EURAMI Conference 2026: where aeromedical excellence meets operational reality
Details about the upcoming EURAMI Conference and the important topics that will be covered by expert speakers
On Saturday 31 October 2026, the international aeromedical community will meet at Swissôtel Istanbul for the annual EURAMI Conference, running from 9am to 1:30pm, followed by EURAMI’s members-only General Assembly.
The event
For air ambulance operators, assistance companies, insurers, medical teams and aviation partners, the event addresses a fundamental industry question: how can organisations maintain consistently safe, high-quality care while missions, patient needs and operating environments become increasingly complex?
In aeromedical transport, excellence cannot be separated into medical and aviation components. Clinical judgement, aircraft capability, crew performance, governance, communication and logistics must work as one system. A failure at any point can affect the patient, the crew and the outcome of the mission. This is why independent standards, measurable quality, and a strong safety culture are not administrative extras; they are the foundation of aeromedical operations.
The speakers
The EURAMI Conference will bring together international specialists to examine the human, clinical and operational factors shaping that foundation. Opening the programme with a keynote, UAE aviation psychologist Dr Edma Naddaf will explore psychology, leadership and safety in highperformance organisations. With 37 years of experience, including pioneering work at Emirates and service as a Specialist Aeromedical Examiner, Dr Naddaf brings a valuable human-factors perspective.
The first panel, ‘Operational risk and safety oversight in aeromedical missions’, turns attention to decision-making under pressure. Emergency medicine specialist Dr Almien Smit from the University of Pretoria in South Africa will present a complexsystems approach to risk stratification, informed by her clinical practice, fixed-wing transport work and doctoral research into adverse-event prediction. Dr Charlotte Stehn from Malteser Assistance in Germany will examine accountability and authority in aeromedical transport, drawing on extensive experience in anaesthesiology, intensive care, emergency medicine and flight operations.
Barbara Baumgartner, Managing Director of FAI Aviation Services in Dubai, will add an operational leadership perspective with a presentation on aeromedical missions in a conflictaffected Gulf region. Her contribution will consider how providers preserve quality, coordination and safety when geopolitical pressures complicate already demanding missions.
The second panel, ‘Smart skies – advanced systems for safer missions’, will focus on fatigue and measurable performance. Dr Daniel Mollicone, CEO of Pulsar Informatics, will discuss the development of objective fatigue thresholds before joining Dan Maerz, Director of Safety at Sunwest Aviation, for an interactive live session exploring cognitive performance testing in practice. Together, they will demonstrate how data-driven fatigue management tools can be applied to support safer operational decision-making in aeromedical environments.
A shared interest
The conference programme reflects the interconnected nature of the travel insurance, medical assistance and air ambulance sectors. Payers and providers share an interest in reliable decision-making, transparent quality and safe patient transfer across borders.
Accreditation supports that relationship by providing a common framework through which capability, governance and performance can be assessed.
The conference offers a concentrated morning of practical insight, expert debate and international exchange. Its central message is clear: aeromedical excellence depends on continuous improvement, shared standards and the willingness to examine risk openly. In an industry responsible for vulnerable patients in challenging circumstances, quality and safety must remain the cornerstone of every mission. That commitment protects patients, strengthens partnerships and builds confidence.
For more information and registration, visit: eurami.org/conference/the-euramiconference-2026/
Speakers:
Dr Edma Naddaf; Dr Almien Smit; Dr Charlotte Stehn; Barbara Baumgartner; Dan Maerz; Dr Daniel Mollicone.
The European Aero-Medical Institute (EURAMI) is a globally recognised, nonprofit organisation and a leading authority in aeromedical accreditation. Since 1994, EURAMI has advanced patient safety, excellence and operational quality through internationally recognised accreditation programmes, training and collaboration, helping aeromedical transport providers worldwide deliver safe, consistent and high-quality aeromedical patient transport
September 2026
Issue
This issue we focus on the problems that rising costs are having on the industry. Air ambulance providers are facing costs across fuel, aircraft maintenance, staffing, insurance, regulatory compliance, and specialist medical equipment. As if that wasn’t enough, delayed payments from insurers are adding further financial pressure. Despite these challenges, providers agree that patient safety and clinical quality must not be compromised.
Editorial Team
The Editorial Team updates the ITIJ website daily, and works on features for the print edition. With expert industry knowledge and years of experience in writing about complex travel insurance issues, the Editorial Team is ready to investigate and report on the topics that matter most to ITIJ's readers.
