LifeFlight Medical Director, Dr. Norm Dinerman, was awarded the Air Medical Physician Association’s Medical Director of the Year at the annual membership meeting in Seattle in October. This award recognizes a physician who has made outstanding contributions to his or her air medical program. The recipient of the award provides guidance and supervision for the organization’s medical direction, quality of care, outreach and safety.

“I am humbled to be chosen as this year’s Medical Director of the Year,” said Dr. Dinerman.  “This award honors the work of LifeFlight of Maine providers, on whose shoulders I stand.  It is such a privilege to provide the medical oversight for this innovative and ever-evolving organization.  I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to leverage whatever creativity I possess on their behalf in the service of patient care.”

Dr. Dinerman is intimately involved in every aspect of LifeFlight, including direct crew supervision, education and quality. He oversees the organization’s risk management training program, provides hands-on medical oversight and monthly case review, and has led a recent effort to completely revise LifeFlight’s protocols.

Dr. Dinerman has worked at Eastern Maine Medical Center for the last 24 years as an emergency medicine physician, medical director of EMMC’s Transfer Center, Tele-Health programs, and EMTALA compliance as well as LifeFlight of Maine. Dr. Dinerman was one of the founding medical directors of the LifeFlight of Maine program. He has also served as the Chief of Emergency Medicine at EMMC, and the state EMS Medical Director where helped to develop statewide EMS protocols.

LifeFlight’s Clinical Practice Committee, which consists of 21 specialists and emergency physicians, was developed and continues to be led by Dr. Dinerman. This group of doctors from across the state meets regularly to oversee LifeFlight’s protocols, clinical innovation and quality.

“Dr. Dinerman is an incredible leader who never raises his voice or loses his temper, and always puts his people first,” said Thomas Judge, LifeFlight of Maine’s Executive Director. “Norm has always been the lead architect, choreographer and conscience of LifeFlight. Quite simply, the culture of our organization reflects Norm’s intensity of philosophical and ethical commitment to medicine. We are very proud of his award and grateful for the privilege to be a part of his team.”

Dr. Dinerman added, “It is my life goal to always remain worthy of the trust placed in us by the patients and the clinicians whom we serve.”

The Air Medical Physician Association (AMPA) 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.

LifeFlight of Maine is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit air medical and critical care transport organization. LifeFlight helicopters, flying at 165 miles per hour, bring lifesaving critical care staff and equipment directly to the patient. It also provides advanced emergency medical training to Maine’s hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS) and public safety agencies. Overseen by 21 physicians, LifeFlight will care for about 1,500 critically ill and injured patients in 2012. Since its inception in 1998, LifeFlight has transported more than 14,000 patients from every hospital and nearly all of Maine’s communities and islands.