TGH Aeromed

03/29/2026

🚁💙 Strengthening Partnerships. Enhancing Safety. Saving Lives. 💛

Over the past three weeks, TGH Aeromed has had the privilege of partnering with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, to deliver comprehensive landing zone (LZ) training across Stations 2, 44, and 46—reaching every shift within these high-performing teams.

Each session was designed to be both clinically relevant and operationally practical, beginning with a focused review of:
• Appropriate utilization of air medical transport
• Early activation through standby requests
• Weather considerations and flight decision-making
• Aircraft capabilities and limitations
• LZ selection, hazard identification, and scene safety
• Key components of an effective LZ briefing to flight crews

These discussions were followed by live aircraft operations, allowing crews to apply concepts in real time and engage directly with our flight team during hands-on Q&A at the aircraft.

And of course, no training would be complete without Walker Valor, delivering morale support in the form of full-body waggles and well-earned kisses—quickly becoming a favorite among the crews.

What stood out most was the engagement. Every crew brought thoughtful questions, shared experiences, and contributed to meaningful dialogue that strengthens interagency coordination.

Training and collaboration like this are critical. They ensure safer operations, more efficient scene management, and ultimately, improved patient outcomes when minutes matter most.

A sincere thank you to the entire team at Hillsborough County Fire Rescue for your partnership, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.

📸 Special thanks to Ricky (Instagram: ) for capturing outstanding photos during last week’s training at Station 46. Head to IG and check out the work of this incredibly talented photographer!

03/28/2026

🚁💙 TGH Aeromed at Bustin’ Clays with Polk County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Grady Judd💛🎯

This morning, members from across the Aeromed program…Metro aviation pilots, flight crew, Communications Specialists, and Ground crew, showed up to the 18th Annual Bustin’ Clays with Sheriff Grady Judd ready to represent.

Now, in the spirit of Sheriff Judd… there was a whole lot of confidence expressed early and often, followed by some very humbling interactions with flying clay targets 🎯

But in between the “I got this” and the “well… that one didn’t count,” there was plenty of laughter, strong teamwork, and a great time supporting Polk County Sheriff’s Charities and the communities we serve every day🏅🏆🥉

Whether we’re in the air, on the ground, or behind the scenes in communications, we show up together, and today was no different.

And let’s just say… a few of our team members proved they’re better with a radio than a shotgun…and we’re perfectly okay with that 🤣😂

03/28/2026

💙💛🚁

This is exactly why we fought for SB388.

Before that bill became law, injured police K9s in Florida could not be treated or transported by EMS. Even in critical situations. Even when their survival depended on immediate care.

That never sat right with us.

We fought and advocated alongside Senator Tom Wright to get SB388 across the finish line, and we were honored to be present when Governor Ron DeSantis signed it into law. These dogs deserve the same chance at survival as their human partners.

Now we are seeing that work move beyond paper and into practice.

Alongside Survival Flight, Tampa General is stepping up. More programs are recognizing that these are not just animals. They are officers. They are partners. They are family.

This is what advocacy looks like.

Change the law.
Strengthen the system.
Protect the K9s who protect us.

03/23/2026

03/21/2026

🚁💙Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Cathy Carrubba💛

Today, with incredibly heavy hearts, we honor the life and legacy of the one and only Dr. Cathy Carrubba.

Dr. Carrubba was the visionary founder of TGH Aeromed; the driving force behind its creation in March of 1989, with the very first flight taking place on April 1st. What she built was far more than a transport service…she created a standard of excellence, a culture of accountability, and a family rooted in purpose. Aeromed exists today because of her vision, her grit, and her unwavering belief in what this team could become.

She was not simply a physician. She was a mentor who shaped careers, a confidant who offered steady guidance, and a fierce advocate for both her patients and her people. She led with strength and conviction, never hesitating to challenge us when we needed it most; always with the intention of making us better. And she did. Every single one of us who had the privilege of working alongside her is better because of her.

Dr. Carrubba’s impact on medicine and EMS is immeasurable. She published extensively across medical and research journals and was instrumental in developing evidence-based protocols that continue to guide care today. She served as Medical Director not only for TGH Aeromed, but also for Tampa Fire Rescue and the Hillsborough County Mass Casualty Program. She was board certified in both adult and pediatric emergency medicine and played a foundational role in shaping the future of EMS education as a founding force behind the USF EMS Fellowship in both 2007 and 2012.

Her leadership extended nationally. She was deeply involved in both the Air Medical Physicians Association, where she was honored as the 2016 Medical Director of the Year, and the National Association of EMS Physicians. Her expertise and passion for emergency medicine even reached the public eye, as she was featured in Trauma: Life in the ER (Season 6, Episode 1, aired September 10, 2001).

But beyond her titles and accomplishments, Dr. Carrubba was something even greater. She was described as a “supermom,” a superhero to many, an exceptionally selfless and forward-thinking leader whose presence alone was naturally commanding. She had a profound and lasting impact on countless lives…leaving behind what can only be described as an extraordinary legacy.

Even after her retirement in 2016, Dr. Carrubba never truly left Aeromed. She remained a constant presence; joining us for holidays, celebrations, and quiet moments in between…reminding us that Aeromed was never just a program to her. It was home.

To know Dr. Cathy Carrubba was to love her. She was, and will always remain, the pinnacle of Aeromed.

Her impact extends far beyond our program. She was an icon within Tampa General Hospital, Emergency Medicine, Tampa EMS, and the state of Florida; and a nationally recognized leader in the air medical community as an original founding member of AMPA. Her influence helped shape the very foundation of our industry.

Our hearts are broken as we mourn this profound loss. But even in our grief, we are grounded in gratitude…for her leadership, her friendship, and the legacy she leaves behind.

We will forever honor her.
We will carry her standards forward.
We will continue to build upon the foundation she created.

Her spirit will live on in every flight, every patient, and every member of this team.

Our love and prayers are with all who knew and loved her…especially her family, and our entire TGH and Aeromed family.

03/19/2026

🚁💙 National Certified Nurses Day | Honoring Excellence in Aeromed 💛

Today we celebrate the dedication, discipline, and clinical excellence of certified nurses — those who choose to go beyond the standard in pursuit of mastery.

At TGH Aeromed, that commitment is our culture.

While certification is not required until one year after hire, we are proud to share that the overwhelming majority of our Flight Nurses — including all new hires — already hold their CFRN, with 100% of our nursing team, including our ground RNs, holding an advanced certification.

The CFRN is one of the most rigorous certifications in transport medicine, requiring advanced expertise across critical care, trauma, neonatal/pediatric transport, and the unique challenges of flight physiology. It is not easily earned — and that’s exactly what makes it meaningful.

And while today we celebrate our nurses, this same standard extends across our team — with 100% of our Flight Paramedics holding their FP-C, and many of our ground paramedics achieving this advanced certification as well.

Across air and ground, this is what excellence looks like.

✨ To all certified nurses — thank you for your commitment to growth, your pursuit of excellence, and the care you provide every single day.

03/18/2026

Thank you for the hospitality, TGH Brooksville & TGH Spring Hill! We can’t wait to do it again!

03/14/2026

With spring break and prom season approaching, students at East Lake High School got an all too real look at what can happen when someone drinks and drives.

03/13/2026

Thank you East Lake Fire Rescue and East Lake High for allowing us to take part in such a powerful, important demonstration for your students!

03/12/2026

🚁💙 Thank You for an Incredible 2nd Aeromed Academy 💛🐾

We are so grateful to everyone who helped make our second Aeromed Academy such a huge success. From the participants, to our instructors, to the incredible leadership and team at TGH Brooksville & TGH Spring Hill who hosted us…this day was truly a team effort and we could not have done it without all of you.

The day was packed with hands-on education and collaboration, including K9 care and transport training, advanced airway management, skills stations, and a lung lab, giving participants the opportunity to build and refine critical lifesaving skills.

A highlight of the day was the resiliency presentation by Carol Lansford, Executive Director of Valor Service Dogs, and Alisha Burnett, Aeromed Program Manager, focusing on how service dogs and their handlers recognize and overcome stressors; and why first responders should adopt the same principles. When we learn to recognize stress and develop healthy recovery behaviors, we become masters of recovery, building the resiliency needed for longevity in our careers.

Of course, no Aeromed Academy would be complete without time spent with Walker Valor and her best friend Goose Valor, who reminded us all why service dogs are such powerful partners in healing and resilience. 🐾

Participants walked away with new knowledge and skills, 9 CE hours, a special edition Aeromed Academy t-shirt, and more…completely free of cost.

At Aeromed, we believe education is a gift, and we are proud to make it accessible to everyone in our community.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this day so meaningful. Stay tuned for our next Aeromed Academy date! 🚁💙

ValorServiceDogs WalkerValor GooseValor

03/10/2026

🎉🚁 Happy Birthday to our March Aeromed Crew Members! 💙💛

Please join us in celebrating the incredible Aeromed team members with birthdays this month! Each of you plays an important role in the mission we carry out every day—providing exceptional care to our patients, supporting our partners, and looking out for one another as a team.

Your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the communities we serve make Aeromed stronger every single day. We are grateful to have such an outstanding group of clinicians, pilots, dispatchers, and support staff on this team.

We hope your birthdays are filled with celebration, appreciation, and maybe even a shift where the tones stay quiet. 🎂🚁

Not pictured: Taylor Graham, Ground Paramedic, and Jose Velez, Ground Paramedic — who somehow managed to dodge the camera but definitely not their birthday shoutout. 📸😄

💙 Happy Birthday to our March Aeromed family!