A message from GAMTI

Dear ITIJ readers,

It feels like quite some time since I last had the chance to speak to you directly, and so much has happened since then. The world of assistance, medical aviation, and insurance is constantly moving, evolving, and reinventing itself – and at GAMTI we have been working hard to keep pace, and to stay a step ahead.

When I founded GAMTI, it came from a very simple observation: our industry is filled with extraordinary professionals, but training and education were often fragmented, inconsistent, or simply unavailable. Companies had their own onboarding processes, individuals often learned ‘on the job’, and there was no unified pathway for people who wanted to grow from being newcomers into seasoned experts. Looking at what has happened since those early days, I feel incredibly proud.

Today, more than 250 students have joined us in our Basic, Advanced, and Expert programmes. Each of these students are professionals investing in themselves, in their teams, and in our industry’s future. Some come to us fresh to assistance, others already seasoned but eager to sharpen their knowledge. Each one brings their own story, their own challenges, and their own drive. I hear from many of them directly, and what strikes me is how deeply personal education really is. It’s not just about reading material or watching modules – it’s about empowerment, confidence, and the courage to take on a challenging case or support a patient in distress because you know you have the tools and the knowledge to do so.

Of course, education cannot stand still. That is why we have developed and launched new courses: Mental Health for Assistance & Flying Crew, Fraud Awareness, Fraud Risk Management, and Cost Containment. These are not abstract subjects – they are daily realities. We all know the toll that constant travel, time pressure, and emotionally heavy cases can take on assistance staff and medical crews. We all know the risks that fraud poses to patients, providers, and insurers alike. And we all know how crucial cost containment is – not only for financial sustainability but also for ensuring that patients receive the right level of care, in the right place, at the right time.

On the horizon are new courses that I am very excited about: Travel Risk Management for Flying Crew in Air Ambulance and Commercial Medical Escort, Medical Basics for Operations and Assistance Staff, and Cultural Awareness Training. Each of these is being developed with the same philosophy: practical, relevant, and directly applicable to the work our professionals do.

Beyond individual courses, GAMTI is also becoming a partner for entire companies. We have now certified several organisations with GAMTI Corporate Certification, which means they have committed not just to ticking boxes, but to embedding ongoing education into the heart of their operations. We have also welcomed our very first GAMTI Educational Partners – an important milestone.

But perhaps the most exciting development is still to come. We are preparing to launch our GAMTI Masterclasses – live online teaching events designed for our specialist courses. On-demand content is valuable, but nothing compares to the energy, the exchange, and the immediacy of learning together in real time. Masterclasses will allow us to dive deeper, to challenge each other, and to create a truly interactive space where knowledge is not only transferred but built collectively.

None of this would have been possible without the people who have walked this journey with us. Our GAMTI Advisory Board who support us tirelessly, our GAMTI Affiliates who spread the word and bring us into new networks, our GAMTI Instructors and Course Creators who pour their expertise and creativity into every programme. It is humbling to see so many individuals and organisations share the same belief: that education matters, and that by strengthening our people, we strengthen our industry as a whole.

And so, while I am proud of what we have achieved, I am equally aware of how much further there is to go. There are countless topics still waiting to be addressed, many professionals yet to be reached, and a whole generation of future leaders to inspire and equip.

To all of you – students, companies, partners, and colleagues – I want to say thank you. Thank you for your trust, your encouragement, and your commitment to excellence. GAMTI is not just my project; it is ours. It belongs to everyone who believes in raising educational and quality standards, in sharing knowledge, and in building a stronger, more resilient assistance and medical transport industry. With gratitude and determination, Yours truly,

Claudia Schmiedhuber

CEO & Founder, GAMTI