2026 WMS Summer Conference Virtual WMS

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2026 WMS Summer Conference Virtual

Immerse yourself in cutting-edge research, learn from expert speakers, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and connect with a global community of medical professionals who are passionate about the outdoors, from wherever you're located. The hybrid format allows you to experience the fun and education of the in-person summer conference on your own schedule and at a lower cost, so whether you join in live, catch the recordings later, or some combination of the two, there's an option to accommodate any schedule. Don't miss out on this collaborative experience designed to elevate your knowledge in preventing and treating injuries and illnesses in the wild.

By registering for this event you agree to the attachments and statements on the Participation Expectations Page.

Please note, this is the registration page only. For detailed information such as schedule, faculty and credit, click the button below.

More Information

In order to receive CME/FAWM credits after the conference has concluded, you must select each individual program item that you intend to participate in and ensure that it is added to your itinerary.

Cancellation and refund policy.

On or before Monday, May 25, 2026 in order to receive full refund.
Between Tuesday, May 26, 2026 but on or before Monday, June 22, 2026 in order to receive a full refund minus $50 USD service fee.

Between Tuesday, June 23, 2026, but on or before Friday, July 4, 2026, in order to receive a full refund minus $100 USD service fee.
After July 4, 2026 no refunds will be given.

When

7/19/2026 - 7/22/2026

Where

Online UNITED STATES

Spots available

304 spots left

Registration

Last day to register is 7/21/2026

Program

Select programs by

Sunday, 19 July 2026

Description
Optional Donation to Conference Scholarship Fund This scholarship exists to help ease the financial burden of attending the bi-annual WMS conferences, for those currently in-training. This scholarship is intended for WMS members who are currently in training (ie: students in healthcare fields, GME fellows, or resident physicians). Conferences provide many valuable educational and networking opportunities and attending a conference can significantly impact the future career of our members in-training. We are grateful for the commitment to advancing the field of wilderness medicine and the careers of our members-in-training through generous scholarship donations. To donate a different dollar amount to support conference scholarships, visit wms.org/donate.

Optional Donation to Conference Scholarship Fund

This scholarship exists to help ease the financial burden of attending the bi-annual WMS conferences, for those currently in-training. This scholarship is intended for WMS members who are currently in training (ie: students in healthcare fields, GME fellows, or resident physicians). Conferences provide many valuable educational and networking opportunities and attending a conference can significantly impact the future career of our members in-training. We are grateful for the commitment to advancing the field of wilderness medicine and the careers of our members-in-training through generous scholarship donations.

To donate a different dollar amount to support conference scholarships, visit wms.org/donate.

Monday, 20 July 2026

Description
Welcome Time 7:45 AM - 8:00 AM 7:45 AM
Wild Nutrition from Canyons to Reality TV and Up Using real world examples of nutritional choices effecting performance in wilderness survival settings. This lecture will highlight bad and good nutritional choices. Giving listeners some tools to choose better nutrition on their next wilderness adventure. Time 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM 8:00 AM
SAR in Southern Appalachia: locals' guide to cutting edge wilderness care in the Blue Ridge A discussion of the mountains, climate, and topography surrounding Asheville and the tactics and technology local SAR teams deploy to effect rapid medical intervention and extrication in this unique environment. Time 8:45 AM - 9:30 AM 8:45 AM
Integrating Climate Data Into Emergency Preparedness: Considerations for Clinicians and First Responders Move beyond abstract discussions of climate change and learn how to use practical climate and environmental data to anticipate patient surges, recognize climate-sensitive illnesses, and guide real-time preparedness and response decisions in clinical and prehospital care settings. Time 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM 9:30 AM
Managing the Airway in the Wilderness Case presentations in airway management. Time 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM 10:45 AM
Optimal Hydration in the Outdoor Athlete this course will cover the normal and pathologic processes that can occur in outdoor athletes, the risks of improper hydration strategies, and the research behind current recommendations. Time 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM 11:30 AM
Three Minute Thesis This session will present new original wilderness medicine abstracts in oral presentation format. Participants will be able to ask questions and participate in discussion with panelists from the WMS Research Committee. Time 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM 12:30 PM
14ers Lecture: Introduction Time 4:30 PM - 4:45 PM 4:30 PM
14ers Lecture: How Planning for Space Can Optimize Medical Resource Usage on Earth Apply the causal risk assessments for space medicine to terrestrial practice, building familiarity with the relevant models to translate the benefits of spaceflight analysis to medicine on Earth. Time 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM 4:45 PM
14ers Lecture: Freediving Decompression Illness & Use of In-water Recompression Freediving DCI / IWR Lecture: understanding decompression illness in freedivers and use of in water recompression Time 5:00 PM - 5:15 PM 5:00 PM
14ers Lecture: Underground Appalachia: America’s Most Accessible Extreme Environment Although caves are one of the most challenging environments on earth, their relative accessibility provides unique opportunities for both adventure and danger. The southern Appalachian mountains have one of the highest density of caves on earth, and exploration of this alien terrain of perpetual darkness, constant cool temperature, and high humidity poses unique medical challenges. This lecture proposes to introduce those interested in wild cave exploration to this vulnerable wilderness environment, its physiologic challenges, and challenges to the provision of medical care. Time 5:15 PM - 5:30 PM 5:15 PM
14ers Lecture: Beyond the Silence - Understanding What Lies Beneath Drowning Events This session draws on my personal rescue experiences, including pediatric drowning cases and frontline work with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, to explore submersion injuries. Participants will examine risk factors, clinical management, and prevention strategies, and learn practical lessons to improve community response and safety systems. Time 5:30 PM - 5:45 PM 5:30 PM
14ers Lecture: The Highs and Lows of Managing Insulin-Delivery Devices and Other Diabetic Technology in the Wild Provide advanced education around insulin-delivery devices and other diabetes technology in the wild Time 5:45 PM - 6:00 PM 5:45 PM
14ers Lecture: Training to Failure: It's OK to Use This F-Word Learn why failure is an important tool to intentionally use as an outcome in medical and rescue training and education, including examples of it's effectiveness and strategies to implement in your organization. Time 6:00 PM - 6:15 PM 6:00 PM
14ers Lecture: Conclusion/Q & A Time 6:15 PM - 6:30 PM 6:15 PM

Tuesday, 21 July 2026

Description
Depth Dynamics: Exploring the Physics and Physiology of Diving from Surface to Abyss Move beyond standard didactic discussions of gas laws and transition into a multi-dimensional exploration of the "Descent Narrative." This session bridges foundational dive physics—such as Boyle’s and Dalton’s Laws—with the high-altitude complexities of technical diving physiology. Time 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM 8:00 AM
Toxins Turned Therapeutic: Plants and Venoms in the Modern Pharmacopeia This session will explore how naturally occurring plant toxins and animal venoms have been transformed into widely used therapeutic agents in modern medicine. The session will highlight mechanisms of action, clinical applications, and safety considerations that bridge toxicology, pharmacology, and wilderness medicine. Participants will gain practical insight into how hazardous natural substances have informed drug development and patient care. Time 8:45 AM - 9:30 AM 8:45 AM
The Creepy Crawlies: Vector Born Diseases While Traveling Review the epidemiology, presentation, and spread of vector-borne diseases and discuss methods of control and treatment. Time 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM 9:30 AM
Vintage Ventures: Wilderness Medicine Considerations in the Older Adult Case based discussions aimed at learning about the care of the older adult and geriatric wilderness medicine considerations. Time 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM 10:45 AM
A Different Perspective: Environmental Injuries in Forensic Pathology Case examples of lethal environmental injuries exploring the pathology of injury and emphasizing assessment of the scene to assist in triage and diagnoses. Time 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM 11:30 AM
Trivia Time 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM 12:30 PM

Wednesday, 22 July 2026

Description
WEM Year in Review WEM Journal Year in Review Panel: Move beyond static metrics to hear journal leaders contextualize the year’s most impactful publications, emerging themes, and editorial insights shaping the future of wilderness and environmental medicine. Time 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM 8:00 AM
Human Physiology in Alternate Gravity Environments An exploration of the positive and negative effects of alternate gravity environments on the human system, how the human system acclimates to those effects, what countermeasures are available to keep the human system healthy, and how to bring injured or ill crewmembers back home from austere, remote environments such as the lunar surface and low-Earth orbit. Time 8:45 AM - 9:30 AM 8:45 AM
Two Banks of The Same River: Swiftwater Rescue from River Guides to Formal Teams This session introduces the fundamentals of swiftwater rescue through brief history, river dynamics, and core techniques, using real rescue footage to illustrate how people actually move, work, and get into trouble in fast moving water. Participants will build a practical mental model of what is happening in the river and how rescues unfold, and how different rescuers and river users approach the same problems using different tools. Time 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM 9:30 AM
One Hot Mess: Resusciating Heat Illness Use a real-world case and up-to-date literature to illustrate important pearls in the recognition and treatment of heat stroke and heat illnesses from the field to the emergency department. Time 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM 10:45 AM
Gone with the Fin: Fishing Injuries of Epic Proportions This lecture seeks to focus on fishing injuries that go beyond the common while reviewing medical treatments at the point of care and definitive care. Primarily, this lecture will focus on injury patterns possible in noodling, carp tournaments, and other professional and amateur activities. Time 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM 11:30 AM
Trivia Time 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM 12:30 PM
Oral Research Presentations This session with present 10 podium presentations of original wilderness medicine abstracts in oral presentation format. Participants will be able to ask questions and participate in discussion with panelists from the WMS Research Committee. Time 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM 1:00 PM
Closing Remarks Time 9:00 PM - 9:15 PM 9:00 PM