion consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication to advancing the mission of STAT MedEvac. Through her forward-thinking approach, she improves operational efficiency, enhances patient care processes, and supports safe, high-quality care across the organization. She works tirelessly to balance the needs of leadership and frontline […]

Marion Jones Honored with the Jim Flaherty Excellence of Service Award2026-06-23T09:58:42-04:00

STAT MedEvac Expands Access to Advanced Critical Care Transport Throughout Northcentral Pennsylvania

STAT MedEvac is proud to expand access to advanced critical care transport throughout Northcentral Pennsylvania with the official launch of helicopter operations at UPMC Muncy.

On June 1, STAT MedEvac and UPMC leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of STAT MedEvac 19, a new helicopter base that will enhance emergency response capabilities for patients across Lycoming County and the surrounding region.

The addition of STAT MedEvac 19 strengthens our commitment to delivering rapid, high-quality critical care to patients when and where it is needed most. Staffed by a pilot, flight nurse, and flight paramedic, the aircraft is equipped to begin advanced medical treatment as soon as the crew reaches a patient. The service supports both scene responses and interfacility transports, helping connect patients more quickly to trauma centers, stroke care, cardiac services, and other specialized treatment resources.

“Today’s launch is an important milestone for emergency care in Northcentral Pennsylvania,” […]

STAT MedEvac Expands Access to Advanced Critical Care Transport Throughout Northcentral Pennsylvania2026-06-23T09:46:36-04:00

STAT MedEvac Recognizes Off-Duty Heroism

Recently, STAT MedEvac had the opportunity to recognize one of our team members for his heroic actions while off duty. While shopping with his family at Walmart, Michael Bedner responded to a medical emergency by performing CPR and helping save a life. We are grateful for his dedication to serving the public both on and off duty.

Pictured: Justin Renda from Outreach, Michael Bedner, ME1, and Jim Houser, CEM

STAT MedEvac Recognizes Off-Duty Heroism2026-06-15T17:06:53-04:00

Congratulations Jeffrey Pesarick

We are thrilled to recognize Jeffrey Pesarick, a dedicated Flight Paramedic with STAT MedEvac ME5 Fayette County, on his recent achievement of earning a PhD in Epidemiology.

Jeffrey’s commitment to advancing his education while continuing to serve patients and communities through critical care transport is a true reflection of the passion, professionalism, and dedication embodied by our crews every day. His accomplishment not only represents years of hard work and perseverance but also highlights the important connection between frontline patient care and the ongoing advancement of public health and medical research.

Rostraver West Newton Emergency Services shared a touching tribute to Jeffrey’s accomplishments that we wanted to share: “We wish to extend our profound congratulations and heartfelt appreciation to Jeffrey Pesarsick, a truly exceptional individual whose dedication has left an indelible mark on our community and nation. 

Jeffrey’s commitment to service is a cornerstone of his remarkable career. For many years, […]

Congratulations Jeffrey Pesarick2026-06-02T18:41:21-04:00

CPR & AED Awareness Week

As first responders and critical care healthcare providers, we understand the importance of early CPR and the use of AEDs. One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding CPR and AED use is that only healthcare professionals or first responders should intervene during a cardiac emergency. As we all know, bystander intervention is often the deciding factor in whether someone survives.

CPR & AED Awareness Week serves as an important reminder that anyone, regardless of medical background, can make a life-saving difference by learning CPR and how to use an AED.

  • Each year, more than 350,000 EMS-assessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur nationwide.
  • According to the American Heart Association, nearly 90% of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital don’t survive.
  • Immediate CPR and rapid use of an AED can double or even triple the patient’s chance of survival. Even hands-only CPR can significantly improve outcomes.

The importance of CPR & AED Awareness […]

CPR & AED Awareness Week2026-06-02T13:11:53-04:00

PEMF Wants Your Uncommon or Unique Patient Care Experiences

STAT MedEvac is a proud supporter of the Pittsburgh Emergency Medicine Foundation. We have also been recipients of research grants over the years. Given that, we are and is eager to share the current EMS Case Report Grant Program that PEMF is currently working promoting.

The EMS Case Report Grant Program is designed to support and encourage prehospital clinicians, in Western Pennsylvania, to participate in research. The program aims to empower EMTs, paramedics, flight nurses, flight paramedics, and other EMS professionals to document and share unique or uncommon patient care experiences through peer-reviewed case reports.

Eligible applicants may have cared for patients with rare conditions, provided treatment in unusual environments, or encountered atypical responses to standard care that required specialized skills, equipment, or protocols. Through the program, clinicians partner with a local emergency physician to gather medical records, draft a manuscript, and submit their case report to a scientific journal. Submissions are […]

PEMF Wants Your Uncommon or Unique Patient Care Experiences2026-06-01T22:21:49-04:00
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