Kylie Stewart

If you ask Kylie Stewart’s mother about her daughter’s early interest in emergency medical services (EMS), she will speak of a determined seven-year-old girl who turned her room into a clinic for her stuffed animals. Many children have similar career origin stories, but what makes Kylie’s unique is how she utilized red Kool-Aid and her grandfather’s oxygen tubing to create pretend blood transfusions.

While it was clear Kylie was destined for healthcare early on, being close to her ailing grandfather was what really strengthened and shaped her resolve to help others.

“He was my best friend. I watched him go through many stages of health issues related to his combat-acquired lung disease including many ER visits, home nebulizers and ultimately hospice. He passed away when I was 12, and by age 14, I started volunteering at the local Veteran’s hospital where I had frequently visited him.”

In 2011, Kylie began saving lives professionally. She now works in De Queen, Arkansas but has been all over the state, holding positions in the emergency room such as an ER nurse, ER clinical development specialist and educator, and sexual assault nurse examiner. Each role taught her—in its own way—how to adapt her abilities for ongoing success; a skill that is vital to EMS.

In 2017, after earning her Certified Emergency Nurse certification, Kylie transitioned to EMS as a flight nurse with Air Evac Lifeteam. She later obtained her Certified Flight Registered Nurse certification and has acted as preceptor to many new hires over the years, helping guide others who are seeking to join this exciting and meaningful industry.

“I learned early in my career that the best asset to have as a provider is to never stop learning. I remain ‘clinically curious,’ as my medical director likes to call it, which allows me to stay relevant and up to date. I don’t take for granted that it is an honor to get to take care of people during the worst moments of their lives.”

At the end of the day, Kylie’s goal was to work in Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) and provide the best possible care to hard-working families like her own. She has certainly achieved that goal, and we applaud her ongoing resilience as she continues to grow and thrive here at GMR. There is no doubt in our minds, somewhere, a beloved grandfather is proud of his little first responder all-grown-up.