Michael Copass, MD, a pioneer in emergency medicine and the founder of Airlift Northwest passed away on July 26, 2024, at the age of 86. Copass dedicated his career to saving lives and advancing the field of emergency medical care.
He graduated from Stanford University, and, in 1964, received his MD from Northwestern University. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a Major from 1965 where he was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for his outstanding service. He started his career at the University of Washington School of Medicine in 1969 as a neurology resident, and he went on to hold various prestigious positions, including director of Emergency Services at Harborview Medical Center from 1973 to 2008 and medical director of Airlift Northwest from 1982 to 2008.
A pioneer for paramedics
In 1975, Copass became the director of the Harborview Medical Center’s paramedic training program. In this role, he shaped the careers of countless paramedics and established one of the most rigorous and respected training programs in the nation. His relentless dedication and innovative approach expanded the program’s scope to include not only cardiac care but also trauma, obstetrics, pediatric care and more. Copass also served as the Seattle Fire Department medical director, further solidifying his influence in emergency medical services.
“Dr. Michael Copass was a visionary leader who revolutionized the field of emergency medical care,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “His innovative work to strengthen the Medic One program, a partnership between the Seattle Fire Department and medical providers, has become a national model for excellence in pre-hospital care, saving countless lives.”
Founding Airlift Northwest
In 1982, Copass founded Airlift Northwest, inspired by a critical incident in Sitka, Alaska, where he struggled to secure timely air transport for a severely burned child. To prevent such tragedies in the future, Airlift Northwest provides immediate and efficient air medical trauma care and transport. Since its founding, Airlift Northwest has transported over 100,000 patients to critical care facilities.
In line with Copass’s dedication to pre-hospital emergency care, he served on the Medic One Foundation board from 1978 to 2013, including a term as president from 2005 to 2008. During his time on the board, he was instrumental in securing critical funding for research and development of lifesaving innovations and in providing scholarships for smaller communities to send their personnel to the paramedic training program. His forward-thinking approach ensured that even the most remote areas had access to top-tier emergency medical training.
Leaving a legacy to benefit generations
“Dr. Copass was a beacon of excellence, setting high standards for himself and those around him,” said Tim Dellit, MD, CEO of UW Medicine and Dean of the UW School of Medicine. “Few individuals have had such a profound impact on the communities they served as he pioneered life-saving pre-hospital care and ensured Harborview was ready to provide the highest quality care for the most vulnerable and most critically ill when they arrived at the hospital. He was admired for always being ready for an emergency, whether it was carrying a radio to go to the scene of an accident himself, providing medical advice to paramedics, personally attending to patients or mentoring colleagues.”
Dr. Copass’ legacy will live on through the countless lives he saved, the paramedics he trained and the community he served. His dedication to improving emergency medical care has left an enduring impact that will continue to benefit generations to come.
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