posted October 29, 2025

Steph Suzadail Honored by Association of Air Medical Services

QUARTZSITE, AZ – October 29, 2025 – Air Methods, the nation’s largest air medical services provider, is proud to announce that Flight Nurse Steph Suzadail has been named a recipient of the inaugural “40 Under 40: Rising Leaders in Medical Transport” award, presented by the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS). This prestigious recognition honors Suzadail’s exceptional leadership, dedication, and contributions to the air medical and critical care transport industry.

“I’m incredibly grateful to AAMS and to everyone who chose me for this incredible award,” said Suzadail. “The list of nominees was packed with major industry leaders. Some of them were people who helped me build my career in the beginning. To have my name on the list of finalists, let alone actually win the award, feels surreal.”

Selected from a pool of over 120 highly qualified nominees, Suzadail stood out for her remarkable achievements, clear leadership trajectory, and commitment to advancing the field of critical care transport. The award, judged by a panel of senior industry leaders, celebrates emerging professionals who are shaping the future of medical transport.

“Steph’s dedication to her patients and her team is truly exceptional. She leads by example, always striving for excellence and inspiring those around her to do the same,” said Avi Elpern, Air Methods area manager. “This recognition by AAMS is a testament to her hard work, compassion, and unwavering commitment to advancing the field of critical care transport. We are incredibly proud to have Steph on our team and look forward to seeing her continue to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.”

As part of the “40 Under 40” recognition, Suzadail was honored at AMTC25 in Omaha, NE, where she participated in a roundtable discussion, awards reception, and received a commemorative Rising Leaders medallion. She will be profiled in the Air Medical Transport Journal, the AAMS website, and other industry platforms, joining a network of peers committed to advancing the future of medical transport.

“If anyone takes anything away from this, I want it to be this: hard work matters and people notice even when you feel like they don’t,” said Suzadail. “Never stop getting better, giving back, and reaching for every goal you set for yourself.”

Suzadail brings more than a decade of nursing experience to her role and over two years of dedicated service as a flight nurse with Air Methods. A native of Harrisburg, PA, her journey into emergency medicine began early, volunteering as an EMT in her teens. Her passion for care was further shaped by personal and family experiences—caring for her mother with a rare immune disorder, treating injuries her father sustained as a contractor, and surviving her own medical emergency after suffering a stroke at the age of 23.

“Needless to say, things come full circle,” said Suzadail, who was once transported by air as a patient herself.

As a nationally recognized leader in her field, Suzadail, a former chair of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) EMS Advisory Council, contributes to board exam content, and is one of the most credentialed emergency nurses in the world. She was the 51st person globally to earn all five Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) certifications, and in 2023, she added a sixth—Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN)—during its beta test phase, becoming one of the first to hold all six BCEN credentials.

Suzadail currently serves as a flight nurse based in Quartzsite, AZ, flying with the TriState CareFlight program. She fills critical care nursing needs across the country at various Air Methods bases, ensuring continuity of care in communities in need. Operating as a flying intensive care unit, Air Methods’ crews provide critical care around the clock for emergency medical and trauma situations, including heart attacks, strokes, severe burns, and other life-threatening conditions.