New ExpedMed Adventure: Little Saint Simons Island

Just wanted to check in with you guys and let you know about a new CME trip we've developed here at ExpedMed for February 28 - March 3, 2013.

The trip is on Little Saint Simons Island, a private island that allows no more than 32 overnight guests, has seven miles of pristine beach, in overrun with birds, gators, dolphins, crabs, fish, deer, and other amazing wildlife, and has won numerous travel awards for its incredible food, history, service, and sustainable eco-friendly policies.

Little Saint Simons Island is an incredible place.  It's been in private hands for over 100 years and was converted from a hunting lodge into an eco-resort.  I toured it recently just to make sure it's what we would need for an event, and it was awesome.  

While on the island, I saw a bald eagle adult sitting on its nest with a chick peeking out over the nest edge, two adult gators (and two young gators), lots of birds, and wandered along a beach with no one but my friends as far as I could see in any direction.

The food was incredible and the cottages were really cool-- many were originals that had been updated with AC and electricity (but no tv, thankfully!).

Although we’ve reserved the entire island, I only have 11 rooms available. The cost per room is $1,950 which includes three nights on the island, all food, and all activities for two people.  

Activities include fishing (with all gear and bait), kayaking, guided tours of the island with naturalists, biking, exploring with motorized skiffs, beach wandering, bird and other wildlife watching, and hiking.

Rooms are double occupancy so if two people are in the room it's $325 per night each for three nights.

We are offering our 20 hour online course for CME plus 8 hours of live CME training.  CME fees are $799 (for a total of 28 hours of Category I CME).  

Please let me know ASAP if you are interested.  I’ve already sold three rooms and only have 8 more left.  

This is an incredible opportunity to visit one of my favorite places on earth.  By the way, kids are welcome and will love it-- when I toured the island last week I took my five year old and another dad with his 5 year old son.  Both the kids went crazy-- it was an awesome experience for all.

2012 Expedition Medicine National Conference Agenda

Hey guys.

Here at ExpedMed we've been working hard to put together yet another great conference agenda for our annual Expedition Medicine National Conference this September 28-30, 2012.

Since 2007 we've had this event in Washington, DC and we're pleased to announce the 2012 agenda. There are a few new names on the speaker list, and over the next few weeks we'll be introducing you to some of our new lecturers.

For those who want to make sure not to miss this exceptional eduational opportunity, we're already taking registrations.  The event will once again be at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in downtown DC, and will cover many important topics related to medical care on expeditions and in remote locations.

So, without further ado, here's the agenda for our 2012 ExpedMed event in Washington, DC.  Remember, all participants will receive 20 hours of Category I CME credits and our 700 page hardback textbook Expedition & Wilderness Medicine, free of charge.

September 28^th, Friday

8:00-10:00am The Expedition Medical Kit, Michael Callahan

9:00-10:00am Travel Immunizations, David Townes

10:00-10:30am Break

10:30-11:30am Living and Working Abroad, Gregory Bledsoe

11:30-12:30 High Altitude Medicine I, Peter Hackett

12:30-2pm Lunch

2:00pm-3:00pm Wilderness Medicine EMS, Will Smith

3:00pm-4:00pm High Altitude Medicine II, Peter Hackett

4:00-4:30pm Break

4:30-5:30pm Wilderness Mass Casualty Incident, Will Smith

5:30pm-6:30pm Disaster Medicine, Christina Catlett

September 29^th, Saturday

8:00-9:00am Medical Direction in the Wilderness, Will Smith

9:00-10:00am Patients at Altitude, Peter Hackett

10:00-10:30am Break

10:30-11:30am Bringing Combat Medicine to the Wilderness, Will Smith

11:30-12:30 Malaria Prevention and Chemoprophylaxis, Alan Magill

12:30-2pm  Lunch

2pm-3pm Telemedicine, David Townes

3pm-4pm Getting High for Science, Peter Hackett

4:00-4:30pm Break

4:30-5:30pm Rabies, Alan Magill

5:30pm-6:30pm Reptile Envenomations, Michael Callahan

September 30^th, Sunday

8:00-9:00am Dive Medicine, Matthew Partrick

9:00-10:00am Self-Treatment for Expeditions, Alan Magill

10:00-10:30am Break

10:30-11:30am When Animals Attack, Christina Catlett

11:30-12:30 Arthropod Envenomations, Michael Callahan

Wilderness Medicine & Money Management

You can learn more about Dr. Mazumdar at Lotus Wealth Solutions and the Medical Fusion Conference .

Dr. Jerri Mendelson: A Career in Wilderness Medicine

Dr. Jerri Mendelson is a Dermatologist practicing in the northwest United States.  She also is a former wildlife biologist and a recognized expert in Wilderness Medicine.  In this video, Dr. Mendelson talks about her career and how she made the transition from wildlife biologist to Dermatologist.  Dr. Mendelson's bio is below.

Dr. Jeri Kersten Mendelson is a board-certified dermatologist. She began her professional career as a wildlife biologist with a degree from the University of Wyoming. Her wildlife jobs took her to Wyoming, northern Thailand and eastern Oregon where she worked as a big game biologist for the Ochoco National Forest.

After leaving the Forest Service she attended the University of Oregon where she received a Masters degree studying bat echolocation. It was at the U of O where she met her husband and for the next several years followed him to Northwestern University, University of Pittsburgh and finally to the University of Arkansas for his post doctoral training in neurophysiology and physical therapy. Along this journey she taught anatomy and physiology and general biology. She attended the University of Arkansas medical school and dermatology residency program while her husband ran a medical research lab and practiced physical therapy. Together, they raised two active Razorback-loving boys.

Dr. Mendelson is a certified Dermatologist, MD FAAD and currently practices in Medford. As a clinical associate professor at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Dr. Mendelson also teaches dermatology to family practice residents during their rotations in the clinic. She has continued her educational interests by working with school groups and community organizations in sun/skin awareness programs. Jeri is a part time speaker and faculty member for the Wilderness Medicine Society.

How to Get Into Wilderness Medicine: An Interview with Dr. Howard Donner

I've been organizing and directing medical conferences since 2006.  One of the benefits of these events is that I have the opportunity to meet many fascinating and inspiring individuals.  Of all these individuals, one of my favorites is Dr. Howard Donner.

Howard is a hilarious person who I first heard speak at a Wilderness Medicine conference when I was still a resident.  Years later, Howard authored the first chapter of our Expedition & Wilderness Medicine textbook, and has spoken numerous times at our ExpedMed events.

In this interview, I sit down with Howard to hear not only about his career, but also about the history of how Wilderness Medicine began as an organized discipline. As always, Howard's interview-- complete with outtakes and side discussions-- is lively and fun and provides a number of insights into how someone can build a career in Wilderness Medicine.  I've posted his bio below the video.

Howard Donner is a Family Practice physician and a well-known expert in Wilderness Medicine. Dr. Donner served as an Expedition Physician on the 1988 Kangchenjunga Expedition, the 1997 NOVA Everest Expedition, and as a medical officer on the Denali Medical Research Project. As co-author of Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine, Dr. Donner is a frequent national lecturer and has provided medical support as a volunteer for the National Park Service. In addition to his medical expertise, Dr. Donner works as a commercial pilot and independent filmmaker.

Building a Wilderness Medicine Career: An Interview with Dr. Michael Callahan

In this video clip, Dr. Michael Callahan discusses his career in Wilderness Medicine and gives advice to other physicians about how they might develop a similar career.  Dr. Callahan is a well-known expert in Wilderness Medicine.  We've posted his bio below the video.

Dr. Michael Callahan is a Program Manager for Biodefense and Mass-Casualty Care at the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) and an Associate Physician at the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Current wilderness medicine activities include oversight of clinical research programs to protect U.S. military personnel during sustained, extreme operations, including projects in Rapid Altitude Acclimatization and Immune Hardening. Before joining DARPA, Dr Callahan was principal investigator for the S.E. Asian Polyvalent Antivenin Trial in Na Trang, Vietnam. He maintains disaster medicine billets with two international disaster response organizations.

Kilimanjaro & Wilderness Medicine CME

Climb Kilimanjaro for your CME?

In the summer of 2009, I was working in my local Emergency Department when my cell phone informed me of an incoming text.

"At 14,500 feet. Preparing to summit tomorrow. All is well," read the text.

"Great," I thought, "and here I am dealing with sniffles and low back pain."

The text had come in from the face of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the continent of Africa and one of the famed "Seven Summits."  The sender was my good friend Dr. David Townes who was helping lead a group of physicians to the summit of Kili for an ExpedMed CME event.

I was happy for Dave and excited for the CME participants, but also insanely jealous.  

Kilimanjaro is one of those romantic "must do" experiences for adventures around the world.  It stands just over 19,000 feet in northeastern Tanzania and rises independently from the plains of the surrounding region.  Mentioned by famed writers like Hemmingway (The Snows of Kilimanjaro), this magnificent peak towers over the African landscape and is the backdrop to many classic safari portraits.

I am pleased to say that Dave and the rest of the ExpedMed CME group made it to the top of the mountain in 2009.  The participants enjoyed it so much, we swore we'd lead another group back to Kili in the near future, but of course, as often happens, months turn into years and no new ExpedMed Kilimanjaro climbs were scheduled-- until now.

In the spring of 2012 we have scheduled another CME climb up Kilimanjaro.  The dates are March 24-April 6, 2012 .  Our outfitters are once again our esteemed friends at Tusker Trail.  Details of the CME trip can been seen at this Tusker link.

Find more information including pictures from the last Kili CME climb can be found on the ExpedMed Kilimanjaro CME Adventure page under the "Expedition & Wilderness Medicine Adventure" tab above. Here's a video about this majestic mountain: