CareFlight manager honored for service

The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) has announced that Amanda (Mandy) Via, CareFlight Air and Mobile Outreach Manager, as the 2017 recipient of the AAMS Excellence in Community Service Award. CareFlight Air and Mobile Services is a part of Miami Valley Hospital and the Premier Health system.

AAMS presents this award annually to an emergency medical transport organization or individual that demonstrates broad-based continuing commitment to the communities they serve. Mandy receives the award for her work on CareFlight’s “Drive Smart” mock crash program.

The Drive Smart mock crash program provides mock crash scenarios to high schools to give students a real-life look at the consequences of poor choices before getting behind the wheel of a car. In collaboration with multiple agencies, the Drive Smart mock crash involves a scenario with two wrecked cars that are staged to represent a crash scene immediately following a motor vehicle accident.

The Drive Smart mock crash program is the most involved, collaborative and far-reaching of all the community outreach programs offered through Miami Valley Hospital’s CareFlight Air and Mobile Services, with 25 to 30 Drive Smart’s events each year. During her tenure as Outreach Manager, Mandy has revamped CareFlight’s outreach program.