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GRAND RAPIDS, EAST LANSING and TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Oct. 21, 2026 — Michigan State University's Veterinary Medical Center, Corewell Health™ and Munson Healthcare have partnered to launch Michigan's first emergency air transport program for canine officers, creating a new pathway to specialized emergency veterinary care for critically ill and injured public safety working dogs across Michigan.

The program combines specialized emergency veterinary care provided by Michigan State University's Veterinary Medical Center with emergency air transport services provided by Corewell Health Aero Med and North Flight Aero Med, a joint venture between Corewell Health and Munson Healthcare. Together, the partners have created a new option for on-duty canine officers working in law enforcement, the military and other public safety organizations that require immediate medical attention.

Canine officers play an important role in protecting communities and serving alongside public safety professionals across Michigan. When one of these highly trained animals experiences a serious injury or medical emergency, timely access to specialized veterinary care can make a critical difference.

"At the push of a button, a robocall goes to our team saying, hey, you need to get to the Hospital now. There's no question about it," said Dr. Matthew Beal, emergency and critical care specialist at the MSU Veterinary Medical Center. "So, if it's 11:00 at night, two in the morning, Sunday, we hit the button. And our teams from surgery, anesthesia, emergency medicine, critical care, blood banking, imaging—everyone's going to flood into this place and we're going to be ready when that canine arrives."

The partnership was developed through planning, training and coordination among veterinary medicine, aviation and emergency transport professionals. Clinicians from Michigan State University's Veterinary Medical Center worked with Aero Med and North Flight Aero Med teams to develop training, protocols and operational procedures to support safe canine transport. Following specialized training, communication exercises and a live transport drill, the service officially launched and is now available to support working dogs across Michigan.

"Our mission is to provide critical care transport when every minute matters," said Leslie Schutte, manager, clinical flight operations, Aero Med, North Flight Aero Med, Corewell Health. "When we identified a gap in access to specialized emergency care for canine officers, our teams committed to learning new skills, developing protocols and training alongside veterinary experts to safely provide this service. This program creates a new option for agencies across Michigan and helps connect these highly trained animals to the care they need during an emergency."

The service is intended for on-duty dogs working in law enforcement, the military and other public safety organizations that require emergency transport to advanced veterinary care. Flight teams are trained and equipped to support canine patients experiencing trauma, severe bleeding, heat illness, airway emergencies, cardiac arrest, burns, poisoning and other critical injuries or illnesses.

By combining expertise in emergency medical transport and veterinary medicine, the partnership expands access to specialized emergency care for canine officers across Michigan. Learn more about the program at the Michigan State University Veterinary Medical Center website page.

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About Michigan State University

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 170 years. A top 100 global university and leading U.S. public research institution, MSU brings people together to put knowledge into action, improve lives and create meaningful progress in Michigan and around the world. As the nation’s premier land-grant university, MSU expands access to a life-changing education, advances research that addresses real-world needs and prepares students to make a difference in their careers and communities. With more than 400 programs of study, MSU educates more undergraduates than any other university in the state and is a major source of talent, innovation and opportunity for Michigan.

About Corewell Health™  
 
People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 60,000+ dedicated people — including more than 12,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 16,000 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities — and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.
 
About Munson Healthcare

A non-profit rated among Fortune Magazine’s Top 15 Health Systems in America, Munson Healthcare is the largest and leading healthcare system in Northern Michigan. Based in Traverse City, our team of medical experts, eight award-winning community hospitals, and ambulatory facilities serve more than a half-million people across 29 counties. Munson’s 8,000 dedicated team members ensure patients can receive comprehensive quality care in or near their local community with the Witham Family Comprehensive Stroke Center, Webber Heart Center, Cowell Family Cancer Center, Munson Neurosciences, and Munson Orthopedic Institute located in Traverse City. The residents of our region further benefit from Munson’s collaborative partnerships with major healthcare systems, including Mayo Clinic, Michigan Medicine, Corewell Health, and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Established in 1915, Munson Healthcare is committed to serving the people of this region with exceptional care for the next 100 years.

Media Contact:

Alexis Bolo Neal

alexis.boloneal@corewellhealth.org