Joan Sullivan Garrett, MedAire Founder and Chairman, Enshrined into the National Aviation Hall of Fame

MedAire Founder and Chairman Joan Sullivan Garrett was ceremoniously enshrined into the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) on October 13, 2021, during the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Conference and Expo in Las Vegas.

Joan Sullivan Garrett

Garrett was inducted into the NAHF’s Class of 2020 for being a visionary that pioneered telemedicine and founded the aviation industry’s first global remote medical emergency response company, MedAire, which directs real-time safety services to thousands annually throughout aviation. 

“The Public Law that established the NAHF entrusts us to recognize people who advance aviation with their life’s work. Joan Sullivan Garrett not only revolutionized aviation but also transformed it and made the world safer for every single person in the air. She also set herself apart by achieving so much at such a young age. Her foresight, aptitude and impact make her more than worthy for induction into the NAHF,” said Amy Spowart, the NAHF’s President and CEO. With her enshrinement, Garrett joins the company of other aviation pioneers such as the Wright brothers, William Boeing, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Buzz Aldrin, and Neil Armstrong.

Garrett recently published her autobiography, One Life Lost, Millions Gained, The Story of a Flight Nurse turned MedAire CEO. The book, now available on Amazon, tells the story of how her vision and entrepreneurial spirit led her to connect ground-based emergency physicians with flight and maritime crews from anywhere in the world in real-time, whether 36,000 feet in the air or the middle of an ocean.

“On behalf of everyone at her MedAire family, I would like to congratulate Joan on receiving this high honour. We could not be prouder of her, and of course, prouder to continue to fulfil and evolve her vision each day,” said Bill Dolny, CEO of MedAire.

Today, MedAire is the leading global provider of 24/7 integrated safety solutions for the aviation and maritime industries. Their products and services are on board more than 4500 private aviation aircraft, over 1,100 yachts, and utilized by over 180 global airlines. Additionally, MedAire’s assistance service and medical kits come standard on new aircraft from the world’s top business jet manufacturers. In addition to medical assistance, equipment, and training solutions, MedAire offers a suite of aviation security solutions to help flight departments mitigate risks to their people, aircraft, and operations.