Michael Merwin BSN, RN, PHRN, CFRN STAT MedEvac 6 Years of Service – 5 Mike has a very special STAT MedEvac story. In 2011, Michael was in a bad motocross accident and was flown by STAT MedEvac to UPMC Presbyterian.  He had surgery to fix a badly broken femur.   Mike was just starting college to major in meteorology.   He spent that time in the hospital deciding he wanted to change his major to nursing. His goal was to be that nurse on the helicopter!  As you can see, he reached his goal, and has been flying for over 5 years now!! Mike also works part time in ..read more

  Ian Kolmaister, FP-C STAT MedEvac 10 Years of Service – 3 Fun facts: Ian wrestled in college. He is a former competitive bodybuilder! Ian bakes breads / sourdough from scratch. He is a musician/vocalist and has recorded an album and a couple singles for a new music project!! Ian likes to backpack.  He has hit 6 states, both coasts, 3 regions, and multiple national/state parks and forests ..read more

Clinicians for Climate Action launched a campaign to significantly improve healthcare sustainability at UPMC, the largest healthcare system in Pennsylvania. Our guest, Dr. Isabela Angelelli is the Co-Chair for Clinicians for Climate Action.  The current focus of her work in the environmental world includes trees as a public health intervention and efforts to decrease the carbon footprint of regional healthcare systems ..read more

  This month we raise awareness and understanding about alcohol abuse and its impact on your health. More than 140,000 people die every year from alcohol misuse, making it one of the leading causes of preventable deaths.   The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence started Alcohol Awareness Month in April of 1987 with the intention of targeting college-aged students who might be drinking too much, as part of their newfound freedom while away at school. It has since become a national movement to draw more attention to the stigma surrounding alcoholism and how to help fami ..read more

  Dan Romaniello Sr. EMT – Critical Care Ground Years of Service – 7 Dan started working in Emergency Services in 2009, becoming a Firefighter/ EMT as well as a Dept. Of Homeland Security/ FEMA instructor He enjoys spending time with his family, especially his nephews. Dan likes watching his nephews competing at their sporting events. Pictured with Dan are his nephews, sister, brother-in-law, mom and step-dad ..read more

STAT MedEvac has been carrying blood on it’s helicopters and ground units for years.  How the blood is obtained, stored and inventoried is explained by STAT’s Medical Director Dr. Frank Guyette. It’s a very efficient system ..read more

Matt Horton, NRP Outreach Coordinator – Ohio, West Virginia, and Mercer County, Pennsylvania Former Flight Paramedic – MedEvac 15 15 years of service Matt lives in Shadyside, OH with his wife Jane Anne, and 2 girls Emma and Campbell. Matt started his EMS/Firefighter training in his junior year of High School and has 25 years of experience working in the field. Matt has also been a certified EMS instructor for 11 years. Fun Fact – Matt is the first of three “Hortons” to be employed by STAT MedEvac. In Matt’s spare time he rescues and rehabilitates hook billed birds in the hopes of them bein ..read more

  What’s your morning routine look like? Most would say that it involves pouring themselves a cup of coffee. Sometimes even two or three, depending on the morning and needing that extra energy, but as we’ve heard in the past and continue to study, caffeine is something we should tread lightly with. Since March is Caffeine Awareness Month, now would be a good time to discuss, how much is too much?  Based on studies, up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day is safe for most healthy adults. That is four cups of coffee, ten cans of cola or two energy drinks a day, all depending on the caf ..read more

Glenn Shields Line Pilot – STAT MedEvac 5 Years of Service – 14 Glenn went to Initial Entry Rotary Wing flight school with STAT MedEvac Regional Aviation Manager Bill Horner in 1999. He spent half of his STAT career in the training department. In the pictures are his wife Amy, sons Logan and Liam. Glenn says his boys would be disappointed if he didn’t include a picture of their dog Minnie ..read more

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States. In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson issued the first proclamation declaring February American Heart Month. It’s to draw more attention to taking action to protect yourself against heart disease, but what does it actually mean to protect yourself against heart disease?  Here are five ways that you can take a step in the right direction:  Take charge of your own health. You’re the one that needs to make this a priority. This means making sure you’re doing your annual check ups and getting regular ..read more