Improving lives as a humanitarian first, flight paramedic second

Saul Elertas
Flight Paramedic
Life Lion Critical Care

“So much of what we do in medicine is very technologically based. I always remember part of that Hippocratic oath that says, first, do no harm,” said Saul Elertas, a flight paramedic for Life Lion Critical Care. “That stands out to me anytime that I can comfort a patient.”

At Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine, the most innovative approaches to patient care always prioritize the individual. For Saul, who works rotational 12-hour shifts out of bases in Carlisle, Hershey and Lancaster, providing critical care for either interfacility transports or on-scene calls, that means treating patients with comfort and compassion.

Saul’s interest in emergency health care began in high school when he worked as an EMT. He later worked as a paramedic in Harrisburg, while setting his sights on a career at Life Lion.

“They’ve always been the local heroes, the cool place to work,” says Saul, who also provides medical support for Camp Lionheart, an annual summer camp in Colebrook for children with congenital heart disease.

Saul says he values the mission of Penn State Health more with each passing year.

“This is how I want to be treated if I’m on the other side of the stretcher,” he said. “Penn State Health brings the right people together to improve lives.”

It’s stories like these that drive our purpose.