STARS Academy

This outreach education program is available to rural and urban emergency service providers in air medical care, critical care transport, and system access.

STARS partners with the University of Calgary to offer the STARS Critical Care and Transport Medicine Academy certificate course through the Continuing Medical Education Department. The 21-week course covers the fundamentals of critical care and transport medicine and is designed for rural and urban registered nurses, paramedics (ground and fixed-wing) and physicians who wish to expand their knowledge and skills when caring for the critically ill and/or injured patients.

The Academy is delivered using a blended model, consisting of:

• 17-Week Online Component: This demanding segment provides an intensive, asynchronous, comprehensive exploration of critical care transport medicine fundamentals. It requires a strong commitment and rigorous engagement to gain the necessary foundations for the on-site experience. The course is designed to be immersive and thorough, ensuring that those completing it have an enhanced understanding of critical care transport medicine.
• 4-Week On-Site Experience: The in-person time offers an immersive experience featuring large-group work led by clinical specialists. Throughout the program, participants will delve into both technical and, perhaps more crucially, non-technical skills vital for managing the most critically ill patients. The cohort will engage in rigorous discussions, collaborative exercises, and simulated clinical scenarios, challenging one another’s assumptions and honing strategies for navigating uncertainty. Feedback from dedicated faculty will guide and enhance their learning journey, ensuring that each participant emerges with a robust, well-rounded skill set that will lay a solid foundation for continued growth.
• Flight Practicums: In this phase, participants will gain invaluable hands-on experience at one of the STARS bases. This practical component allows the application of knowledge and skills within a real-world rotary wing transport environment, bridging the gap between theory and practice with precision and confidence.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in one of the following roles:
  • Advanced Care Paramedic
  • Registered Nurse (ER/ICU/CCU)
  • Physician (Emergency Setting)
• Strong working knowledge of ACLS, PALS, and ITLS/TNCC/ATLS.