03/03/2026
Safety in the sky starts long before takeoff. ✈️
Today, Southwest Michigan Center for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine's Dr. Justin Sybesma stepped out of the operating room and into the classroom at Andrews University Aviation's Annual Safety Stand-down.
In addition to serving patients as an Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Sybesma is also a pilot and Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). His unique perspective bridges two high-performance worlds: medicine and aviation.
As you can see in this video, Dr. Sybesma spent the morning speaking with aviation students about the physiological realities of flight - including hypoxia, decompression, and the medical factors that can directly impact pilot safety. As an AME, he works closely with pilots navigating the often stressful medical certification process - an essential step toward earning ratings and realizing their dreams.
The Safety Stand-down brought together an impressive roster of aviation leaders - from airline captains and designated pilot examiners to counselors and program directors - all united around one mission: strengthening safety culture through education, awareness, and resilience.
We’re proud to see Dr. Sybesma sharing his expertise beyond the clinic - investing in the next generation of pilots and reinforcing the importance of health, leadership, and safety at every altitude.