Kevin Schitoskey, a recognized leader and dedicated clinician in the emergency air medical industry, has joined AirLink CCT in Bend to lead the team as Program Manager.

He is committed to ensuring patients and community members are served with the utmost quality of care, by the highest level of medically trained staff, and in the most efficient manner possible. “It’s all about doing the right thing for the patient, safely,” says Schitoskey. As Program Manager, he will lead the talented team of pilots, medical personnel, mechanics, and administrative staff to ensure safety and professionalism is at the forefront.

“I am humbled to join an organization with such deep roots and a proud heritage, and look forward to returning to its origins and expanding the program,” Schitoskey said. “My family and I are thrilled to call Bend our home and are excited to be closer to our extended family in Eastern Oregon and Washington,” he added.

Schitoskey is no newcomer to heading up and growing emergency air medical programs. He most recently served as Director of Emergency Services at the University of New Mexico Hospital, a level 1 trauma center, children’s hospital and cancer facility in Albuquerque, NM. He joined their flight program in 1998, and served in leadership capacity positions from 2005 to 2010. There is no surprise he took this path into emergency medical service … as a high school senior, Schitoskey began his EMS career as a volunteer fireman in the suburbs of Albuquerque. Turning loose a high school senior in a fire truck with lights and sirens seemed foolish to most, but he had a great time and made it his passion and career to help save lives. He followed high school with attending and graduating from EMT school, as well as receiving a BSN from the University of New Mexico. He is also completing his Masters Degree at UNM in Administration and Finance.

William Baise, Interim Program Manager says, “AirLink is proud of its dedicated employees and longevity in the region. To uphold its standards of excellence and return to its roots requires a leader with compassion, trust, and experience. These are the qualities we have found in Kevin and we sincerely welcome him to the AirLink family.”

AirLink CCT is an emergency air ambulance service that covers hundreds of thousands of square miles in the Oregon region. With two bases in Bend, the AirLink CCT team is ready to respond at a moment’s notice, 24-hours-a-day, every day. The team’s priority is to provide premier patient care in an environment devoted to safety. AirLink CCT averages two to three transports each day, carrying seriously ill or injured patients to the nearest appropriate medical facility. Since its inception in 1985, AirLink CCT has flown more than 22,000 missions, setting the standard as the premier air medical transport service in the Northwest. www.airlinkcct.org