Wilfred F. Holdefer, M.D, F.A.C.S

Notable surgeon Wilfred Holdefer already had a distinguished medical career when he decided to push his career envelope and let his medical expertise take flight (literally) with AirMed International Founder and CEO Jeff Tolbert.

Dr. Holdefer was working as an ER physician in 1986 when he met Tolbert, who was working with the hospital’s critical care transport service.

When Tolbert decided to start specializing in international air medical flights, he asked Holdefer to join the team. Their first trip was transporting a kidney transplant patient from Pittsburgh home to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The harrowing but exciting trip hooked the doctor, and he and Tolbert have been a team ever since.

“Dr. Bill” has flown more than 300 medical flight missions, including 3,800 flight hours and 2,500 patient care hours. He is among the most experienced medical flight surgeons in the world.

Because the AirMed medevac team accompanies patients every step of the way, from transporting hospitals to the receiving hospital room, Dr. Holdefer has worked directly with doctors and nurses in over 70 countries and has established an International Network of Diversion Sites and Air Ambulance Partners. His forthcoming book, “Just Call Me Doctor Bill" traces many of these lifesaving global adventures.

Dr. Holdefer is also an Associate Professor Emeritus of Emergency Medicine at the University Hospital School of Medicine in Birmingham. A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, he is a Fellow, American College of Surgeons and board certified in cardiothoracic surgery.