Legends

This semi-regular column interviews many of the specialty's forerunners and groundbreakers on their perspectives on the past, present, and future of wilderness medicine.

 


Wilderness Medicine Legends: Shana Tarter, WEMT, FAWM

Kathleen White, MD
March 17, 2026

If you have been involved in the wilderness medicine community or WMS sometime in the past 30 years, there is a good chance that you will know Shana Tarter.


Wilderness Medicine Legends: William "Fred" Baty

Dr. Liz Edelstein, MD, FAWM, FACEP
December 5, 2025

Wilderness Medicine Educator Extraordinaire


Wilderness Medicine Legends: Frank K. Butler, Jr, MD.

Brad L. Bennett, PhD, Paramedic, MFAWM, Captain, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
March 5, 2025

On January 2, 2025, President Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to twenty recipients from the United States. The Presidential Citizens Medal is the second-highest civilian honor awarded by our government.


Wilderness Medicine Legends: Herb Ogden

Tod Schimelpfenig
September 13, 2024

A wilderness medicine legend among National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) faculty


Wilderness Medicine Legends: Luanne Freer

Alexandra (Ally) Dove, BS, EMT
April 23, 2024

Finding your niche


Wilderness Medicine Legends: Tod Schimelpfenig

Gates Richards, M.ED, FAWM
March 21, 2023

Decades of wisdom and expertise shared with students around the world


A Teacher for the Wild

Sasha Rihter, DO, Emergency Physician, FAWM candidate
February 7, 2018

Passions start early. Often those early encounters lead us onward as we age and cultivate our professional and personal lives and ultimately legacies left behind.


Wilderness Medicine Legends: William Forgey

Philip Lieberman, ENS, MC, USNR, MS3
May 25, 2017

The first in our new column honoring the pioneers of Wilderness Medicine...