Research shows that 75 per cent of pilots would not disclose a mental health concern to their employer and 58 per cent of cabin crew reported moderate depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy recognises Garrett’s decades of work that reshaped medical support in flight and strengthened emergency preparedness across global aviation operations.

Joan Sullivan Garrett will be recognised at the 2026 WAI conference for pioneering aviation telemedicine and championing medical response training across air, land and sea.