Education & Engagement Opportunities
The people and experiences that you encounter as a student and resident will affect your future in many ways, so we want you to get involved with the WMS as early in your career as possible (and a reason why we offer a 60% discount off membership prices for students and 30% off for residents and GME fellows!). Below you will find ways to enhance both your network and your knowledge when it comes to wilderness medicine while in training.
Social Media
Follow us on social media to receive updates and information regarding upcoming conferences, electives, and educational opportunities within wilderness medicine, as well as to connect with other members and stay abreast of the latest wilderness medicine news stories.
Student Interest Groups
If you are a student interested in wilderness medicine, we encourage you to join the WMS and your local SIG. Contact the student representative from your campus to find out more about your school’s wilderness medicine interest group. If your school does not have an established SIG, click here to find information on starting a local SIG at your institution.
Student Electives
There are many wilderness medicine elective rotations for medical students, residents, and other learners. Start your search by checking out the WMS-sponsored student electives-These incredible experiences provide opportunities to not only learn from the content experts, but also earn FAWM credits:
Other non-WMS wilderness medicine electives can be found here.
Conference Support Scholarship
We understand that medical education is expensive. This scholarship exists to help ease the financial burden of attending the WMS winter and summer conferences. To be eligible to apply, you must be a current dues-paying WMS member. This scholarship is intended for members who are currently in training (students in healthcare fields, resident physicians, or GME fellows). Submission deadline is 60 days prior to a conference. Those who have been selected will be notified 6 weeks prior to a conference. More information can be found on the informational pages for specific conferences.
Fireside Chat Series
This is a free webinar series designed for members to discuss various facets of wilderness medicine research, as well as to engage with and learn more about the WMS. These hour-long, non-CME discussions will be moderated by committee members and feature presentations as well as open Q&A. The WMS is always looking for suggestions, so if there's something you'd like to have covered, email [email protected]. You can view past recordings or register for upcoming ones here.
WMS Book Club
The WMS Book Club is a quarterly virtual club designed for members to read and discuss books pertinent to wilderness medicine and survival. Registration for upcoming meetings will open approximately one month prior to the meeting date; Zoom meeting information and further details will be communicated via email to those who have registered prior to the meeting.
Certification Programs
The WMS offers three well known certifications: FAWM, DiMM, and DiDMM; however, there exist a multitude of other training programs and certifications in wilderness medicine. Some recommended programs include Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS), Wilderness First Responder (WFR), and Wilderness EMT (W-EMT). These programs will teach you valuable skills as you enter your career in wilderness medicine. While we encourage you to do your own due diligence in picking a provider, many of our Affiliates offer these courses.
Wilderness Medicine Magazine
This online magazine is supported by member dues and is one of the ways that the WMS disseminates wilderness medicine information to the wilderness, recreationalist, medical, outdoor, and travel communities. In addition to society news, clinical practice guideline summaries, and breaking news articles, Wilderness Medicine Magazine contains columns on topics such as climbing, tactical wilderness medicine, wilderness EMS, and expedition medicine. If you are interested in contributing, click here.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine Journal
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, the official journal of the Wilderness Medical Society, is a peer-reviewed quarterly journal devoted to original scientific and technical contributions furthering research and medical practice related to remote, isolated, austere, or environmentally challenging environments and exposures. The journal is intended for clinicians, researchers, practitioners, and others interested in human health, safety, and performance in conditions often defined by natural extremes and/or limited access to resources.
This journal is a widely used resource for updated information regarding topics across the spectrum of wilderness medicine. It is also home to the WMS guidelines, each focused on a different foundational topic of wilderness medicine.
Wilderness Medicine GME Fellowship Programs
Multiple fellowship programs have been developed throughout the country which offer an additional year of specialty training in the discipline of wilderness medicine. These programs are housed in a variety of departments and are providing a very focused and in-depth experience to medical professionals who are specifically interested in wilderness medicine. These programs have a core curriculum and provide experiential training in wilderness environments as part of their educational curriculum.
While the majority of these programs are open only to emergency medicine physicians, some are also available to family medicine physicians, as well as advanced care practitioners.
The WMS is the societal home for these wilderness medicine fellowships and, as such, provides a forum for support and an exchange of ideas between programs in an effort to promote teaching current and comprehensive concepts in wilderness medicine. The WMS also provides an opportunity for the fellows to present scholarly activities such as posters and case presentations at our annual meetings.
Additional Non-WMS Educational Opportunities