The International Association of Flight & Critical Care Paramedics (IAFCCP) proudly announces that Jordan Owen, Flight Paramedic for Haiti Air Ambulance is the recipient of the 2015 Tim Hynes Award.
Mr. Owen is the 17th recipient of this prestigious award. The official award presentation will be made during the Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference (CCTMC) in Charlotte, North Carolina on April 21, 2015.
Throughout Jordan’s 28-year career in EMS he has demonstrated leadership abilities at many levels. He has functioned as an EMS trainer for two fire departments and a ground ambulance company, where he was responsible for teaching continuing education to EMT’s and first responders. Jordan was
a member of his local sheriff’s department’s search and rescue and dive teams and has also functioned as an EMS trainer and preceptor for Yosemite National Park’s medics and was a lead paramedic for their ski patrol. In 2010, Jordan began working as a flight paramedic and soon become the supervisor for his base.
After Jordan gained experience in the EMS field, he began international volunteer work including incident commander and team paramedic. He volunteered as an educator in, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Belize and Haiti, and went on several medical missions to Mexico. But it was his 2010 deployment to Haiti, 3 weeks after the massive earthquake that would have the biggest impact on Jordan’s life, career and future. Jordan spent several weeks in Haiti and developed a passion for the country and its people. 2015 Tim Hynes Award Press Release
He wanted to give Haiti something they never had: an air ambulance service. Building Haiti Air Ambulance (HAA) from the ground up, Jordan along with a group of like-minded individuals, saw an opportunity for positive change in the delivery of medical care in Haiti.
From the start, Jordan was a champion for higher quality healthcare in Haiti, by leading a feasibility study to see if an air ambulance program was something that could be realized. After the study showed favorable results, Jordan got to work, left a job he loved, and left his home in California to take a chance to improve healthcare in Haiti.
Jordan, along with HAA’s vendor have made safety the number one priority and abide by all FAA regulations even though the aircraft are being operated in a foreign country.
Since its inception in June of 2014, HAA has enhanced the patient care in Haiti in a remarkable way. With the introduction of the first and only critical care transport vehicle in Haiti, along with its state-ofthe- art equipment, Haitians are now receiving world-class transport care that has never been available to them. Jordan also set up a program for experienced volunteer flight nurses and paramedics (from CAMTS accredited programs only) to come to Haiti and fly with his crews to bring a broad spectrum of education and skill to the team. This volunteer program is one-of-a-kind and has been monumental in the growth not only HAA, but also for the volunteers.
Few of us have accomplished what Jordan has. By bringing critical care transport to Haiti, Jordan has helped to change the EMS delivery system of an entire nation. With this change, Haitians now have access to critical care in the transport environment.
Throughout his career, Mr. Owen has been a passionate and dedicated EMS leader, educator and practitioner who puts patients first and strives to elevate the practice of everyone around him. “Jordan Owen has been a great ambassador for paramedics.” Commented Bruce Blankers. “Jordan is exactly the type of paramedic the Tim Hynes Award was meant for.”
The Tim Hynes Award recognizes exemplary abilities in leadership, education and safety within the paramedic profession. Every year, the IAFCCP selects an exceptional paramedic who has demonstrated leadership and paramedic professionalism.