Flight nurse Jenny Thorpe and flight paramedic Matt Hogan have won a prestigious award for their performance at an international skills competition.
The members of Saskatoon’s STARS Air Ambulance crew took part in the Association of Air Medical Services 2018 Sim Cup in Phoenix, Arizona this week.
During the competition, the pair showcased their critical care skills in three patient simulations against 12 teams from across North America.
“It was an honour just to make it to this event and to represent STARS and our home base of Saskatoon,” Thorpe said in a statement released Wednesday. “Our win is a direct result of the support and preparation of our family at STARS.”

STARS flight nurse Jenny Thorpe (left) and STARS flight paramedic Matt Hogan (right) took home first place at an international competition Oct. 23, 2018. (STARS Air Ambulance/submitted)
Just like in real life, the duo had no idea what the challenges would be heading into the competition.
The championship round was especially challenging with a very elaborate simulated setup.
“The final case consisted of five casualties involved in a climbing accident in a remote area of the Arizona desert, complete with aggressive coyotes and venomous snakes,” said Hogan. “we made it through with a lot of sweat and fantastic teamwork!”
Canadian air ambulance teams took first and second place.
This is the first time a Saskatoon-based team represented STARS at the competition.