PRESS RELEASE: Excellence Takes Center Stage at AMTC in Omaha

Announcing 2025 Community Awards Winners

For Immediate Release
October 29, 2025
Contact: Blair Beggan, VP, Communications - bbeggan@aams.org

OMAHA, Neb. — On Tuesday, October 28, the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) proudly recognized the outstanding achievements of individuals and programs across the emergency medical transport industry during the 2025 Community Awards presentation at the Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) in Omaha, Nebraska. The AMTC Awards Celebration—sponsored by Golden Hour—honored excellence, innovation, and impact across a range of categories.

AAMS is pleased to announce the 2025 Community Award recipients:

Program of the Year – Sponsored by Airbus

Boston MedFlight
Bedford, Massachusetts

Recognized for exceptional patient care, visionary leadership, safety, community service, and a steadfast commitment to the medical transport community.

Marriott-Carlson Lifetime Achievement Award – Sponsored by Bell

Jacqueline C. Stocking, PhD, MBA, MSN, NEA-BC, CMTE,
CEN, CFRN, FP-C, CCP-C, RN, NRP, FAASTN
UC Davis Health
Sacramento, California

Honored for a career of transformative contributions to the advancement and leadership of emergency medical transport.

Jim Charlson Safety Award – Sponsored by Life Flight Network

Eric Thresher
Air Methods
Jacksonville, North Carolina

Celebrated for advancing safety culture and practices within the air and critical care ground transport community.

Neonatal/Pediatric Transport Award of Excellence – Sponsored by Airborne

Dr. Kelli Lund and the University of Utah AirMed Neonatal Team
Salt Lake City, Utah

Recognized for outstanding contributions to neonatal and pediatric transport care, safety, and advocacy.

Transport Mechanic Award of Excellence – Sponsored by Leonardo

Eric Scoggins
Air Methods / UNC Health - Carolina Air Care
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Honored for excellence in maintaining and enhancing the safety of medical transport vehicles.

AAMS Excellence in Transport Leadership Award

Leanne Reaves, MSN, RN, CMTE, LIFT-C, CEN
UNC Health - Carolina Air Care
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Recognized for visionary leadership, operational excellence, and unwavering dedication to the transport community.

NEW: Eileen Frazer Spark Award – Sponsored by AAMS and CAMTS 

Kevin Rixmann, CCRN, CFRN, CSC, NRP
Life Link III
Shoreview, Minnesota

Inaugural recipient of this award honoring bold vision and emerging leadership in out-of-hospital patient care.

AAMS Community Impact Award

LifeMed Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska

Recognized for expanding access, improving equity, and strengthening the future of medical transport in their region.

AAMS Making a Difference Award

Posthumously awarded to Dr. Gregory Powell
Founder of STARS
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Honored for a legacy of life-saving innovation and dedication to patient outcomes.

AAMS Rising Spirit Award

Sacramento Good Samaritans

Recognized bystanders who showed remarkable bravery by rushing to help and working together to lift a downed air medical aircraft and free a trapped crew member earlier this month in California—an act of true heroism.

Congratulations to all the 2025 Community Award honorees! Your work continues to elevate the standard of care and inspire the future of medical transport.

 

###

Established in 1980, the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) is an international trade association headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area. AAMS is a non-profit 501C (6) trade association that represents and advocates on behalf of the critical care transport industry to enhance their ability to deliver quality, safe, and effective medical care and medical transportation for every patient in-need.