Mercy Flights Inc. announced a change in leadership after the retirement of CEO, Doug Stewart. The board named Jacksonville resident and Mercy Flights board member, Mike Burrill, Jr. as its interim CEO and has also launched a nationwide search for a full-time replacement. Stewart noted, “I’m confident that Mercy Flights will continue its 70-year legacy through the mission of caring and compassionate medical treatment and transport…I’m looking forward to the opportunity to spend more time with my family and friends.”
In 2019, the Mercy Flights team celebrated its 70th year of service and touched a record number of lives. The team responded to more than 28,000 calls for ground ambulance service, transporting 455 patients via fixed wing aircraft, and 206 patients via helicopter. In addition, MFI’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program enrolled 628 patients, providing critical follow-up care and services to high-risk patients who have been discharged from the hospital.
Mike Burrill, a private aircraft pilot himself, was the board chair for 6 years, and has served on the board for the past 12 years. He’s been instrumental in helping upgrade the fleet of ambulances and aircraft. Mike’s family has a rich history of support for Mercy Flights, including that from his grandfather, Eugene Burrill, who served as a board member in the 1950’s, and helped build Mercy Flights’ first hangar, and also flew medical missions. Mike’s father, Mike Burrill Sr., was also a board member and flew medical missions.
Mercy Flights, Inc. is the only non-profit air and ground medical transport organization in the state of Oregon and was founded as a non-profit organization in 1949 by George Milligan as the first civil air ambulance in the U.S. Milligan, as an air traffic controller and pilot in Medford, established Mercy Flights after a friend of his died of polio in Southern Oregon, unable to survive the long, slow ground transport to Portland.
Today, Mercy Flights continues to meet the needs of local communities by providing critical care with 3 fixed wing aircraft, 1 helicopter and 24 ground ambulance units to serve the people of Southern Oregon and Northern California. Membership has grown to include 20,000 households, several of whom have been members since Mercy Flights’ inception. Locally, the Jacksonville Boosters Club has enjoyed a long-term relationship with Mercy Flights, offering members reduced yearly fees as a benefit of membership.
For more information about Mercy Flights, Inc. please visit mercyflights.com.