PNRN110330_Z36
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS Page 36 Isabel Connor, President/Chief Flight Nurse Lifeflight International Inc. , Pre e es s s s s sid de en nt t/ / /C C Ch h h hi i ie ef f F F Fl l li i i ig g g gh ht t N N N Nu u ur r rs s se e e nt tern nat tional Inc. NURSE The Flying She flew into a dream business, which allowed her to travel the world and follow the career she loves. Isabel Connor started her nursing career in Manitoba, where she took an extra year of training in adult intensive care. Then in 1978, she and her family transferred to Edmonton where Isabel was encouraged to work in the 120-bed Neonatal care unit and embarked on another year of special training in this field. Isabel’s final year in Edmonton found her working for the Canadian Red Cross, and while running a sports blood donor clinic she found herself drawing blood from the great one himself, Wayne Gretzky. Fast forward to 1981, where she and her family made the move to Sidney and Isabel found herself working with the critical care wards at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. While assisting with the Victoria Air Show, Isabel was asked to work medical flights for a local airline. She took a flight-nursing course only to find upon her completion, the airline had closed all operations. Seeing the opportunity and being encouraged by BC ambulance paramedics, Isabel started her own business and Lifeflight International Air Ambulance was born. The Association of Air Medical Services USA were so eager to share knowledge and expertise, which was what helped grow the organization from its initial stages. She continued to work at the hospital and used any profits to cover the costs of insurance and equipment. After two years, more nurses were added and by year three, John Inglis Insurance of Fort Lauderdale gave Isabel a contract for the western region of Canada & the US. Lifeflight’s business continued to build momentum through word of mouth and they haven’t looked back. The company’s employee numbers are now up to approximately 30 medical personnel. “This is incredibly rewarding work” said Isabel. “Not only are we able to return very frightened ill people to their homeland, but also comfort and reassure their family members.” Employees of Lifeflight enjoy a challenging career, along with some elaborate perquisites. Medical staff take full advantage of the travel, visiting all of the tourist attractions in various countries, most memorably would be walking for 3 hours on the Great Wall of China, a trek up the Eiffel Tower, the Prague Tower, the enjoyable wine tours in Adelaide, Australia, and even a ride on an enormous elephant, by paramedic Blaine Pierlot. Isabel recants her many memories and is proud of her life’s work so far. “I have been so blessed with this wonderful business and my incredible co-workers”. to o ton n wh wher ere e t the her r ye ye y ar ar C C Can an nad ad adia a ia ia ian n n n od od d d un un und d d g h h he e e e , , e e se se, w wor ork k at at wo wo al l ale e t ten ened ed s. ious rek d d o o o
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Transcript of PNRN110330_Z36
WOMEN IN BUSINESSPage 36
Isabel Connor, President/Chief Flight NurseLifefl ight International Inc.
, Preeessssssiddeenntt///CCChhhhiiieeff FFFllliiiigggghhtt NNNNuuurrrssseeentternnattional Inc.
NURSEThe Flying
She fl ew into a dream business, which allowed her totravel the world and follow the career she loves.Isabel Connor started her nursing career in Manitoba, where she took an extra year of training in adult intensive care. Then in 1978, she and her family transferred to Edmonton where Isabel was encouraged to work in the 120-bed Neonatal care unit and embarked on another year of special training in this fi eld. Isabel’s fi nal year in Edmonton found her working for the Canadian Red Cross, and while running a sports blood donor clinic she found herself drawing bloodfrom the great one himself, Wayne Gretzky.
Fast forward to 1981, where she and her family made the move to Sidney and Isabel found herself working with the critical care wards at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. While assisting with the Victoria Air Show, Isabel was asked to work medical fl ights for a local airline. Shetook a fl ight-nursing course only to fi nd upon her completion, the airline had closed all operations. Seeing the opportunity and being encouraged by BC ambulance paramedics, Isabel started her own business and Lifefl ight International Air Ambulance was born. The Association of Air Medical Services USA were so eager to share knowledge and expertise, which was what helped grow the organization from its initial stages. She continued to work atthe hospital and used any profi ts to cover the costs of insurance and equipment. After two years, more nurses were added and by year three, John Inglis Insurance of Fort Lauderdale gave Isabel a contract for the western region of Canada & the US. Lifefl ight’s business continued to build momentum through word of mouth and they haven’t looked back. The company’s employee numbers are now up to approximately 30 medical personnel. “This is incredibly rewarding work” said Isabel. “Not only are we able to return very frightenedill people to their homeland, but also comfort and reassure their family members.”
Employees of Lifefl ight enjoy a challenging career, along with some elaborate perquisites. Medical staff take full advantage of the travel, visiting all of the tourist attractions in various countries, most memorably would be walking for 3 hours on the Great Wall of China, a trekup the Eiffel Tower, the Prague Tower, the enjoyable wine tours in Adelaide, Australia, and even a ride on an enormous elephant, by paramedic Blaine Pierlot.
Isabel recants her many memories and is proud of her life’s work so far. “I have been so blessed with this wonderful business and my incredible co-workers”.
tooton n whwherere e ttheher r yeyey arar CCCanannadadadiaaiaiaiann n n
ododddd
ununund ddghhheeee
,, ee sese, ,wworork k atatwowo allale e
tteneneded
s.ious rekd d
ooo
