Congratulations to the below WMS award recipients who have made significant contributions to our industry, our association, their place of work, and in their communities. Learn more about the award winners in recent years here:
Given to a physician or PhD in recognition of sustained significant clinical or service contribution to Wilderness Medicine and/or scientific achievement in Wilderness Medicine in combination with service to the Society.
| 2021 | Brad Bennett, PhD |
| 2020 | Michael Caudell, MD |
| 2019 | Ian Wedmore, MD |
| 2018 | Linda Keyes MD |
| 2017 | Elisabeth Edelstein, MD |
| 2016 | Hermann Brugger, MD |
| 2015 | Kenneth Iserson, MD |
| 2014 | Thomas M. Kessler, MD |
| 2013 | Lynn Yonge, MD |
| 2012 | David Shlim, MD |
| 2011 | Eric L. Johnson, MD |
| 2010 | Frank K. Butler, Jr, Capt., MC/USN |
| 2009 | Edward (Mel) Otten, MD |
| 2008 | Howard Backer, MD |
| 2007 | Luanne Freer, MD |
| 2006 | Robert B. Schoene, MD |
| 2005 | Gordon G. Giesbrecht, PhD |
| 2004 | Colin Grissom, MD |
| 2003 | Bruce Paton, MD |
| 2002 | Peter Hackett, MD |
| 2001 | Warren D. Bowman, MD |
| 2000 | James Wilkerson III, MD |
Given to an Associate Member or an allied health professional for outstanding contributions in support services for Wilderness Medicine.
| 2021 | Kerryn Wratt, FAWM |
| 2020 | Corey Winstead, W/AEMT |
| 2019 | Linda Lee, RN |
| 2018 | Debbie Simon, RN |
| 2017 | J. Pearce Beissinger, FAWM, MS, PA-C |
| 2016 | Gates Richards, WEMT-I |
| 2015 | Linda Laskowski-Jones, RN |
| 2014 | R. Bryan Simon, RN |
| 2013 | Dave Weber, NREMT-P |
| 2012 | Todd Miner, PhD |
| 2011 | Gordon H. Worley, RN |
| 2010 | C. Denise Edwards, Lt. Col.USAF |
| 2009 | Charles Shimanski |
| 2008 | Tod D. Schimelpfenig, EMT |
| 2007 | Sara Squyres, PA-C |
| 2005 | Sheryl Olsen, RN |
| 2004 | Peter Kummerfeldt |
| 2003 | George Rodway, PhD |
| 2002 | Linda B. Lindsey, RN |
| 2001 | Tod D. Schimelpfenig, EMT |
| 2000 | Buck Tilton |
Given in recognition of outstanding contributions in education to students, members, or the public in the field of Wilderness Medicine.
| 2021 | Christanne Coffey, MD |
| 2020 | Stephanie Lareau, MD |
| 2019 | Seth Hawkins, MD |
| 2018 | Frank Hubbell, DO |
| 2017 | Laura McGladrey, RN |
| 2016 | Erin Meyer, MD |
| 2015 | Daniel DeKay, RN |
| 2014 | Kenneth Iserson, MD |
| 2013 | James Shuler, DO |
| 2012 | Linda Keyes, MD |
| 2011 | Elisabeth Edelstein, MD |
| 2010 | Debra Stoner, MD |
| 2009 | Brad L. Bennett, MD |
| 2008 | Thomas Kessler, MD |
| 2007 | Peter Kummerfeldt |
| 2005 | Robert L. Norris, MD |
| 2004 | Rob Hilvers, MD |
| 2003 | Ken Zafren, MD |
| 2002 | James Liffrig, MD |
| 2001 | James A. Litch, MD |
| 2000 | Edward Otten, MD |
| 1999 | Karl Neumann, MD |
| 1998 | Phillip Bertram, MD and Steve Donelan |
| 1997 | William Forgey, MD |
| 1996 | Paul S. Auerbach, MD |
| 1995 | Howard Donner, MD |
| 1994 | Doug Gentile, MD |
Given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the principles and objectives of Wilderness Medicine as envisioned by the Society's founders.
| 2021 | Arthur (Tony) Islas, MD |
| 2020 | Robert Quinn, MD |
| 2019 | Michael Caudell, MD |
| 2018 | Andrew Luks, MD |
| 2017 | Jay Lemery, MD |
| 2016 | Linda Keyes, MD |
| 2015 | Peter Kummerfeldt |
| 2014 | Michael E. Jacobs, MD |
| 2013 | Tom Deloughery, MD |
| 2012 | Ken Zafren, MD |
| 2011 | Robert L. Norris, MD |
| 2010 | Thomas M. Kessler MD |
| 2009 | Eric L. Johnson, MD |
| 2008 | Bruce Paton, MD |
| 2007 | Luanne Freer, MD |
| 2006 | James R. Liffrig, MD |
| 2005 | Howard D. Backer, MD |
| 2004 | William W. Forgey, MD |
| 2003 | Blair D. Erb, MD |
| 2002 | William Robinson, MD |
| 2001 | Paul S. Auerbach, MD and Murray P. Hamlet, DVM |
| 2000 | Edward Geehr, MD and Charles S. Houston, MD |
| 1999 | Joseph Serra, MD |
| 1998 | Kenneth Kizer, MD |
| 1997 | Peter Hackett, MD |
| 1996 | Robert Schoene, MD |
| 1995 | Herbert Hultgren, MD |
| 1994 | Warren Bowman, MD |
Given in recognition of outstanding research pertinent to the field of Wilderness Medicine.
| 2021 | Tamara Hew-Butler DPM |
| 2020 | Beth Beidleman, Sc.D. |
| 2019 | Marc Berger, MD |
| 2018 | Peter Bartsch, MD |
| 2017 | Emmanuel Cauchy |
| 2016 | Michael Yaron, MD |
| 2015 | Leslie Boyer, MD |
| 2014 | Jeffrey H. Gertsch, MD |
| 2013 | Grant Lipman, MD |
| 2012 | Hermann Brugger, MD |
| 2011 | Scott McIntosh, MD, MPH |
| 2010 | Thomas Deloughery, MD |
| 2009 | Buddha Basnyat, MD |
| 2008 | Mary Ann Cooper, MD |
| 2007 | Robert L. Norris, MD and Ian Simpson, MD |
| 2005 | Sean P. Bush, MD |
| 2004 | Robert B. Schoene, MD |
| 2003 | Erik Swenson, MD |
| 2002 | Colin Grissom, MD |
| 2001 | Ellen L. Glickman, PhD |
| 2000 | Robert Roach, PhD |
| 1999 | Gordon G. Giesbrecht, PhD |
| 1998 | Benjamin Levine, MD |
| 1997 | Wayne Askew, PhD |
| 1996 | David Shlim, MD |
| 1995 | Murray P. Hamlet, DVM |
| 1994 | Peter Hackett, MD |
Given in recognition of outstanding service to the function and operation of the Society.
| 2021 | Graham Brant-Zawadzki, MD |
| 2020 | Andy Rich, FAWM |
| 2019 | Lawrence LeBlond, MD |
| 2018 | Terri Monturano |
| 2017 | Stephanie Lareau, MD |
| 2016 | Alicia Byrne |
| 2015 | Todd Miner, Ed.D |
| 2014 | Debra Stoner, MD |
| 2013 | Emily Sagalyn, MD, MPH |
| 2012 | Michael Caudell, MD |
| 2011 | Reuben (Hill) McBrayer, MD |
| 2010 | Teri Howell |
| 2009 | Jim Ingwersen, MS |
| 2008 | James Wilkerson III, MD |
| 2007 | Christopher Van Tilburg, MD |
| 2006 | Jonna Barry |
| 2005 | Tom Kessler, MD |
| 2004 | Ken Zafren, MD |
| 2003 | Oswald Oelz, MD |
| 2002 | Matthew Russell, MD |
| 2001 | Benjamin I. Rosner, PhD |
| 2000 | James Bagian, MD and Eric Johnson, MD |
| 1999 | William A. Robinson, MD |
| 1998 | Howard D. Backer, MD |
| 1997 | Dian Simpkins |
| 1996 | Edward Geehr, MD |
| 1995 | Blair Erb, MD |
| 1994 | Bruce Paton, MD |
Given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Wilderness Medical Society or the field of wilderness medicine to an individual with no greater than five years’ membership in the WMS.
| 2021 | Justin Gardner, DO |
| 2016 | Peter Bartsch, MD |
| 2012 | Buddha Basnyat, MD; Gordon Giesbrecht, PhD; David Warrell, DM |
| 2007 | Jim Milledge, MD and Robert B. Schoene, MD |
| 2003 | Urs Wiget, MD and Peter Hackett, MD |
| 1999 | Bruno Durrer, MD |
| 1995 | Franz Berghold, MD |
The Wilderness Medical Society Ice Axe Award honors an individual with a distinguished record of public service in wilderness medicine who is also a strong advocate of the Wilderness Medical Society and outdoor health and safety. His or her accomplishments may be in clinical practice, teaching, exploration, the arts or research.
| 2021 | Sarah M. Schlein, MD |
| 2020 | Neal Pollock, PhD |
| 2019 | Hill McBrayer, MD |
| 2018 | Darryl Macias, MD |
| 2017 | Will R. Smith, MD |
| 2016 | Geoffrey Tabin, MD |
| 2015 | Rachel Tullet, MD Megan Walmsley, MD |
| 2014 | Christopher Van Tilburg, MD |
| 2013 | Elizabeth Edelstein, MD |
| 2012 | Andrew Luks, MD |
| 2010 | Jay Lemery, MD |
| 2009 | Seth C. Hawkins, MD |
| 2008 | Luanne Freer, MD |
Given in recognition of important contributions to the journal.
| 2021 | Excellence in Peer Reviews: Al M Best, PhD; Kirsten Coffman, PhD; Susan (Sue) Hopkins, MD; Roy M. Salgado, PhD |
| 2020 | Excellence in Peer Reviews: LTC David DeGroot, PhD, Stephanie Lareau, MD, Lara Phillips, MD |
| 2019 | Excellence in Peer Reviews: Aaron Brillhart, MD; Bryan Jarrett, MD; David Rust, MD; Susanne J Spano, MD |
| 2018 | Robert Norris, MD; Steven Roy MD; Bryan Wilson MD |
| 2017 | Excellence in Peer Reviews: Christopher Tedeschi, MD; Will R. Smith, MD; James H. Diaz, MD; James Lieberman, MD |
| 2016 | Excellence in Peer Reviews: Cedric Yoshimoto, MD; Lori Weichenthal, MD; John Anderson, MD |
2015 |
Excellence in Peer Reviews: Kurt Eifling, MD; Jeremy Joslin, MD; Susanne J Spano, MD; Nicholas Kanaan, MD; Wayne Askew, PhD; John Saucier, MD |
| 2014 | Outstanding Contributor: Luanne Freer, MD Excellence in Peer Reviews: Tod Schimelpfenig, WEMT; Albert R. “AJ” Wheeler, MD; Aaron D. Campbell, MD; David Hillebrandt, MBBS |
| 2013 | Excellence in Peer Reviews: Ola Dunin-Bell, MD; Joseph Forrester, MD; Matthew Muller, PhD; Matiram Pun, MBBS |
| 2012 | Excellence in Peer Reviews: Edward J. “Mel” Otten, MD; Vidal Haddad, Jr., MD; Michael Cardwell, BS; Thomas Welch, MD |
| 2011 | Outstanding Contributor: James A. Wilkerson, MD Excellence in Peer Reviews: Howard Backer, MD; Colin K. Grissom, MD; Scott A. Weinstein, MD |
| 2010 | Excellence in Peer Reviews: Linda Keyes, MD; Neal Pollock, PhD; George Rodway, PhD; Jeremy Windsor, MB ChB; Ken Zafren, MD |
Given in recognition of the best research abstracts in the field of Wilderness Medicine.
2020
Outstanding Research Presentation (Oral): Larissa Schäfer - Acetazolamide cannot be recommended for HAPE prevention after rapid and active ascent to 4,559 m
Outstanding Research Presentation (Oral) by a Researcher-in-Training: Taylor Docter - Comparison of Radiographic, Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Detection of Retained Stingray Foreign Body
Outstanding Research Poster: Jake McRae – Utilizing Drones in Search and Rescue Operations to Deliver Water to Dehydrated Victims Stranded in Remote Areas
2019
Outstanding Research Presentation (Oral): Anne Walker - Novel Day of Ascent Dosing of Acetazolamide for Prevention of Acute Mountain Sickness
Outstanding Research Presentation (Oral) by a Researcher-in-Training: Brendan Milliner - Effect of Calcium-Channel Blockade on the Cold-Induced Vasodilation Response
Outstanding Research Poster: Yevgeniy Maksimenko - Drowning Injuries in the United States: Patient Characteristics and Complications in Hospitalized Patients Nationwide
2018
Outstanding Research Presentation (Oral): Ross Hofmeyr - Influence of Altitude on Performance of the Methoxyflurane Inhalational Analgesic Device: A Hypobaric Laboratory Assessment
Outstanding Research Presentation (Oral) by a Researcher-in-Training: Patrick Burns - Acute Mountain Sickness Prevention With Ibuprofen Relative to Acetazolamide
Outstanding Research Poster: Gordon Paterson - Hypoxia Modulates Platelet Purinergic Signaling Pathways
Outstanding Research Poster: Alana Hawley - Rock Climber Rescue Skills
2017
Outstanding Research Presentation (Oral): James Lang - Oral L-Tyrosine Supplementation Improved Core Temperature Maintenance to Whole-Body Cold Exposure in Older Adults.
Outstanding Research Poster: Juan Campodonico Rios - Voluntary Ventilatory Response v/s Acetazolamide in Acute Mountain Sickness. Preliminary findings of RCT;
2016
Outstanding Research Presentation (Oral): Justin Lawley - Direct Measurement of Intracranial Pressure in Hypobaric Hypoxia: Implications for Acute Mountain Sickness