Susan Rivers

Director
Carilion Clinic Life-Guard and CCPT Neo-Peds

Susan earned her RN from Rappahannock Community College in 1993 in rural Virginia. She moved to Roanoke, VA upon graduating, in search of opportunities to accelerate her learning in a trauma center / teaching hospital. She began her career at the Carilion Clinic as a Trauma ICU and ER nurse prior to becoming a flight nurse with Carilion Clinic Life-Guard in 1996. While working as a full time flight nurse, she progressively developed her leadership skills with additional roles in critical care ground, fixed-wing, rotor-wing, and the communications center over a 10 year period, during which time she also earned her BSN from Jefferson College of Health Sciences and her MBA from Averett University.

Susan first attended MTLI in 2004 and earned her CMTE the following year. That same year, she transitioned into her current position as the program director of Carilion’s three-helicopter program and the neonatal-pediatric transport team. She is a strong advocate of safety, achieving the nation's first FAA approved "Incapacitated Pilot Procedures" for medical flight crew, CAMTS' "Best Practice" of Crew Wellness initiatives, and legislative changes to Virginia Code for Drone Safety. She is equally as passionate about crew morale and engagement as noted through externally validated tools, exceeding industry averages each year.

Susan’s teaching experience was developed as adjunct faculty with Jefferson College of Health Sciences and Radford University. Since then, she has presented multiple times at AMTC and other state and regional conferences. She has served for many years as a board member with AAMS.

Outside of work, Susan enjoys international volunteer work and cooking, running, cycling, kayaking, and hiking in her beloved Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband and spending time with their grown children and grandchildren every chance they have to visit!

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Presentation(s):

• Safety Roundtable Part 1: The Inadvertant Combative Patient: Multiple Perspectives

  Monday, October 23, 2023
  09:00 – 10:15 East Coast USA Time

• Safety Roundtable Part 2: Safely Sharing Space-Drones and EMS

  Monday, October 23, 2023
  10:45 – 12:00 East Coast USA Time