IAMTCS Honors Shakeer Fullenweider as the 2026 Communicator of the Year
The International Association of Medical Transport Communication Specialists (IAMTCS) is proud to recognize Shakeer Fullenweider, AirMed Telecommunicator with UNC Hospitals Carolina Air Care, as the 2026 Communicator of the Year.
This prestigious recognition celebrates individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication, professionalism, leadership, and service in medical transport communications. Shakeer exemplifies these qualities through his commitment to patient care, operational safety, and the colleagues and medical teams who depend on him every day.
A Steady Voice When Every Second Matters
With more than five years of experience in medical transport communications, Shakeer has earned his colleagues’ respect and trust through his calm demeanor, sound judgment, and ability to manage complex situations under pressure.
Whether coordinating multiple aircraft arriving simultaneously at UNC medical facilities or managing time-sensitive emergency responses, Shakeer approaches each situation with precision and professionalism. His ability to anticipate operational needs, communicate clearly, and coordinate resources ensures that medical crews can focus on what matters most: caring for their patients.
His nominator, Carolina Air Care Flight Nurse Kathleen Abshier, describes his ability to manage multiple arriving aircraft as comparable to that of an air traffic controller, ensuring safe coordination and timely patient transfers.
Going Above and Beyond
Shakeer’s commitment to excellence extends far beyond his daily responsibilities.
During an incident involving a possible aircraft crash in a remote farm field, responding agencies initially lacked an exact location. Shakeer and fellow communicator Jodi worked collaboratively with aircraft, local EMS agencies, and a news helicopter operating in the area to locate the downed aircraft.
Their coordination helped identify the crash location and enabled responding resources to reach the remote scene.
This incident reflects the critical role medical transport communicators play in emergency response. Their expertise, situational awareness, and ability to bring multiple agencies together can make a meaningful difference when every moment counts.
Supporting the People Behind the Mission
What distinguishes Shakeer is not only his operational expertise, but also his genuine care for the people he works alongside.
He routinely anticipates the needs of flight crews and medical providers, often taking action before anyone asks. Whether arranging ground transportation at remote helipads, coordinating assistance when an aircraft becomes unavailable, or ensuring busy crews have time to eat and recover between missions, Shakeer consistently shows that exceptional communication is about more than managing logistics. It is about taking care of people.
He is also a trusted resource for fellow communicators, new team members, medical providers, and partner agencies. His willingness to share knowledge, support colleagues, and foster collaboration strengthens the entire Carolina Air Care team.
Recognizing Excellence Behind Every Mission
Medical transport communicators serve as a vital connection between patients, medical crews, hospitals, pilots, and emergency response agencies. Their contributions are often made behind the scenes, yet their decisions and actions directly influence the safety and success of every mission.
Shakeer Fullenweider represents the very best of this profession. His professionalism, compassion, and unwavering dedication reflect the values IAMTCS seeks to recognize and promote throughout the medical transport communications community.
On behalf of the IAMTCS Board of Directors and our members, congratulations to Shakeer Fullenweider, the 2026 IAMTCS Communicator of the Year.
Thank you, Shakeer, for your extraordinary dedication to your colleagues, the crews you support, and the patients whose lives are touched by your work.
Previous Communication Specialists of the Year
Jason Sanford, LifeFlight of Maine / MedComm
The International Association of Medical Transport Communication Specialists (IAMTCS) is proud to honor Jason Sanford of LifeFlight of Maine/MedComm as the 2025 IAMTCS Communicator of the Year.
This award recognizes an individual who exemplifies excellence in medical transport communications—someone who demonstrates exceptional skill, leadership, and dedication to advancing their organization’s communications program. Among a highly competitive field of nominees, Jason stood out for his professionalism, compassion, and unwavering commitment to safety and teamwork.
With 16 years of service, Jason has become a cornerstone of MedComm, Maine’s largest medical communications center, which provides dispatch services for major ground EMS providers as well as flight coordination for LifeFlight of Maine. Over the years, Jason has progressed from a communications specialist to a Certified Flight Communicator (CFC) and now serves as the Liaison between LifeFlight of Maine and MedComm, bridging two critical operations to ensure seamless coordination and quality care.
Jason is admired for his attention to detail, steady judgment, and deep understanding of both clinical and aviation operations. His colleagues describe him as someone who “makes crew members feel safe, and they know he has their best interests in mind at every moment.” This trust, earned through years of professionalism and consistency, reflects the very essence of what it means to be a medical transport communicator.
In addition to his operational excellence, Jason plays a key role in training new communication specialists, fostering a culture of standardization, accountability, and excellence. He is also an active member of LifeFlight’s Elevate Peer Support Program, ensuring that communication professionals—often the unseen heroes behind every mission—have access to emotional and mental health support from someone who understands their unique challenges.
Jason’s commitment to quality, mentorship, and well-being makes him a true leader and role model within the profession. His impact extends far beyond the console—he strengthens the entire system through his dedication to safety, compassion, and excellence.
Please join us in celebrating Jason Sanford, the 2025 IAMTCS Communicator of the Year, for his outstanding contributions to the advancement and professionalism of medical transport communications.
Robert (Tyler) McKelvey, Intermountain Health – Classic Air
Tyler from Classic Air Medical, part of Intermountain Health was the 2024 IAMTCS Communicator of the Year. This award honors Tyler’s exceptional leadership, dedication, and composure under pressure through one of the most challenging years his team has faced.
A working supervisor who also oversees the operational control team, Tyler has been a cornerstone of Classic Air’s communications operations. Over the past year, his department experienced a 50% staff loss, including two fellow supervisors. Despite these obstacles, Tyler demonstrated unwavering commitment—adjusting his schedule, covering shifts, and ensuring every team member felt supported through the transition. His resilience and compassion steadied the team when morale could have faltered.
Tyler’s impact is demonstrated through his hands-on leadership and unwavering dedication that extend far beyond his daily responsibilities:
A Stabilizing Leader: When his department lost half of its staff, including two supervisors, Tyler immediately stepped up to fill the gap. He rearranged his schedule, covered countless shifts, and ensured consistent supervision and morale across his team.
A Mentor and Rebuilder: Recognizing the need for structure amid change, Tyler took it upon himself to train new hires, personally guiding them through the fundamentals of operational control. His mentorship helped rebuild the department and reestablish confidence and stability.
An Architect of Improvement: Tyler played a central role in redesigning the team’s training program, introducing new processes and tools that improved onboarding efficiency and long-term staff development. His efforts laid the groundwork for sustained growth and performance.
Calm Under Crisis: During a high-speed multi-vehicle accident involving multiple ejections and five children, Tyler remained composed as the situation escalated. When aircrews reported “bodies all over” and requested to “send everyone,” Tyler coordinated a multi-state, multi-agency response—deploying five rotor-wing and five ground ambulances to several hospitals across three states. His decisive actions and clear communication exemplified professionalism and precision under pressure.
Described by his peers as steady, humble, and deeply mission-driven, Tyler’s ability to remain calm in chaos, lead by example, and elevate those around him embodies the highest standards of excellence in air medical communications.
Please join us in congratulating Tyler on this well-deserved honor as the 2024 IAMTCS Communicator of the Year.
Communication Specialist of the Year Nominations [CLOSED]
Do you know someone who does remarkable work? Did they handle an impressive call or make a big difference every day? We encourage you to nominate the 2027 Communicator of the Year!
Cody Seifert of LIFEEVAC Emergency Aviation for VCU Health System has been named the 2023 IAMTCS Communicator of the Year. This award recognizes Cody's exceptional initiative, passion, and foundational leadership since his program's inception.
A cornerstone of the LIFEEVAC Communications Center since it opened in 2021, Cody has been instrumental in building the program from the ground up. His dedication to safety and efficiency has been an inspiration to his entire team.
Cody’s impact is demonstrated through his selfless, self-initiated contributions that go far beyond his daily responsibilities:
A Passionate Educator: After obtaining his CFC, Cody single-handedly developed and taught essential training programs on VFR/IFR operations, map reading, and METAR/TAF interpretation for both flight crews and fellow communication specialists, vastly increasing the team's knowledge base.
A Dedicated Mentor: As the primary trainer, he has successfully mentored and trained five peers, setting them up for success with his unique and relatable teaching style.
An Innovative Leader: An active member of the aviation safety committee, Cody consistently brings new ideas to leadership to improve processes and fosters positive, collaborative relationships between the communications center and flight crews.
Described by his leadership as having a passion and tenacity rarely encountered, Cody’s hard work was previously recognized with LIFEEVAC's first-ever Communication Specialist of the Year award. He is a leader who sets a standard of excellence that will be difficult to match.
Please join us in congratulating Cody Seifert on this prestigious and incredibly well-deserved honor!
John Duggan w/ Boston MedFlight
John Duggan of Boston MedFlight is the recipient of the 2022 IAMTCS Communicator of the Year Award. This award recognizes John's exceptional common sense, innovative leadership, and profound impact on his team and the industry.
Since joining Boston MedFlight six years ago and rising to the position of Lead Communicator, John has been a transformative force. Regarded as a natural leader from the start, his peers consistently turned to him for his objective analysis and skilled decision-making, even when he was new to the team.
John's leadership is defined by his proactive approach to improving systems and supporting his colleagues. His major accomplishments include:
Modernizing the Communications Center: John spearheaded the transition from a physical, handwritten status board to a dynamic, web-based electronic display system. He also converted all paper manuals and policies into a searchable, digital format on SharePoint, accessible via iPads for greater efficiency and remote use.
Pioneering Fatigue Mitigation: He researched and developed a groundbreaking fatigue mitigation policy, providing structured breaks and support for communicators, especially those on overnight shifts. This forward-thinking tool has since been shared with other organizations.
Enhancing the Training Program: As Lead Preceptor, John successfully extended the training period and implemented a "Village" approach, leveraging the expertise of the entire team to train new hires, which has increased buy-in and standardized knowledge.
Championing Safety and Support: John is an active representative on the Boston MedFlight Safety Team and a key member of the "Wing Team" for peer support.
John possesses the unique ability to balance management and line-employee perspectives, making him a trusted and effective leader. He is a problem-solver who is quickly becoming a recognized expert in our field.
Please join us in celebrating John Duggan for his outstanding contributions and this well-deserved honor!
Yvonne Fisher w/ Life Flight Network
Yvonne Fisher of Life Flight Network has been named the 2021 IAMTCS Communicator of the Year. This award celebrates Yvonne's eleven years of distinguished service, during which she has become an example of excellence in the communications field.
Yvonne is consistently recognized for her extraordinary customer service, deep institutional knowledge, and collaborative spirit. A dedicated mentor and preceptor, she has guided countless new specialists while always going above and beyond for her crews and the patients they serve. Her compassion and skill were brilliantly highlighted during the rescue of a hiker in a remote ravine, where she used background sound to help locate the patient and resourcefully switched to text messaging when other communication lines failed, providing critical reassurance until the rescue was complete.
Beyond her daily excellence, Yvonne has been a critical asset during pivotal moments for Life Flight Network. She has played instrumental roles in:
Assisting with the complex integration of the Northwest Medstar communications center.
Implementing the COVID-19 Communications Disaster Response plan, ensuring operational continuity during the pandemic.
Volunteering to help launch the new non-emergent ground dispatch center, assisting with training and implementation.
With her calm demeanor, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering dedication to patient care and crew safety, Yvonne Fisher truly embodies the principles of this prestigious award.
Please join us in celebrating Yvonne Fisher on this incredible and well-deserved achievement!
Jeremy Kohlman w/ Children's Mercy Critical Care Transport
The International Association of Medical Transport Communication Specialists (IAMTCS) is proud to announce that Jeremy Kohlman of Children's Mercy Critical Care Transport has been named the 2019 IAMTCS Communicator of the Year. This award recognizes Jeremy's remarkable dedication, innovative problem-solving, and inspiring leadership throughout his 13-year career.
As a Primary Communication Specialist and front-line leader, Jeremy is celebrated for his professionalism, compassion, and mentorship. He is a proactive force for continuous improvement, consistently volunteering to take on projects that enhance safety, efficiency, and communication.
Jeremy's impact is demonstrated through numerous successful initiatives he has developed and implemented:
He created a fixed-wing transport checklist and used quality data to drive a nearly 100% improvement in communication during flights.
He designed and maintains the department's crucial real-time Status Board, a vital tool for multidisciplinary awareness and safety.
He initiated quality projects that significantly reduced misdirected phone calls and developed a standardized pass-along sheet to ensure seamless handoffs between shift leaders.
Described by his leadership as engaged, eager, and always ready to help, Jeremy is a fair and caring leader with an acute self-awareness. He doesn't just come to work; he comes to make a tangible difference for his colleagues, the medical crews, and the patients and families they serve.
Please join us in congratulating Jeremy Kohlman on this prestigious and well-deserved honor!
Laura Combs w/ MedFlight of Ohio
Laura Combs of MedFlight has been named the 2018 IAMTCS Communicator of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes Laura's exceptional leadership, innovation, and unwavering dedication to her role at MedComm, MedFlight's dispatching center.
Since beginning her career in 2008 and rising to MedComm Supervisor in 2015, Laura has become an invaluable leader. She is consistently praised for her calm presence, thorough attention to detail, and superior customer service, which have been instrumental in onboarding new clients and maintaining strong partnerships.
A forward-thinking problem solver, Laura consistently goes above and beyond her duties. She led the development of the new Partner Evaluation and Performance Tool to benchmark processes and is an active member of MedFlight's Culture, Safety, CQI, and Process Improvement committees.
Her excellence has been repeatedly recognized by her peers, who have honored her with the MedComm Person of the Year award (2015, 2016, 2018) and the Servant Leadership Award (2017). As a skilled communicator, collaborator, and true leader, Laura Combs embodies the very best of our profession.
Please join us in congratulating Laura on this well-deserved international recognition!
