P.S. Martin, MD, Director of Pre-Hospital Services at Allegheny General Hospital and Medical Director of West Penn Allegheny Health System’s LifeFlight program, has been named president of the Air Medical Physicians Association (AMPA), a group offering opportunities for education, research and networking so that patients may receive the best care possible in the safest transport environment.

AMPA represents many of the 200-plus Air Medical Programs in the United States and many more internationally. In the United States alone, more than 400,000 patients are transported by Air Medical Programs annually.

“For many patients, air medical transport is an extremely important link in the chain of their health care experience” said Thomas P. Campbell, MD, Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at West Penn Allegheny Health System. “Allegheny General Hospital’s LifeFlight program has a long and distinguished history of providing outstanding air medical services and Dr. Martin has proven to be an exceptional leader of the program. It is an honor that he will now represent our health system on a national level as President of the AMPA.”

AGH’s Pre-Hospital Services Program provides medical direction and education to emergency medical services providers throughout the tri-state area, allowing them ample latitude to effectively treat patients and directly influence outcomes.

LifeFlight, the first hospital-based aeromedical transportation program in the northeastern United States, has completed more than 60,000 missions working side-by-side with EMS providers and community hospitals in a four state area. It now operates six helicopters at AGH and selected regional sites, serving critically ill and injured patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Dr. Martin will serve a two-year term as president of AMPA. A 1997 graduate of West Virginia University School of Medicine, Dr. Martin completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at AGH and joined the hospital as an attending physician. He became LifeFlight medical director in 2003 and Director of Pre-Hospital Services in 2007.

The Air Medical Physician Association is the largest professional organization of physicians dedicated to rotor wing (helicopter), fixed wing (airplane) and critical care ground transport. With over 400 members nationally and internationally the Association represents extensive expertise in the field of medical transport. AMPA seeks to attract all physicians (attendings, fellows and residents) with an interest in critical care air or ground transport.