WMS Elective

The Wilderness Medical Society and the Academy of Wilderness Medicine present:

The 2009 Elective in Wilderness Medicine
February 1-28, 2009

Please note: Due to a recent cancellation, there is a space available for the2009 Elective.

The Wilderness Medical Society, and the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, in consultation with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) offer:

"A Standard in Wilderness Medicine Education"

Designed for 3rd and 4th year medical students, residents, and allied health profession students from accredited schools, this elective provides four weeks of instruction including:

• Small group discussions of wilderness scenarios
• Formal lectures of Wilderness Medicine principles and specific topics by leaders in the field
• Field and hands-on instruction in survival and pre-hospital patient assessment and evacuation
• Supervised five-day field-practicum incorporating medical assessment, treatment, evacuation, survival and improvisational techniques.
• 48 hour Wilderness First Responder Course
• Eligibility to sit for the Wilderness First Responder National Registry Examination (as applicable in home state)

All this and more in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee!

Please see our sponsors

Educational Objectives:

• Act as a medical group leader in backcountry or other remote settings
• Advise a wilderness travel group concerning care and evacuation of ill or injured members
• Plan for the medical support of wilderness and adventure travel experiences
• Manage common illnesses and injuries in an austere environment with limited resources
• Understand the physician’s role in search and rescue
• Identify and plan for special hazards in a variety of extreme environments
• Demonstrate basic competence in exotic travel and wilderness survival skills

Credits:

The curriculum is structured to be academically demanding. It was developed by a review committee of nationally recognized faculty from the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS). This curriculum has been reviewed by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). Each participant must query their own institution IN ADVANCE as to whether the elective, deemed credit-worthy by USUHS, will be accepted by their home institution. A letter of explanation to your school’s Administrator or Dean may be downloaded here.

Curriculum:
The curriculum consists of five units:

• Introduction to Wilderness Medicine
• The Human Condition in the Wilderness
• Special Topics in Wilderness Medicine
• Human-Wilderness Harmony
• Wilderness First Responder Course

The official Elective Information Packet with complete information ready for printing is available here.

Grading:

The Grading system is Pass/Fail based upon a written, multiple-choice final examination grade of no less than 70%, a pass of the practical field exam, and completion of the 5-day Great Smoky Mountain practicum (hike). WFR course examinations are administered separately by Roane State Community College faculty in accordance with established guidelines.

Eligibility:

Applicants must have camping/backpacking skills and equipment and should be in sufficient physical condition and health to complete a 5-day overnight field experience with a trek through the mountains (elevation under 8,000 ft) as a requirement for successful completion of the elective. 3rd and 4th year medical students, residents, and allied health profession students from accredited schools.

All US and international medical students in their 3rd or 4th year (senior years) of medical school, residents, and students in allied health professional schools (PA and Nursing) during the time of the elective (February 2009) may apply.

Application:

Updated applications and course materials are available for download and printing for the 2009 course below. 

Application Specifics:

• Tuition: $1050 (US$) per student due upon acceptance to elective
• All applications must be accompanied by a $250 (US$) deposit
• Applicants not accepted will be completely refunded.
• Applicants are expected to provide their own equipment necessary for the field practicum.
• Deadlines for applications to 2009 class:
• No applications accepted BEFORE 1 June 2008
•  Deadline for applications is 1 August  2008
• WMS is a non-profit educational organization and tuition represents 'break even cost' for room, board, supplies, and faculty expenses only. If you represent an organization or individual willing to make a donation to help defray the cost of the course for students, please contact our Course Director.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION AND INFORMATION HERE:

• An announcement letter can be found here.
• Dean's and Administrator's letter of explanation can be found here.
• A high quality color poster for display or publication can be found in PDF format here.
• The official application and elective information packet with complete information ready for printing is available here.

Selection Criteria:

Demonstrated interest in the field, intent to disseminate/further acquired knowledge in future career pursuits, outdoor and wilderness experience, and an ability to work well in group settings.

Diversity is encouraged without sacrificing applicant quality.
Space available for 28 students with only the first 100 applications received considered.

Location:

Camp Wesley Woods-Near Townsend, located in eastern Tennessee adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Camp Wesley Woods is a 700 acre wooded camp with trails, climbing walls, pond, dormitory cabins and dining facilities.

Easy access from Interstates 40 and 75. Transportation provided between camp and Knoxville, airport, and surrounding communities as needed.

Full meals included Monday through Fridays. Male and female lodging via dorm style rooms with 4-6 bunk beds. All sleeping facilities included with communal room, separated bathing facilities, and kitchenette.

Questions:

Contact the Course Directors, Christian Sloane, MD and Thomas Kessler, MD at csloane@ucsd.edu or tkphs@yahoo.com  if you have any questions at any time.

Volunteer:

Professionals with academic affiliations interested in volunteering as WMS faculty are asked to contact the course directors.

Other elective opportunities

 

 

 

Sponsors:

Camp Wesley Woods 329 Wesley Woods Road Townsend, Tennessee 37882 Phone: (865) 448-2246 or (865) 448-6556 Fax: (865) 448-3904 campwesleywoods.com Email: wwcamptn@aol.com	Roane State Community College Center for Health Sciences Wilderness Medicine Programs Kirk Harris, Program Director; Fred Baty, Lead Instructor roanestate.edu
Riversports Outfitters Ed McAllister 2918 Sutherland Avenue Knoxville, TN 37919 Phone: (865) 523-0066 Fax: (865) 525-6921 riversportsoutfitters.com	JUST GET OUTDOORS! Liz Domingue 3340 E. Wearwood Drive Sevierville, TN 37862-8334 justgetoutdoors.com 865-774-5885
Earth Kin Programs and Consulting Wanda DeWaard 4132 Rocky Branch Road Walland, TN  37886 865-983-5393	UT Family Practice dstockto@mc.utmck.edu
Cherokee Indian Hospital Michael (CIHA/IHS) Toedt, clinical director michael.toedt@cherokeehospital.org	Ethicon Susan [ETHUS] Calderone scalder7@ethus.jnj.com Ruth [ETHUS] Noll rnoll4@ethus.jnj.com
BSN Tim Prostko twprostko@aol.com	Townsend Tourist Bureau Jeanie Hilten jhilten@smokymountains.org