Medicina a 10.000 metres d’altura: la vocació de Mònica Fortea
The Trauma Surgeon Balancing Work at the General Hospital with Leading a Pioneering International Air Medical Transport Company
A Colombian young man, about 20 years old, fell into a coma after suffering a cerebral infarction due to hemorrhage while studying aerospace engineering in the Czech Republic a few months ago. The student insurance he had contracted stopped covering his hospital expenses, and his chances of survival were very low.
In this context, Dr. Mònica Fortea, a trauma surgeon from Sant Cugat and founder of a leading air medical transport company in Spain, stepped in. The embassies of both countries contacted Fortea to coordinate the young man’s repatriation. Thanks to a complex journey involving both ambulance and air transport, he was able to return to Colombia.
This is just one example of the missions carried out by Aeromedical and Marine Training and Rescue International, a company born from the passion of a Sant Cugat doctor that completes around 200 missions worldwide each year.
A Project Born from Experience
Fortea is an orthopedic trauma surgeon who currently works at the Hospital General de Catalunya, heading the international department. Her experience beyond the hospital began two decades ago when she treated sailors from around the world in Spain and then arranged their return to their home countries.
“I started asking myself questions and realized that airborne medicine needed to exist with a different set of characteristics,” she explains. Motivated by this concern, she pursued further training—first as a HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) instructor, then in the aeromedical transport of patients via commercial and air ambulance flights.
Having worked for both national and international companies, assisting private patients and insurance providers, Fortea eventually decided to establish Aeromedical and Marine Training and Rescue International four years ago.
“It’s a 24/7 job, every day, every night. It requires deep commitment and a strong medical mindset because we always have to be there,” she emphasizes.
A Service That Spans the Globe
So, what exactly does the company do? From its headquarters in Sant Cugat, the team coordinates emergency air transfers, medical transports on commercial flights, and private medical escort services.
“We handle everything: finding flights, arranging the right type of escort, booking taxis and hotels… We oversee the entire process, from the moment the medical escort (a nurse, doctor, or both) departs to reach the patient, assess their condition, determine if they are fit to fly, and accompany them until they arrive safely at their destination.”
Major insurance providers from Europe and North America rely on their services to ensure that patients in complex medical situations can return home safely. Recently, the company expanded its operations by establishing bases in Miami and Dubai, enabling faster response times to global emergencies.
Fortea highlights that the key to the company’s success lies in meticulous preparation and adaptability. “Without dedication, this would be impossible,” she states, emphasizing the commitment of her colleagues.
The company has a core team of about 15 people who regularly fly and manage operations. “Additionally, we have up to 50 professionals in our reserve pool—highly skilled aeromedical experts who work on a case-by-case basis,” she explains.
Flexibility is crucial: “We are professionals with a degree of flexibility. Without it, balancing this job with the rest of our professional and personal lives would be impossible.”
A Passion-Driven Career
Many of these professionals combine this work with their stable jobs. “I work onsite at the hospital until noon, then continue remotely from the office,” says Fortea. Passion is essential: “It’s in our blood.”
Despite her demanding hospital duties and running a business, she still actively participates in missions, admitting that flying remains her greatest passion.
Aiming for Long-Term Success
“This is a lifelong project. I want it to last forever and become Spain’s leading air medical transport company, setting an international benchmark,” Fortea asserts.
She also underscores the strong presence of women in the company. “This is a company with a lot of women, both Catalan and Spanish. It’s not always easy to gain international recognition, but we’re making it happen.”
