EMT license in 1974

Paramedic in 1976

Ruby has been involved nearly 30 years in the air ambulance business.

If my math is right, 49 years in the industry.

She started as one of the first four flight nurses for Research Eagle when it opened in 1985.

She is engrained and a constant in the EMS world.  She is involved in numerous EMS organizations on the local, regional, state and national level, frequently elected as an officer by her peers.

She is seen as a ‘go to’ and ‘details’ person when something needs to be done.

Ruby has served as Chief Flight Nurse and Program Manager for Research Eagle. After the merger of LifeFlight and Research Eagle she became Clinical Manager, then Director of Business Development and currently is Director of Government Relations.

Ruby has been involved in MEMSA forever.  Ruby is Missouri EMS.  She has served as president and is currently our immediate past president.  She is a fierce advocate for EMS clinicians and the system we have today.

From Joey Araiza RN, BSN – Vice President of Clinical Services

When Ruby was Chief Flight Nurse, she came to my school of nursing at William Jewell in 1999 and showed a video about flight nursing, which I had no idea was even a career option in nursing. I had intended to pursue working in the ICU once graduating. The video Ruby showed started out with the LifeFlight Eagle medical crew going out to the helicopter and then the helicopter starting up, and my classmate turned to me and said, “you gotta do that!”, and it was at that moment I knew that was what I was going to do. I reached out to Ruby shortly after her visit and started developing a relationship with LifeFlight Eagle, doing a ride along, etc.

Once I graduated nursing school and got my experience in, and had the privilege of being hired at LifeFlight Eagle, I was honored to work at the same program as Ruby. There wasn’t anywhere I went that someone did not know Ruby. I thought to myself, “man I would like to be like her someday!” After about 3 years at LifeFlight Eagle, I had the honor of moving into a leadership role and working side by side with Ruby and have been doing so for the past 13 years. It has been such a dream and honor to work beside her and I would have loved the opportunity to have flown just one flight with her, as I have heard many stories about her flying days. Speaking of, I know she has at least one more flight in her, so, Ruby, you will be going up one more time, in LifeFlight Eagle! And Kyle will even do the chart!

Ok, I’m almost done.  If you have interacted with Ruby Mehrer at some point please stand up.

Ruby, we thank you for all your contributions and your dedication to the EMS industry in Missouri and across the country.