Corporate Angel Network Welcomes Ericka Essington of Air Nurses as New Ambassador
Corporate Angel Network Welcomes Ericka Essington of Air Nurses as New Ambassador
Danbury, CT, September 10, 2025 –
Corporate Angel Network (CAN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides cancer patients free flights on jet and turboprop-powered aircraft so they can travel to specialized treatment centers, is proud to announce that Ericka Essington, Founder and CEO of Air Nurses, has joined the team as an Ambassador.
In this role, Essington will help expand awareness of CAN’s mission within the healthcare community. Leveraging her background in medical care, she will serve as a vital connection point between CAN and hospitals, healthcare organizations, case managers, and patient families.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Ericka as part of our Ambassador team,” said Robert Stangarone, President and CEO of Corporate Angel Network. “Her distinguished career in nursing, paramedicine, and medical transport leadership brings an unmatched depth of expertise. Ericka’s ability to connect with healthcare providers, case managers, and patients will be instrumental in expanding CAN’s reach and ensuring that more families benefit from the free flights we provide.”
Essington emphasized that her focus as an Ambassador will be on outreach and connection:
“In this Ambassador role, we won’t be providing medical care. Instead, our part is to act as a bridge: connecting CAN with healthcare organizations and case managers, and helping them expand their reach to the patients and families who need it most,” she said.
Corporate Angel Network arranges more than 1,700 cancer patient flights each year, helping them access the critical care they need. With Essington’s partnership and expertise, CAN looks forward to further extending its mission and strengthening its network of support.
About Ericka Essington
Ericka Essington brings a wealth of experience from her 18-year career as a registered nurse, including 15 years in air medical and critical care transport. A Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) and Certified Medical Transport Executive (CMTE), she has also worked as a certified flight paramedic (FP-C), giving her a unique perspective that spans both the clinical and operational sides of transport medicine.
Over the course of her career, Ericka has held pivotal leadership roles, including serving as Clinical Director of Medical Transport at a prominent healthcare organization, where she spearheaded initiatives that elevated care standards and advanced operational excellence. She has contributed nationally as a clinical educator, outreach coordinator, and content developer for flight and critical care review programs, helping to strengthen training and practice standards across the field.
Her leadership has also extended to professional associations, where she served on the Board of Directors for the International College of Advanced Practice Paramedics (formerly the International Association of Critical Care and Flight Paramedics), advocating for excellence in transport medicine and supporting membership growth initiatives.
Ericka’s career reflects her passion for advancing clinical excellence, education, and advocacy in aviation and healthcare. This same commitment guides her work as Founder and CEO of Air Nurses and as an Ambassador for Corporate Angel Network.
About Corporate Angel Network
Corporate Angel Network (CAN) is a Danbury, CT-based 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to help cancer patients access the best treatment centers in the country by arranging free travel on corporate aircraft. Private jet travel makes it possible for patients, especially those in locations with minimal airline access, to travel to specialized medical centers. CAN works closely with corporations to match empty seats with patient flight requests. Thanks to the generous support of these companies, airlines and donors, CAN has coordinated more than 69,000 flights since its founding in 1981.
How to Donate to CAN
Whether it's $5 or $5,000, all donations truly matter. CAN uses donations for a variety of purposes, including ground transportation, hotel accommodations and other patient services requests. CAN aims to eliminate all travel barriers for patients to ensure they can access the treatment they need. Help us help them and their families by visiting corpangelnetwork.org and making a donation today.