A LIFE OF service begins with a single decision and builds with each next choice. Service in the field of public safety multiplies the reach of those decisions and is life-saving in many cases.
In 1992, Mike Clements made a seemingly ordinary decision — to accept an invitation to visit the Rutherford County Volunteer Fire Department. Little did he know that this choice would ignite a passion that would shape his career and impact countless lives.
Clements encountered a mentor at the fire department who would set him on an extraordinary path. The chief, a paramedic, influenced his decision to become an EMT and delve deeper into the world of public safety. Clements didn’t hesitate. He enrolled in EMT training, and his career took flight.
Becoming an EMT was just the beginning. The more he learned, the more he wanted to do. He went on to become a paramedic, working tirelessly to provide critical care to those in need. But with each patient Clements encountered, he realized he could always do more to make a difference.
He left direct patient care and worked from 2001 to 2010 as the assistant director of the Bedford County Emergency Medical Service. After a decade of administrative work, Clements was ready to return to direct patient care.
Things took off when the prior aerospace engineer student became a Vanderbilt LifeFlight paramedic, where he played a crucial role in transporting patients in need of specialized care.
“Those are the sickest of the sick; they are high acuity,” Clements said. “And they demand focused critical thinking and decision-making. Emergency medical service, in general, is different; every call is different. But [flight transportation] is even more extreme. You really have to think through processes and think further than just the next step. Almost like chess, you have to think two steps ahead to anticipate the direction the care needs to go.”
Clements’ passion for healthcare continued to grow. Working for a large academic medical center opened the doors to more resources and educational opportunities. His next choice was an easy one. He decided to become a nurse, expanding his skills and knowledge to provide another level of care. He started nursing school in 2012 at Chattanooga State Community College and obtained his nursing license in 2013.
for a year, so I did and worked in the intensive care unit at Vanderbilt to gain nursing experience. After that year, I went back to flight in a true flight nurse position,” Clements said.
But Clements’s journey didn’t stop there. While working as a flight nurse, he obtained his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Cumberland University. Aiming higher, he followed up with a master’s degree in nursing and executive nursing leadership.
A transition from direct patient care to administration was next. LifeFlight opened a new ground base in Tullahoma in July 2021, a project Clements oversaw in his base manager role.
Today, Clements is the associate director of ground transport for Vanderbilt LifeFlight, ensuring a seamless transition to the highest level of care. The hospital maintains ambulance bases in Tullahoma, Lebanon, Nashville, and Clarksville, strategically located near Vanderbilt’s hospitals. The LifeFlight fleet includes helicopters, an airplane, ambulances, and transportation vans.
“Part of the mission of LifeFlight’s Ground Transport is keeping patients flowing in and out of the hospital. We do some discharges for patients going from those hospitals to home or skilled nursing facilities, typically in Nashville,” said Clements. “On the ground, we are a conduit for patients who need transport to a higher level of care but are not to the critical level where the flight crew and rapid transport are indicated. We still have access to air assets, and the high acuity patients that need a high level of critical care are still typically flown by helicopter.”
Managing the flow of patients through the transportation fleet makes beds available as soon as possible for the next patient. It’s more than it appears on the surface. Each move creates space for a future patient’s best healthcare.
Clements knows that choices like his affect us all. We can all make choices to serve one another for a brighter future.
He said, “I am hopeful for future generations to embrace the opportunity to do something for the greater good with people, whether that’s serving your community [or your country]. I didn’t go into the military, but I’ve chosen a path that still serves others. You can do a lot in your life, and part of that needs to be service to others in some capacity.”
A life of service isn’t just about our choices but also about the lives we touch along the way. Every decision, every role, every step forward contributes to the safety and well-being of our communities.
In a world where heroes often go unsung, Clements’s career is a powerful reminder of the impact of selfless service and the importance of those who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe. Their journeys are a testament to the power of service — a journey that begins with a single decision and builds with each next choice. GN
