Save the date!
Welcome to the 4th EURAMI Conference!
EURAMI proudly invites you to the 4th EURAMI Conference in Istanbul—followed by the Members-Only General Assembly and a Cocktail Networking Soirée.
The 4th EURAMI Aeromedical Conference will take place on:
- 🕘 Date: 31 October 2026 ⏰ Duration: 09:00 – 13:00
- 📍 Location: Swissôtel the Bosphorus Istanbul (Genève- Luzerne Room)
Why attend?
- 🎤 Insightful discussions on key developments shaping the aeromedical industry
- 🌍 Perspectives from leading experts and industry professionals
- 🤝 Excellent networking opportunities with peers and partners throughout the day
Be sure to pencil this important date into your calendar! Further updates regarding the agenda and confirmed speakers will follow very soon. We look forward to welcoming you to the wonderful city of Istanbul.
EURAMI Conference 2026
Conference Committee 2026
Committee Chair:
Eva KLUGE
Committee Members:
Barbara BAUMGARTNER, UAE
Dr Cai GLUSHAK, USA
Dr Ludovic GROS, France
Daniel MAERZ, Canada
Philipp SCHNEIDER, Germany
Dr Glenn STAPLES, South Africa
We greatly appreciate the committee members’ input and creative ideas.
We sincerely thank our sponsors for their generous support and partnership. Their commitment helps make our work and events possible.
Find out more about our agenda and speakers below.
Keynote Address
09:15 – 10:15
A keynote on the critical role of psychology, leadership, and human factors in achieving aviation safety and organizational excellence. Drawing on decades of experience, Dr. Naddaf shares insights into building resilient people, strong safety cultures, and high-performing organizations in the aviation environment.
Dr. Edma Naddaf is an Aviation Psychologist with 37 years of experience and one of the UAE’s most senior specialists in the field. A founding member of Emirates, she joined the airline at its inception in 1986 and has played a pioneering role in integrating psychology into aviation operations. She established Emirates’ first psychometric laboratory to support the safe selection of pilots, air traffic controllers, engineers, and cabin crew, and later founded the airline’s first in-house Employee Assistance Centre to promote staff wellbeing and operational safety.
Dr. Naddaf has been a Specialist Aeromedical Examiner with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) since 2013. She is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and a member of the European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP). A strong advocate for mental health in aviation, she is a frequent speaker at international aviation conferences, summits, and seminars.
Panel 1: Expert Session
10:45 – 12:15
Reframing Safety in Aeromedical Transport: A Complex Systems Approach to Risk Stratification
Traditional safety metrics look backward—this session looks ahead.
Aeromedical transport is a high-risk field where traditional safety measures often overlook dynamic, interconnected risks. This presentation proposes a systems-based approach to redefining performance metrics. It draws on research into pre-transport risk stratification and the interplay of clinical, operational, and environmental factors.
Dr. Almien Smit is an Emergency Medicine specialist based in South Africa, practising at a tertiary public hospital and contributing to registrar training and curriculum development at the University of Pretoria. She obtained her FCEM(SA) with distinction and received the Kloeck Family Medal for best overall performance.
Dr. Smit also works in fixed-wing aeromedical transport with Universal Air Evac, specialising in clinical decision-making, risk assessment, and patient safety. She is currently pursuing a PhD on risk stratification in aeromedical transport, focusing on improving the prediction of adverse events in complex aeromedical systems.
Who Decides? Accountability and Authority in Aeromedical Transport
In high-stakes aeromedical missions, who ultimately owns the decision to fly—and the risk that comes with it? This session examines the intersection of medical judgment, operational control, aviation and regulatory frameworks, clarifying roles, responsibilities, and liability. Through real-world scenarios, it highlights how clear decision authority strengthens safety and reduces conflict under pressure.
Dr. Charlotte Stehn is a specialist in anesthesiology, intensive care, and emergency medicine with extensive expertise in aviation and travel medicine. Since 2015, she has worked as a flight physician on air ambulance and commercial flights, providing fitness-to-fly assessments, medical advice to insurers, flight crew training, and operational procedure development. She also lectures internationally in aviation medicine, with a focus on aerospace physiology, travel health, and air ambulance operations. Dr. Stehn has held senior academic leadership roles in paramedic education and has participated in humanitarian medical missions across Africa since 2006. She has authored numerous publications in intensive care, travel medicine, and aeromedical operations.
Operating Under Pressure: Aeromedical Missions in a Conflict-Affected GCC
What does it take to maintain operations in a region shaped by conflict?
This update offers real-world insights from the GCC, where volatility, coordination, and rapid decision-making are critical.
Learn how teams adapt, mitigate risk, and ensure continuity in high-pressure environments.
Barbara Baumgartner is the Managing Director of FAI Aviation Services in Dubai, leading the company’s operations and strategic growth across the Middle East. With extensive experience in international aviation and business leadership, she has been instrumental in expanding FAI’s regional presence and delivering world-class aviation support services. Recognised for her dynamic leadership and commitment to operational excellence, Barbara is a strong advocate for innovation, collaboration, and the highest standards of quality and customer service in the aviation industry.
Panel 2: Smart Skies – Advanced Systems for Safer Missions
12:15 – 13:30
From Data to Duty Limits: Defining Measurable Fatigue Thresholds
The session examines methods for integrating fatigue-related thresholds into safety management systems, emphasizing the transition from subjective assessment to objective, evidence-based decision frameworks. The speaker analyzes how fatigue science, biometrics, and performance metrics can be operationalized into quantifiable duty limits within aeromedical contexts. Drawing on research conducted with NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the United States Department of Defense, the session demonstrates how data-driven models can be used to optimize alertness and mitigate operational risk.
With 2 decades of experience in biomedical engineering, Dr. Mollicone has played an active role in the development of the field of neurobehavioral performance measurement and fatigue risk management. A co-founder of Pulsar Informatics, Dr. Mollicone has acted as Principal Investigator or co-investigator on research funded by a number of government agencies, including NASA, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Institute of Health. He has co-authored numerous publications on topics of neurobehavioral performance measurement and fatigue modeling. Dr. Mollicone holds degrees in Engineering Physics and Biomedical Engineering.
Bridging Theory and Reality: The Science of Implementing Fatigue Risk Management
Building on the science of measurable limits, this session explores how fatigue risk management is translated into real-world operations.
It focuses on practical implementation, organizational challenges, and how data-driven models can be effectively embedded into everyday decision-making.
Gain insights into turning theory into actionable, sustainable practice across aviation environments.
Dan Maerz is an Airline Transport Pilot with extensive experience across a wide range of aviation operations, including Arctic, offshore, and aeromedical missions. A recognised leader in aviation safety and quality management, he has served as Director of Safety at Sunwest since 2014, driving safety excellence and continuous operational improvement across the organisation. His academic credentials include an Aviation Diploma from Mount Royal University, a BA (Honours) from the University of Calgary, and a Master of Studies with Distinction from the University of Oxford. Combining operational expertise with academic excellence, Daniel is a respected voice in aviation safety, risk management, and organisational resilience.
Live Demonstration: Cognitive Performance Testing in Action
Experience a real-time demonstration as volunteer participants complete a short cognitive assessment on a laptop.
See firsthand how performance data is captured, analyzed, and interpreted to inform fatigue and alertness management.
This interactive session highlights practical applications of monitoring tools in operational settings.
Speakers: Meredith Hedwall, Pulsar Informatics and Daniel Maerz, Sunwest Aviation