Michael S. Key, RN, BS, CFRN

AirMed Chief Flight Nurse Michael S. Key has been on more than 550 medical missions to over 70 countries, including Iceland, Russia, Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, Israel, New Zealand, India, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Colombia, France, Newfoundland and many more.

Key was working as a trauma nurse at Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center in 1997 when he met AirMed’s Director of Medical Services Denise Treadwell. He’d heard the stories about the places she had gone and the hair-raising rescue missions involved, and though he’d only been in a plane once in his life, jumped at the chance when she said AirMed was recruiting top medical staff.

“The first time I ever left the United States was in an air ambulance,” Key said. “The adrenaline rush hooked me, and it’s been an incredible opportunity to see the world while helping patients from so many countries.”

Key, who has a Bachelor of Science degree from Jacksonville State University, worked on demand as a flight nurse before being hired full time on the medevac team in early 1998. Starting as a Lead Flight Nurse, Key was promoted to Chief Flight Nurse after proving his unusual mettle on scores of missions. He also recently received his certification as a Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN).