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Wilderness Medical Society
2150 E 1300 S, Suite 500
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
(801) 990-2988
(801) 990-2987 (FAX)

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Electives


What types of electives are available?
Most electives can be described as either academic, clinical or research experiences. There are several of each for you to choose from, or create your own.

When are these electives?
As there are many available throughout the year; you should have no problem finding a two or four week elective to fit into your schedule. The official WMS elective is held in February of each year. Clinical rotations tend to take place during peak tourist/ski season.

Who qualifies for these electives?
Most electives will only accept third or fourth year medical students (MD or DO), with priority usually given to the fourth years. Having said that, there are a few available during the summer after your MSI and MSII year.

How do I get credit for the electives?
The official WMS elective is very well established and students have no problem receiving school credit for it. Stick with the WMS or other University affiliated courses for assurance of medical school credit if it is something you need.

How do I start my own student wilderness elective?
This has been done, but requires a large amount of legwork on your part. If this is something you want to do, I would suggest talking to a student who has done something similar and finding a faculty advisor in your college that will work with and support you.

CURRENT ELECTIVE LIST

If you know of additional elective opportunities, or find that some of the links below are out of date, please email us.

There are "Resident " and "Fellowships" sections near the end. 

MEDICAL STUDENTS

Big Sky Resort, Montana

  • Very popular! They take roughly 40 students per year and make their decisions each November in the year PRIOR to your elective (they only take 4th year medical students).
  • We suggest you apply very early. You can even apply online!
  • Course contact: Jeff Daniels, MD
  • www.docsky.us

Cornell Medical College

  • Combined one month elective in EM and wilderness medicine; one week backcountry in the Adirondack Mountains- 
    • September 28 to October 24, 2009
  • Two week wilderness medicine elective; one week backcountry in the Escalante National Monument, Utah- 
    • April 19 to May 2, 2010
  • 3rd & 4th year students
  • Course contact: Jay Lemery, MD
  • Website

Johns Hopkins University

Madigan Army Medical Center

  • 3 week rotation held at MAMC with trips to Mt. Ranier and optional 4th week NOLS field experience in the Olympic Mountains. 
  • First course is September 2 to 29, 2010.
  • Includes AWLS certification, multiple hands-on scenarios, practical skills, simulation medicine, and field trips.
  • Elective Director: MAJ David Hile, MD
  • Website (includes detailed course information): www.fieldmedicine.net
  • Download the information pamphlet

Medcor at Yellowstone National Park

  • 2 to 3 week rotations available from June 15 to August 15, 2010. Please apply around January 2010.
  • For students less interested in a wilderness curriculum and instead prefer to work in a national park setting (Yellowstone Clinic).
  • Elective Director: Luanne Freer, MD

NOLS Medical Student Course - Medicine in the Wild

Telluride Medical Center / Institute for Altitude Medicine

UCSF Fresno

University of Massachusetts Medical School

  • Takes place in May each year. (Full for 2009)
  • 3 weeks (evolutions): The first evolution will be Alpine and will take place on Mount Pfiefferhorn, the second will be White Water on the Green River/Desolation Canyon, and the last will be Desert in Canyonlands National Park.
  • Additional opportunities for first and second year medical students
  • Course contact: kerri.o'keefe@umassmed.edu
  • http://www.umassmed.edu/wildmeded.aspx

University of Nebraska School of Medicine & Belize Institute for Tropical & Wilderness Medicine & GMRS Ltd

 University of Nevada

 University of New Mexico

University of South Carolina

  • Next course is (around September 2009, exact dates TBA)
  • Involves several components including classroom instruction, outdoor laboratory sessions and a 4-5 day wilderness excursion involving rescue scenarios, canoeing, hiking, and camping
  • Course Directors: Dr Allison Harvey and Dr. Steve Stanfield
  • www.scwildernessmed.com

 University of Utah

 University of Virginia

 Wilderness and International Electives for Medical Students

 Wilderness Medical Associates Canada

  • Only wilderness medicine elective in Canada developed in 2005.
  • Usually held at an outdoor field centre
  • Focuses on medicine and patient care in remote settings. (download syllabus)
  • Upcoming courses:
    • University of Ottawa: June 2 to 10, 2009 (Full)
    • Western Canada / University of Alberta and University of Calgary: July 18 to 26, 2009 (Spot available)
    • Mcmaster University: August 10 to 18, 2009 (Full - wait list only)
  • Open to all students after completing first year.
  • Course contact: Mike Webster
  • http://www.wildmed.ca/w_elective.html
  • Journal article in Canadian Family Physician, Experiencing Medicine Without the Bells and Whistles.
Wilderness Medicine in Alaska
  • Next course is July 12 to 24, 2009, and will be held in a very remote area of Denali State Park in Alaska.
  • Sponsored by SUNY Upstate New York Medical College, Wilderness Education Association, and the Denali Education Center, AK
  • This course is open to anyone, and generally about half are medical students.
  • Download more information.
  • Course directors: Thomas Welch, MD (Lead Instructor) and Jodi Rodwell (Course Coordinator)
  • www.denali.org
  • www.adirondoc.com

RESIDENTS (adapted from ACEP)

Big Sky Resort, Montana

  • Very popular! Currently taking more than 10 residents and fellows each year, mostly during the four months of the ski season.
  • Course contact: Jeff Daniels, MD
  • www.docsky.us

 Grand Canyon Clinic

  • This is a 4-6 week rotation for 3rd year residents (EM, IM or FP) providing remote urgent and ambulatory care for canyon visitors. Recommended to take place between April and August (highest visitor volume).
  • Contact: Sean Clendaniel
  • www.nps.gov/grca

 Grand Teton National Park- Search and Rescue

  • Opportunities exist to work directly with paramedics, rotate through the emergency department (senior residents preferred), and to work with the local search and rescue team. Mid-summer and ski season tend to be the best months because they are busy. There is no formal program at this time, so a resident’s interests and plans will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  • Contact: Will Smith, MD
  • www.wildmedconsulting.com

 Madigan Army Medical Center (new for 2009!)

  • 3 week rotation held at MAMC with trips to Mt. Ranier and optional 4th week NOLS field experience in the Olympic Mountains. 
  • First course is September 2 to 29, 2009.
  • Includes AWLS certification, field training scenarios, simulation, and weekly EM grand rounds.
  • Elective Director: MAJ David Hile, MD
  • Download the information pamphlet

 MedWAR

 Racing the Planet

  • This is a 250km footrace through four of the world's biggest deserts. Senior EM residents and fellows with an interest in providing sports medicine care in remote areas of the world would gain invaluable experience on the care of endurance athletes and logistics for coordinating such care. You must be willing to travel to remote areas of the world, fit enough to hike 10 to 20 km and camp for 7 days, and obtain your own malpractice insurance. Flight costs are supplemented, and lodging is paid.
  • Contact: Brian Krabak, MD
  • www.4deserts.com

 Stanford University

  • Residents work in remote outposts in Vietnam, Papua New Guinea and Ethiopia..
  • Contact: Kelly Murphy, MD

 Telluride Medical Center / Institute for Altitude Medicine

  • There is a 4 week research rotation offered through the Institute for Altitude Medicine for residents. There is also a 4 week clinical rotation through the Telluride Medical Center for to PGY3's only.
  • Contact: Jenny Hargrove, MD (research)
  • Contact: Dan Hehir, MD (clinical)
  • www.telluridemedicalcenter.org

 UCSF Fresno

 University of Virginia

RESIDENCIES (with a Wilderness Medicine Track)

Central Maine Medical Center- Family Practice

  • This 3-year longitudinal program allows residents to become skilled in clinical, research, and educational aspects of wilderness medicine. The program includes funding for textbooks, elective travel expenses, WMS membership, and the Wilderness Advanced Life Support (WALS) course. Electives may be done at with the local ski patrol (Sunday River, ME), or other locations with advanced planning. Residents also travel each year with the Himalayan Health Exchange

  • Contact Jill Freda
  • http://www.cmmcfmrp.org/wimp.html

 Montana Family Medicine Residency

  • Intensive 3-year wilderness medicine training track with rotation opportunities in Yellowstone National Park, Red Lodge, Big Sky and others locations in and outside the United States.  Further opportunities include a WALS course, wilderness medicine conferences, research and writing.

  • Contact: Joseph Keel, MD
  • http://www.mfmr.org/

FELLOWSHIPS

Stanford University

 University of Utah

 Harvard (New in 2008)

 UCSF Fresno (New in 2008)

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Helping Hands Health Education

 

Last updated 05/28/09