FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 


Award-Winning Care at 18,000 Feet: Sierra Lifeflight Nurse Recognized for Regional Excellence


One clinician’s recognition reflects the level of critical care patients across five Western states depend on every day – right here in our community.


 

BISHOP, Calif. (June 24, 2026) – In emergency care, outcomes often hinge on what happens before a patient ever reaches a hospital.

 

Across Global Medical Response’s (GMR) Pacific region – spanning Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and California – that responsibility frequently falls to air medical crews like those at Sierra Lifeflight, part of REACH Air Medical Services (REACH) and GMR.

 

One of those clinicians is drawing regional recognition not just for his skill, but for what it represents to the communities served.

 

Devon “DJ” Jeffrey, RN, CFRN (certified registered flight nurse), has been named Pacific Region Flight Nurse of the Year, an honor awarded across 323 flight nurses from GMR’s five-state region. The recognition is based on nominations from frontline crews and local leadership, with final selection made by senior leadership, highlighting the clinician peers trust most when stakes are highest.

 

This level of recognition carries real meaning for the roughly 18,500 Californians transported by air each year – patients who rely on air medical transport to bridge long distances and reach care quickly, often in the most unpredictable environments.

 

Jeffrey has built his reputation on that reliability. Known for his ability to quickly assess complex situations and act decisively, he brings a steady, focused presence to calls where conditions can shift in seconds. Colleagues say it’s not just his clinical skill, but the way he delivers care, that stands out.

 

“He’s the kind of clinician you want there when things are at their worst,”  said Lisa Davis, program director and operations manager for Sierra Lifeflight. “He’s calm, adaptable, and always finds a way forward.”

 

In a region where geography and access can complicate care, from remote communities to rural hospitals, flight nurses must manage high-acuity patients with limited resources. Jeffrey is widely recognized for his expertise in ventilator management and his commitment to mentoring newer clinicians, helping ensure consistent, high-level care across the team.

 

“This isn’t just about one person,” Davis emphasized. “It reflects the standard we hold ourselves to, and the care our communities depend on.”

 

Beyond patient care, Jeffrey serves as base safety officer, where he helps strengthen operational safety by identifying risks, leading briefings, and advocating for improvements.

 

Whether navigating logistical challenges, adapting to changing patient conditions, or managing unpredictable environments mid-flight, Jeffrey is known for staying solutions-focused, ensuring patients receive timely, effective care when it matters most.

 

For patients and families in Bishop, Mammoth, and surrounding areas, though, the takeaway is simple:

 

The same level of award-winning care recognized at a regional level is happening every day, right here in the Eastern Sierra, on flights they may never see, but may one day depend on.

 

For many families, preparing for that possibility is also part of the equation. Sierra Lifeflight participates in the AirMedCare Network (AMCN), which offers memberships designed to eliminate out of pocket costs for emergency air medical transport only when flown by an AMCN provider.

 

Membership protects all residents of a household for $99 per year, or $79 for seniors, and ensures members do not receive a bill beyond their membership fee for medically necessary air transport.

 

“Out here in the Eastern Sierra, getting patients to the right level of care quickly can mean covering long distances, and that’s where air medical transport becomes essential,” Davis said. “An AMCN membership gives families one less thing to worry about in an already stressful moment.”

 

Global Medical Response, Inc. utilizes its subsidiary REACH Air Medical Services LLC, a Part 135, certified air carrier, operating under FAA certificate # JBZA819S, to operate its rotor-wing aircraft under the name Sierra Lifeflight. REACH Air Medical Services LLC maintains operational control of the aircraft at all times.

  https://sierrawave.net/award-winning-care-at-18000-feet-sierra-lifeflight-nurse-recognized-for-regional-excellence/