Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) and EKU alumnus Dr. Andrew Napier, an emergency room physician, former Army combat medic, Purple Heart recipient, Pat Tillman Scholar and CEO of the medical equipment manufacturer, IntuBlade, announced an equipment donation for students in the Emergency Medical Care (EMC) program on April 7.
Napier donated a fleet of IntuBlade video laryngoscopes to EKU’s EMC simulation lab, providing students with access to field-tested airway management technology used in emergency settings.
“EKU alumni are making a meaningful difference in their fields and in communities across Kentucky and beyond,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “We’re grateful for this innovative equipment from Dr. Napier, ensuring our students are prepared with the skills and experience to succeed in critical, real-world environments.”
The donation coincides with the 60th anniversary of the College of Justice, Safety and Military Science and supports continued investment in hands-on learning opportunities for students.
A native of Somerset, Kentucky, Napier enlisted in the Army National Guard after high school and served six years as a combat medic, including a deployment to Afghanistan, where he provided medical support in combat zones. During his service, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Medical Badge. In 2012, he earned his degree in biomedical sciences from EKU, where he was a Pat Tillman Scholar, choosing EKU for its strong veteran support community. He then began developing airway management solutions after witnessing repeated equipment failures.
“EKU is where I found my footing again and after everything I’d seen, where people believed in what I could still become,” said Dr. Napier. “I’m proud to come back and make sure the next generation of providers here doesn’t face their worst moments unprepared.”
Now an emergency room physician in California and founder of IntuBlade, Napier developed a patented video laryngoscope designed to improve airway management in high-pressure environments, such as an ambulance or combat zone. The device is now deployed in nearly 400 emergency medical services agencies across more than 30 states, including 11 hospitals.
“I founded IntuBlade after losing a soldier to a preventable airway failure and that moment never leaves you,” said Dr. Napier. “Students across the country are entering the field without ever training on the tools they’ll actually use, and that gap falls hardest on rural and underserved communities where resources are already stretched thin. Every provider, regardless of zip code or budget, deserves the same standard of care. That’s what airway equity means to us.”
EKU’s EMC program, the longest accredited in Kentucky and the second-longest accredited in the United States, emphasizes immersive training and simulation to prepare students for careers in emergency response and healthcare. The addition of advanced airway management equipment further strengthens the program’s ability to train skilled professionals ready to serve communities across the Commonwealth.
EKU was recently named No. 1 nationally for Military Friendly® Schools, recognizing the university’s commitment to excellence in veterans education.
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