03/31/2026
AMPA’s Distinguished Physician of the Year award is intended to recognize a physician who has significantly contributed to the Air Medicine profession and to recognize lifetime achievement and service to the Air Medical community. Among several highly qualified nominees, Jason Cohen, DO, FACEP, FCCM, FAEMS of Boston MedFlight was selected by AMPA’s Board of Trustees to receive the 2026 Distinguished Physician of the Year Award. The award will be presented during the Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 8:00AM in the Grand Ballroom of the Perdido Beach Resort.
As Chief Medical Officer of Boston MedFlight, Dr. Cohen leads a respected critical care transport medicine program. Under his leadership, the organization has significantly expanded its capabilities in caring for critically ill neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients while maintaining the highest standards of safety, education, and operational performance. Dr. Cohen has strengthened the program by fostering a culture defined by rigorous training, thoughtful protocol development, and continuous quality improvement. His leadership reinforces the principle that critical care transport medicine is not simply a logistical bridge between hospitals, but rather an extension of intensive care delivered wherever patients need it.
Dr. Cohen’s influence extends well beyond the organization he leads. He has played an important role in shaping the national standards and professional framework of transport medicine. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). Through this work, he contributes directly to the development and oversight of the expectations that define excellence in aeromedical transport systems. In addition, Dr. Cohen previously served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Critical Care Transport (ACCT), an organization dedicated to advancing education, collaboration, and research within the critical care transport community. His leadership in these organizations reflects a deep commitment to strengthening the field as a whole and ensuring that best practices are disseminated broadly across transport programs.
Dr. Cohen has also created a Critical Care Transport Medicine track available to EMS Fellows from three fellowship programs, allowing interested fellows to gain hands-on experience functioning as critical care transport clinicians while learning the operational, clinical, and systems-based aspects of aeromedical medicine. This initiative provides a meaningful pathway for EMS physicians to develop expertise in transport medicine and helps cultivate the next generation of physician leaders in the specialty.
Dr. Cohen’s influence is equally evident in his scholarly work. He has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications addressing key issues in emergency medicine, critical care, and transport operations. Notably, he served on the Society of Critical Care Medicine Task Force that produced the landmark publication Interfacility Transport of Critically Ill Patients in Critical Care Medicine. This comprehensive review synthesizes decades of research and provides guidance for improving the safety, structure, and clinical capabilities of transport systems caring for critically ill patients. Participation in this national task force reflects Dr. Cohen’s standing as a recognized expert in the science and practice of critical care transport.
Dr. Cohen’s leadership is also shaped by his longstanding service as a Colonel in the United States Army Reserve, where he has contributed to military medical readiness and combat casualty care. His military experience reinforces the principles of preparation, operational discipline, and team performance under pressure that are essential to both military and civilian critical care transport systems.
Dr. Cohen embodies the qualities that define exceptional physician leadership: vision, humility, intellectual rigor, and an unwavering commitment to improving patient care. His contributions to our specialty are substantial, enduring, and deserving of the highest recognition. AMPA enthusiastically congratulates Dr. Jason Cohen, our 2026 Distinguished Physician of the Year.
