About Your AME
Trusted by ATP, commercial, and private pilots for FAA flight physicals — built on clinical rigor and a deep understanding of aviation operations.
Dr. Gary Swartzentruber, MD, FAAFP
I have been intrigued by airplanes since I was a kid. I wanted to be an airline pilot, but my dreams were derailed by a seizure disorder as a kid. Although my seizures resolved, when I went to get my flight physical, I had to jump through some extra hoops with the FAA to get my medical certificate — so I am personally aware of the challenges that health issues can bring to pilots.
My approach is simple: bring the right information to your exam, and we will work with you and the FAA to get your certificate. We understand that time is essential to a pilot, and we will do what we can to accommodate your schedule — we've done them as soon as same day on several occasions!
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Chrissy Elrod, LPN
Chrissy has been my nurse for 13 years and is the steady hand behind every visit. She handles intake, vitals, and the careful coordination that keeps your exam running on schedule — from the moment you walk in to the moment your paperwork is filed with the FAA.
If you call the office or email with a scheduling question, Chrissy is who you'll hear from. She knows the process end to end and is always happy to help you get prepared before your appointment.
Professional Qualifications
Designated by the FAA as a Senior Aviation Medical Examiner with full authority to issue First, Second, and Third Class medical certificates, including CACI and special-issuance cases.
Doctor of Medicine with active board certification and 15+ years of clinical practice alongside the aeromedical practice.
Completed FAA-required AME training and recurrent seminars at the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI).
Fluent in FAR Part 67 standards and the operational realities pilots face — exams scheduled around duty cycles, not the other way around.
Earned Doctor of Medicine; completed residency training in Family Medicine in 2011.
Designated as an Aviation Medical Examiner after FAA training at CAMI.
Elevated to Senior AME, granted authority for special-issuance and complex cases.