Celebrating our air medical crew: Troy Pauls

At STARS, our air medical crew of flight nurses and paramedics are highly trained critical care providers, capable of delivering life-saving interventions in the most complex environments imaginable. From roadside trauma scenes to remote northern communities, these professionals bring the intensive care unit to the patient.

STARS flight paramedic Troy Pauls is a longtime air medical crew member based in Winnipeg who has dedicated decades to the profession and played a key role in launching STARS operations in Manitoba.

Troy’s career began in the middle of a military parade square at Winnipeg’s Minto Armoury in 1984. At 17, while completing basic training, he was introduced to the 17 Wing Medical Company, formerly part of the Royal Canadian Air Force, now part of the Canadian Forces Health Services Group.

“I’d seen a few medics (from the medical company) and thought, ‘Those are great people,’” he recalled.

That gut instinct led to a lifelong calling. He joined the Winnipeg Ambulance Service full-time in 1994 as a reserve medic and has been serving ever since.

In 2011, Troy was one of four paramedics hired in STARS’ inaugural class in Manitoba.

“I knew very little about STARS at the time,” he said. “But I met a paramedic who spent four hours walking me through the program. If everyone at STARS was that professional and kind, I knew it had to be a great place to work.”

Troy helped build STARS operations in Manitoba from the ground up. Back then, the Winnipeg base only flew day shifts, and local emergency services were still adjusting to helicopters suddenly landing at their scenes. While the learning curve was steep, they knew they were making a difference. “Forging ahead was the only option,” said Troy.

Fourteen years later, Troy is still flying, and STARS in Manitoba is a well-integrated part of the province’s health-care system. He credits STARS’ mission, as well as its people, for keeping him inspired.

“Dr. Powell’s vision still holds true — STARS is all about the patient,” he said. “It starts with our engineers, who get a safe helicopter out the door, and continues with our aviation and medical teams, who seamlessly bring critical care to the most ill and injured patients.”

Some of Troy’s most powerful moments are when STARS Very Important Patients return to meet the crew who helped save their lives.

“When patients come back to the base — it’s indescribable,” he said. “The bond that’s created in those moments is lifelong.

“It’s not about recognition — I’m just one piece of the puzzle — but knowing that my 32 years of experience, training, and care have helped bring someone through the worst day of their life — that’s what gets me into the flight suit, every time.”

Today, as another mission lifts off from Winnipeg, Troy takes quiet pride in the legacy he helped build, one forged in teamwork, trust and an unshakable commitment to patients.