Joan Sullivan Garrett Explained

Joan Sullivan Garrett
Birth Date:2 August 1949
Birth Place:San Francisco, California, U.S.
Education:Mesa Community College
Known For:Founder of MedAire, Inc.
Children:2

Joan Sullivan Garrett (born August 2, 1949)[1] is a former critical care flight nurse,[2] telemedicine pioneer,[3] and American business executive who founded MedAire, Inc. in 1985 and its service arm, MedLink, in 1987.[4] She served as MedAire CEO until 2008 and today is chairman.[5] MedLink is credited with offering the first global in-flight medical assistance program, sometimes referred to as the "911 of the sky".[6]

Early life and education

Joan Sullivan Garrett was born in San Francisco, California on August 2, 1949, into a family of nurses. She attended Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona, where she earned an associate degree and her license as a registered nurse in her early thirties. As a single mother of two young sons, she gained critical care experience and certified in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and pediatric advanced life support (PALS).[7]

Flight nursing career

Sullivan Garrett became a flight nurse with Air Evac, an air ambulance company at Banner Health, a trauma center then known as Samaritan Hospital System in Phoenix, Arizona, served as Director of Flight Personnel, and founded a paramedic training program.[8]

In 1983, she implanted a transthoracic pacemaker during an emergency call. The elderly patient was transported to a trauma center in Phoenix, Arizona and survived another 11 years.[9] [10]

In 1984 during a rescue and evacuation mission, Sullivan Garrett was unable to save an eight-year-old patient who was involved in a rollover accident in the San Tan Mountains of Arizona. Emergency medical technicians at the scene initially cancelled the Air Evac helicopter dispatch within five minutes of landing, and later called Sullivan Garrett's team back to the accident site. Due to the severity of injuries and the time elapsed during transport to a level 1 trauma center, the young patient did not survive.[11] [12]

The boy's death inspired Sullivan Garrett, whose sons were around the same age, to find a way to improve the outcomes of remote medical emergencies. In 1985, she launched her startup, MedAire.[13] [14]

Founder, CEO, and Chairman of MedAire

As MedAire's founder and chief executive officer (CEO), Sullivan Garrett first provided a new and improved version of medical kits to the aviation and maritime industries. She responded to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1985 with a design for a proper medical kit and trained crews in first aid response.[15] [16] In 1987, she pioneered the world's first global remote emergency response center, MedLink, the service arm of MedAire.[17] The technology available in the 1980s was limited to high frequency radio, satellite, or teletype messaging that could connect land-based emergency physicians to remote operators wherever in the world they might be in the sky or at sea.

In 1997, Sullivan Garrett testified before Congress regarding the need for enhanced emergency medical kits aboard U.S. airlines.[18] In 2001, she testified before Congress to urge the mandate of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) aboard U.S. airlines. Subsequently, the Federal Aviation Administration's final ruling required this equipment on all domestic and international flights.[13] [19] Her global response initiatives provided medical assistance during the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis in Phuket, Thailand and the coastal regions of Asia in 2004.[20] MedAire received the American Telemedicine Association's Innovation Award during the Association's annual meeting, held in Tampa, Florida, also in 2004.[21]

Sullivan Garrett stepped down as MedAire CEO in 2008 after the company was acquired by International SOS, and now serves as MedAire chairman, industry consultant, and speaker.[22] She consults with government agencies such as the FAA and has written numerous white papers as an expert on inflight safety and remote medical response.[23] [24] She has been interviewed extensively by news media.[25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33]

Awards

Sullivan Garrett was recognized during Women's History Month in May 2021 by the National Aviation Hall of Fame and Boom Technology as one of six barrier-breaking women in aviation, including Bessie Coleman, Harriet Quimby, Louise Thaden, Jacqueline Cochran, and Patty Wagstaff.[34]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joan Sullivan Garrett, Nurse and Entrepreneur, Transforms an Industry . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207211802/https://www.internationalsos.de/newsroom/news-releases/joan-sullivan-garrett-nurse-and-entrepreneur-transforms-an-industry-sep-08-2017/ . 2022-12-07 . November 30, 2021 . International SOS.
  2. Web site: IAWA Selects 2017 Aviation Industry Woman of Excellence Award . November 30, 2021. International Aviation Womens Association.
  3. Web site: NBAA Congratulates Medical Response Pioneer Joan Sullivan Garrett on National Aviation Hall of Fame Induction. 13 November 2019 . November 30, 2021. National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
  4. Web site: Your Medical Co-Pilot. April 2020 . November 30, 2021. Aero Crews News.
  5. Telethinking with Joan Sullivan Garrett. Interview by Vicki Glaser. . 2008 . November 30, 2021 . 18729747 . Sullivan . J. . Telemedicine Journal and e-Health . 14 . 6 . 513–516 . 10.1089/tmj.2008.8497 .
  6. Web site: How Do You Call 911 From 30,000 Feet in the Air?. 14 October 2019 . November 30, 2021. Blue Sky News.
  7. Web site: MedAire Founder Joan Sullivan Garrett. November 30, 2021. Mesa Community College.
  8. Web site: Joan Sullivan Garrett Honoree. November 30, 2021. San Diego Air & Space Museum.
  9. MedAire: Peace of mind in the skies—A flight nurse's dream come true. 1998 . November 30, 2021 . 10.1016/S0099-1767(98)90178-7 . Jezierski . Marlene . Journal of Emergency Nursing . 24 . 1 . 71–73 . 9534539 .
  10. Web site: Wouldn't Give Up. 7 September 1984 . November 30, 2021. Arizona Republic p. 17, September 7, 1984.
  11. Web site: Off Central: Arizona nurse pioneers treatment for in-air medical emergencies. 6 March 2017 . November 30, 2021. KTAR News 92.3 FM.
  12. Web site: Tempe company providing medical and health services to travelers. 21 October 2004 . November 30, 2021. East Valley Tribune.
  13. Web site: Two Women in Aviation who are role models. November 30, 2021. JDA Journal.
  14. Web site: HOF Joan Sullivan Garrett KUSI TV. November 30, 2021. San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives.
  15. Leonard, Barry. Air Aid: Medical Kits Reach New Heights, p. 4 (Diane Publishing 1998)
  16. Web site: Controlling What You Can't:Airborne Medical Emergencies. 16 May 2011 . November 30, 2021. FlyCorporate Magazine.
  17. Web site: The National Aviation Hall of Fame Recognizes the "Class of 2020" . November 30, 2021. The National Aviation Hall of Fame.
  18. Web site: Medical Kits On Commercial Airlines . November 30, 2021. House.gov.
  19. Web site: Many Flight Attendants Learn to Use Automated External Defibrillators . November 30, 2021. Cabin Crew Safety.
  20. Web site: Arizona companies rally to assist tsunami victims with relief efforts . December 25, 2021 . Phoenix Business Journal.
  21. Web site: American Telemedicine Association Recognizes MedAire for Industry Innovation . December 25, 2021 . TMCNET News.
  22. Web site: EBACE Convention News: MedAire Celebrates 30 Years . November 30, 2021. AIN Online.
  23. Web site: Garrett, Joan Sullivan Enshrined 2020 . November 30, 2021 . National Aviation Hall of Fame.
  24. Web site: Twelve thousand inflight medical emergencies: What have we learned? . November 30, 2021. Air Medical Journal 2000 Vol. 19; Iss. 3.
  25. Web site: IAWA Selects 2017 Aviation Industry Woman of Excellence Award . November 30, 2021. The International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA).
  26. MedAire Is Everywhere. November 30, 2021. Time Magazine. September 2004 . Donnelly . Sally B. .
  27. Web site: In the Air, Health Emergencies Rise Quietly. November 30, 2021. ABC News.
  28. News: Need a Doctor in the Air? Fly With One. November 30, 2021. New York Times. 16 March 2008 . Higgins . Michelle .
  29. News: PRACTICAL TRAVELER; Saving Lives In the Skies. November 30, 2021. New York Times. 2 May 2004 . Wald . Matthew L. .
  30. Web site: Air & Space Museum inducts 2019 Hall of Fame class . 24 November 2019 . November 30, 2021. Fox 5.
  31. Web site: Joan Garrett - MedAire Inc (MEDRF) . 12 January 2004 . November 30, 2021 . The Wall Street Transcript.
  32. Web site: The Doctor Is In . November 30, 2021. Aviation Week.
  33. Web site: Preparation is key to avoiding travel troubles. November 30, 2021. Tampa Bay Times.
  34. Web site: Women pilots: The daredevils, rule-breakers and pioneers who shaped aviation. 4 May 2021 . November 30, 2021. Boom Technology.
  35. Web site: NBAA Congratulates Medical Response Pioneer Joan Sullivan Garrett on National Aviation Hall of Fame Induction. 18 November 2019 . November 30, 2021. State Aviation Journal.
  36. Web site: Medaire founder Joan S. Garrett joins NAHF. November 30, 2021. International Transort Journal.
  37. Web site: Garrett and Rosanvallon honoured by NBAA. November 30, 2021. Business Air News.
  38. Web site: Joan Sullivan Garrett, MedAire Founder and Chairman, Enshrined into the National Aviation Hall of Fame . 9 November 2021 . November 30, 2021. State Aviation Journal.
  39. Web site: San Diego Air & Space Museum hosted its International Air & Space Hall of Fame Celebration. 28 December 2019 . November 30, 2021. Ranch & Coast Magazine.
  40. Web site: Jeff Bezos in San Diego: To Save Planet, 'Move All Heavy Industry into Space'. November 30, 2021. Times of San Diego. 24 November 2019 .
  41. Web site: Blue Origin Founder Jeff Bezos to Headline International Air and Space Hall of Fame Class of 2019. 5 November 2019 . November 30, 2021. Aviation Pros.
  42. Web site: Medical Response Pioneer Joan Sullivan Garrett Honored with Meritorious Service Award . November 30, 2021. The National Business Aviation Association.
  43. Web site: Meritorious Service to Aviation Award. November 30, 2021. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
  44. Web site: Joan Sullivan Garrett. November 30, 2021. Mesa Community College.
  45. Web site: People in Aviation: October 2001. November 30, 2021. AIN Online.
  46. Web site: FSF Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award. November 30, 2021. Flight Safety Foundation.

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