Latest news with #GregPowell
CBC
02-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
STARS air ambulance founder Greg Powell dies at 77
Current STARS president says countless people alive today due to Powell's vision STARS air ambulance announced on Thursday night that its founder and former CEO, Greg Powell, died earlier this week. Powell, 77, died on Wednesday at Foothills Hospice in Okotoks, with his family by his side. Current Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS) president and CEO John Froh said in a release that Powell recognized too many patients were dying because they couldn't receive the care they needed quickly enough, and was motivated to improve the delivery model. "Countless people are alive today because of his ground-breaking vision and enduring tenacity and for that we are honoured to carry on his mission," Froh said. Powell grew up in Edmonton and studied medicine at the University of British Columbia, according to a profile of his career published for his induction into the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2021. During his second year of studies, he used a medical elective to join the Flying Doctor Service in Darwin, Australia. While on the way to Australia, he visited a mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) unit in Saigon during the Vietnam War, where he watched helicopter rescues in action. Watching war casualties survive traumatic injuries thanks to the rapid intervention inspired him to create a helicopter emergency medical service closer to home, the profile says. After graduating from UBC, Powell attended Canada's then-only emergency medicine training program at McGill University and worked as the director of emergency medicine at Calgary's Foothill hospital. Powell co-founded STARS in 1985. The charity survived early financial struggles and expanded beyond Calgary in 1991, opening an Edmonton base. The emergency medical service is celebrating its 40th year of operation this year. It has flown more than 60,000 missions across Western Canada, from bases across the prairies in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. For his work launching STARS, Powell was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2006. Powell also received the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005, and the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Powell also served as chair of emergency medical services for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics and as medical director for internationally protected persons at the 2002 G8 Summit in Kananaskis. He was later inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2018, and the Foothills Medical Centre helipad was named after him in 2015.
Calgary Herald
02-05-2025
- Health
- Calgary Herald
STARS founder Greg Powell dies at age 77
Article content Dr. Greg Powell, an Albertan committed to saving others' lives and the founder of STARS air ambulance, died this week. He was 77. Article content Article content The current president and CEO of STARS, Dr. John Froh, said Powell's passing leaves a hole in the heart of STARS and those who loved him. Article content 'From the very beginning of his distinguished medical career, Dr. Powell was committed to saving lives,' said Froh. 'Early on, he recognized too many patients were dying because they couldn't get the care they needed fast enough and was motivated to change that.' Article content Article content
CTV News
02-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
‘Committed to saving lives': Dr. Greg Powell, founder and former CEO of STARS, remembered
STARS air ambulance's founder and former CEO, Dr. Greg Powell, has died. STARS air ambulance's founder and former CEO, Dr. Greg Powell, has died. The announcement was made by STARS on Thursday, saying Powell died Wednesday at Foothills Hospice in Okotoks, Alta., at age 77. Current STARS CEO Dr. John Froh offered condolences to Powell's family on behalf of all within the organization. Powell was 'committed to saving lives' from the beginning of his career in medicine. 'Early on, he recognized too many patients were dying because they couldn't get the care they needed fast enough and was motivated to change that,' Froh said. In a release issued Thursday, STARS said Powell's inspiration for STARS 'was sparked by his experience in Saigon during the Vietnam War.' STARS took flight in 1985. 40 years later, it has bases in Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg. 'Countless people are alive today because of his groundbreaking vision and enduring tenacity and for that we are honoured to carry on his mission,' Froh said.
