Care in the Air Logo


Elevating Healthcare to New Heights

April 16, 2027
Toronto Reference Library

The Care in the Air Symposium explores the multi-faceted nature of providing care in challenging and harsh environments. The 2027 symposium focuses on delivering life-saving care when resources are scarce, conditions are unpredictable, and time is critical.

Explore how to make critical decisions under pressure, adapt to resource constraints, and leverage technology to deliver care in the most challenging circumstances. Uncover new ideas, innovative tools, and evidence-based approaches to optimize care when every second counts.

Who Should Attend?

Symposium programming will be of interest to:

  • Health professionals and researchers working in aerospace medicine, critical care medicine, emergency medicine, trauma care, wilderness medicine, or occupational medicine
  • Air ambulance, paramedic, and critical care transport medicine professionals
  • Military and civilian aviation medicine personnel
  • Entrepreneurs developing technologies with healthcare application
  • Students interested in learning about, and networking with, experts working in these fields

Conference Highlights

  • 2 optional experiential tours

  • Sessions on launch and landing contingency planning in space medicine

  • Interactive demonstrations with the latest virtual reality technologies

Dr. Joan Saary is the Director of the Division of Occupational Medicine in the University of Toronto’s Department of Medicine. With unique expertise in aerospace and dive medicine she consultants to various organizations including the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Space Agency. She is spearheading Aerospace Medicine training initiatives.

Joan Saary MD PhD FRCPC
Co-Chair Joan Saary

Dr. Bruce Sawadsky is the Chief Medical Officer at Ornge and has over 20 years of experience within the Ontario provincial air ambulance program. His primary focus is clinical care provided in austere environments, such as transport and disaster medicine, as well as the measurement of quality of care and simulation-based training.

Bruce Sawadsky MD
Co-Chair Bruce Sawadsky

2025 Symposium Photos

Co-Chairs Joan Saary & Bruce Sawadsky
Opening Keynote by Virgin Galactic
Erin Smith (Commanding Officer, CFEME); Jameel Janjua (Astronaut, Virgin Galactic); Joan Saary (Co-Chair)
Joan Saary; Jameel Janjua (Astronaut, Virgin Galactic); Wade Hawkins (Research Chair, SAIT); Duncan Hughes (CMO, Virgin Galactic); David Musson (CEO, Lunar Medical) with Remote Resuscitation Delivery Drone
Afternoon Keynote by Paul LeSage
Closing Keynote by MGen Scott Malcolm
Attendees of the Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment Tour