MentorLIVE: Current Hot Topics in FAA Medical Cert

19 Nov 2025

Current Hot Topics in FAA Medical Certification


Presenter: Dr. Gregory Pinnell, Senior AME

Host: Dr. Victor Vogel, CFI



Description

The aeromedical certification process can seem mysterious, and it demands no less attention to detail and diligence as other areas where airmen have responsibility. Flight instructors can better serve their customers-and ultimately, aviation safety-by staying informed about changes and developments in this area. Join Dr. Gregory Pinnell, a senior AME and president of Airdocs Aeromedical Support Services, as he presents an update on several critical “hot topics” of medical certification in student pilots and discusses ways to simplify and speed up the process.

Dr. Gregory Pinnell

Presenter Bio

Dr. Gregory Pinnell is president of Airdocs Aeromedical Support Services, a multi-specialty group providing a variety of services to the aviation community. He has 23 years of aviation medicine experience and has been a pilot for 42 years.

He is a Family Practice Physician and Senior Aviation Medical Examiner in Michigan. He served as a Chief Flight Surgeon and Commander for the 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana. He also served as Deputy Chief of Bioastronautics for Human Spaceflight Support at Patrick AFB working 23 Space Shuttle missions plus Soyuz support.

He serves as an adjunct professor teaching Aviation Physiology and Human Factors at Western Michigan University College of Aviation. He is a board member for Civil Aviation Medical Association (CAMA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and an AME Consultant to the Federal Air Surgeon.

 
Dr. Victor Vogel

Host Bio

Dr. Victor Vogel is a board-certified and fellowship-trained medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer prevention and treatment. He earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine, completed his residency at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, and trained in medical oncology at the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center. He has served as the National Vice President for Research at the American Cancer Society.

A private pilot since 1980, Dr. Vogel became a CFI in 2019 and CFII in 2020, also earning AGI and IGI certifications. He has owned a Beech Sierra and has flown his Cirrus SR22 for 15 years, logging flights in 40 states. A FAASTeam Representative for the Harrisburg FSDO and IFR Magazine Editorial Board member, he is transitioning to full-time flight instruction. He founded Susquehanna STEM to the Skies, an educational foundation using advanced training technology to introduce high school students to aviation careers. Dr. Vogel recently published A Pilot’s Guide to Risk and Judgement: Strategies for Flying Safely.

Details

Date Wed, Nov 19 2025 8:00 pm GMT-5 (America/New_York)
End Date Wed, Nov 19 2025 9:00 pm GMT-5 (America/New_York)
Event Time Zone EDT