Air Medical Physician Association - AMPA

02/23/2026

DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: MARCH 3

The CCTMC Chuck Sheppard Excellence in Education Award

This award is presented annually to an educator who has demonstrated a passion for education and continued clinical growth, to recognize and honor those dedicated to the enhancement of clinical education in transport medicine.

This award is presented in honor of Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Sheppard, MD, FACEP, who has served as a dedicated leader in providing high-quality education to the CCTMC family and to clinical providers across the country, dating back to the early 1970s. He has impacted thousands of clinicians through presentations, publications, and his activity on multiple committees as well as functioning as a medical director for various transport organizations. The intention of this award is to honor Dr. Sheppard by ensuring that his legacy and recognition of the impact he has had on so many providers will continue to be a part of the CCTMC mission well into the future.

-Eligibility: This award is open to any clinical educator who has dedicated their career to the growth of others in the transport medicine environment
-Award: This award includes a $1,000 honorarium and a plaque commemorating the honor.
-A written nomination must be submitted by the deadline established by March 3rd. Self-nomination is prohibited.
-The written nomination should include a summary demonstrating the nominee’s dedication to education, and two additional letters of recommendation in addition to the nominating party.
-Nominations should be emailed to info@cctmc.net
-Nominations are not limited to those who maintain a full-time position in education but is awarded solely on the information provided regarding the nominee’s impact on clinicians in transport medicine, or transport medicine as an industry, through the delivery of clinical education.

02/18/2026

AMPA thrives because of members who step up to shape its future—and the Membership Team is one of the most impactful ways to do just that. By serving on this committee, you’ll help improve the AMPA member experience, strengthen engagement, welcome new colleagues into the fold, and ensure that AMPA remains responsive to the evolving needs of air medical physicians. Join the Membership Team and play a direct role in growing and sustaining the professional home that advocates for you and your specialty. If you are interested in serving, or would like more information, please email lisa@ampa.org.

02/12/2026

Do you know a physician who goes above and beyond for patients, crews, and the profession?

The Distinguished Physician Award was established in 1993 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. The AMPA Board of Trustees will select the award recipient from nominations of AMPA members submitted by the membership in writing to the AMPA office (lisa@ampa.org) by March 13, 2026.

The recipient will be recognized at the Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference being held April 13-15 in Orange Beach, AL. Learn more about CCTMC: https://ow.ly/5SvX50YemGP

Nominate yourself or a deserving colleague today and help us celebrate excellence in air medicine!

02/10/2026

Registration is open for AMPA's Medical Director Core III Curriculum being held April 12, 2026 in Orange Beach, Alabama (as a CCTMC pre-conference course).

The Core Curriculum is presented in three independent modules, which may be taken in any order. Together, they provide comprehensive instruction based on Principles and Direction of Air Medical Transport, the foundational AMPA publication. These sessions are valuable for new medical directors seeking essential knowledge, as well as experienced physicians looking to deepen their expertise. The program also provides meaningful opportunities for networking and interactive, case-based discussion.

The AMPA Medical Director Core Curriculum is recognized and recommended by CAMTS as the preferred background training for medical directors of critical care transport programs pursuing accreditation or reaccreditation.

Review the agenda and register for Core III: https://ow.ly/2S4V50XxHha
Register for CCTMC: https://ow.ly/ciho50XxHh9

01/28/2026

Now published in Air Medical Journal: Obstetric Transport and Factors Associated With Transport to the Intensive Care Unit.

This study examines over 1,000 obstetric interfacility transports and identifies the clinical and operational factors associated with ICU-level care. While ICU admission was uncommon, patients requiring it had distinct characteristics—including postpartum status, COVID-19 diagnosis, longer transport distances, and more complex pre-transport coordination.

These findings provide valuable insight for transport teams, referring clinicians, and medical directors as they plan resources, triage risk, and optimize care for high-acuity obstetric patients.

📖 Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/jYEE50XXkrK

01/27/2026

We invite our AMPA community to share the January-February edition of the Air Medical Journal with your colleagues. This edition is available for free, providing a great opportunity for potential readers and authors to explore the journal’s scope, tone, and the high-quality content we publish. https://www.airmedicaljournal.com/

Even better, become a member of AMPA - a digital subscription to the Air Medical Journal is one of our member benefits.

01/23/2026

Check out the latest from the Air Medical Journal...

New study in Japan's HEMS: Teams with 2 physicians reduce on-scene time vs. 1, especially in trauma & neurology cases—potentially saving lives by speeding up care!

📉 Key findings: 2-3 min faster on average.

Read more: https://ow.ly/7Zh650XXjSg

01/21/2026

Join us in April! AMPA will be at CCTMC! We hope to see you there!

Don’t miss out on waking up to this view in April! Book your hotel room today!

https://perdidobeachresort.book.pegsbe.com/promo?hotel=PBRAL&accessCode=19742

01/21/2026

Congratulations to the newly named Fellows of the Air Medical Physician Association (FAMPA)! This distinguished honor recognizes members who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, sustained professional excellence, and meaningful contributions to the advancement of air and critical care transport medicine. AMPA is proud to celebrate these outstanding physicians whose dedication strengthens our community and elevates the quality of care we provide. Please join us in applauding this year’s Fellows for their commitment and service:

Garrett A. Cavaliere, DO, FAMPA
Jack B Davidoff, MD, FAAEM, FABDM, FAMPA, EMTP
Frank W. Tift, MD, NRP, FAMPA

Our new fellows will be recognized during AMPA's membership meeting on January 28, 2026 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street (in the Veranda Room). The meeting begins at 12:00PM.

01/15/2026

The Air Medical Physician Symposium (AMPS) is a full day of cutting edge education and discussion. Critical Care transport physicians, medical directors, and clinicians present on various topics and participate in vigorous, interactive panel discussions. The symposium is focused on controversial and clinically relevant issues so that attendees can distill best practices and inform clinical protocols. Speakers are drawn from national and international critical care transport programs.

AMPS (in conjunction with NAEMSP) will be held January 28, 2026 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street (in the Veranda Room). Seven (7) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (accreditation pending). View the agenda and register for AMPS here: https://ow.ly/WCb250XBV3j

Learn more about NAEMSP: https://ow.ly/b8nJ50XBV3k

01/15/2026

Great research coming out of the Air Medical Journal! As a reminder - AMPA members receive free online access to the AMJ. If you need help with access email lisa@ampa.org.
Association of Air Medical Services National EMS Pilots Association Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference International College of Advanced Practice Paramedics

Nonshockable rhythms are not all the same.

A new Air Medical Journal review highlights pseudo-PEA as a distinct, higher-survivability state that often goes unrecognized in the prehospital setting. Palpable pulse checks are unreliable—and without ultrasound, pseudo-PEA is easily misclassified as true PEA.

The takeaway: POCUS enables earlier recognition, more targeted resuscitation, and better-informed decisions about transport and termination. This is a shift from treating “PEA” as a single algorithm to managing physiologically distinct states.

📖 Recognition and Management of Pseudo-Pulseless Electrical Activity in the Prehospital Setting (Air Medical Journal, 2025)

https://www.airmedicaljournal.com/article/S1067-991X(25)00273-1/fulltext

01/13/2026

Spring break with us! AMPA is proud to present the 2026 CCTMC Conference, being held April 13-15 in Orange Beach, Alabama. Mark your calendars and make plans to join us!

Your can register for the conference, submit a presentation proposal, AND reserve your hotel room here: https://ow.ly/TyIg50XAgPh.

CCTMC is brought to you by AMPA, ASTNA (Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association), and I-CAPP (International College of Advanced Practice Paramedics).