Air medical program hosts event to commemorate milestone anniversary

Stillwater, OK – Oct. 10, 2025 – Emergency air medical program MediFlight of Oklahoma held a celebration on Oct. 3 in honor of its 45 years of lifesaving service to the people of central Oklahoma. The event brought representatives from Mercy Hospital, Stillwater Medical Center, Hillcrest Cushing Hospital, Norman Regional Hospital, Saint Anthony’s Hospital, University of Oklahoma Medical Center, and EMSSTAT ambulance together with current and former crew members for an evening of fond memories and a forward look at the exciting future of the program.

“As we celebrate the 45^th anniversary of MediFlight, it is crucial to recognize the former crew members who came in the decades before,” said MediFlight Paramedic Chase Boyd. “They cultivated a culture of safety, patient advocacy, and high standards. They paved the way for us to be successful, and it is truly an honor to wear the MediFlight brand on my uniform.”

Along with its sister bases from Tulsa Life Flight in Pryor and Okmulgee, Stillwater-based MediFlight of Oklahoma is part of Air Methods, the leading air medical provider in the United States. Their helicopters function as flying ICUs, carrying the equipment and medications needed to save lives in emergency situations. Their industry-leading flight nurses and paramedics are trained to provide critical care to patients suffering from trauma due to accidents, cardiac and stroke events, high-risk obstetric emergencies, and more.

They carry whole blood on board that can be administered in flight to patients suffering from severe blood loss and at risk for hemorrhagic shock. MediFlight of Oklahoma and Tulsa Life Flight are the state’s only air medical programs carrying whole blood, which carries oxygen around the body more efficiently and has greater clotting capability than separate blood products.

“If you do nothing else in life, recognize the huge impact you’ve made in so many people’s lives,” Dr. Juan Nalagan, medical director with Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, told the crew during his remarks. “You descend from the sky like angels to help people at their worst times. That is a rare opportunity in life, and you all do it with each flight. Be proud of what you do and your enormous contribution during our time on Earth. You have made a difference.”

Air Methods is committed to providing air medical services to all members of the communities it serves and is in-network with most major health insurance providers across the country for emergency air medical services. Additionally, their patient advocacy program works with all patients, regardless of insurance, to ensure affordability while making pre-paid air medical membership unnecessary.