Cool video about pilots who aid expeditions in one of the world's toughest environments-- Alaska.
These guys are super awesome.
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.
Tourist Groomed by Gorillas
This incredible video was recently posted on You Tube of an American tourist who is groomed by wild gorillas in Uganda. Very cool footage-- check it out.
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.
Build a Career in Tropical Medicine: An Interview with Professor David Warrell
In 2008, I had the opportunity to sit down with one of my medical heroes, Professor David Warrell of Oxford. Professor Warrell has had an incredible career in Tropical Medicine, having published over 400 research papers and lived in multiple countries over the courser of the past 40 years. I pulled this interview from the ExpedMed archives because it is simply so good.
In this interview, I ask Professor Warrell about his career and ask how someone could build a career in Tropical Medicine today. Below the video is a brief summary of Professor Warrell's bio.
Professor David Warrell is now Emeritus Professor of Tropical Medicine and Honorary Fellow of St. Cross College at the University of Oxford, UK. After training at Oxford, St Thomas’s Hospital and the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, UK, he has lived and worked as a physician, teacher, researcher and expedition doctor in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Tanzania, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru. He is senior editor of the Oxford Textbook of Medicine and Essential Malariology and the Oxford Handbook of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine and has published more than 400 research papers and textbook chapters on malaria, rabies, relapsing fevers and other infectious and tropical diseases, comparative respiratory physiology, respiratory diseases, herpetology, venomous animals, envenoming and plant and chemical poisoning. He is a consultant to the World Health Organization (on malaria, rabies, snake bites, antivenom production), British Army, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Medical Research Council, Royal Geographical Society, Zoological Society of London and Earth Watch International. He is a past President of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and International Federation for Tropical Medicine and Honorary Fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ceylon College of Physicians.
Soul Surfer: Good Values for Adventurous Families
As the dad of three daughters, I'm always looking for ways to encourage my girls to be active and to enjoy the outdoors.
When the movie Soul Surfer came out a few years ago, I hoped the movie would be a positive experience and demonstrate great examples of women athletes that I could use as role models for my girls. I wasn't disappointed.
For those who might not know the story line, Bethany Hamilton is a pro surfer who lost her arm to a shark attack. The movie Soul Surfer tells her story and how she battled back from near-death to become a top surf pro.
The story is full of positive themes-- a strong, supportive family, an encouraging community, and a character who perseveres and moves forward despite tremendous setback.
These strong themes plus the beautiful scenery of Kauai make this film a pleasure.
About the only scene that I didn't like was the one where the shark that supposedly attacked Bethany is killed and brought to the family home. These sorts of culls don't work, and it's a shame that the movie decided to include a scene like this that will just further a misunderstanding of sharks and shark attacks.
I recommend Soul Surfer to families who are interested in promoting ocean activities to their youngsters. For those who are interested, the movie trailer is below and a link to the real Bethany Hamilton's website is here.
Our Great White Shark Dive Partners Film Commercial with Gillette
In this video, you see a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of a recent Gillette commercial with our 2012 ExpedMed Great White Shark CME Adventure partners, Shark Diver .
I can't wait for this CME adventure.
Here's the final commercial:
Wilderness Medicine Career: How to Get Into The Explorers Club
Dr. Michael VanRooyen and Starting a Company
Dr. Michael VanRooyen is the Director of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. He's also the founder or co-founder of four start-up companies including Ibex, a patient tracking system for Emergency Departments that was eventually bought by Picis.
From 2002 to 2004, I worked as one of Mike's International Emergency Medicine fellows within the Johns Hopkins Department of Emergency Medicine.
This is a video clip of Mike's talk at our 2009 Medical Fusion Conference. While Mike is most well-known for his humanitarian work, he's also a very astute businessman and entrepreneur. If you're a Wilderness Medicine aficionado, you are probably familiar with Mike's work in international health, but in this video you get to see another side of him through his entrepreneurial experiences.
One of the purposes of this blog is to introduce you guys to the personalities behind the research and field work. Mike is one of those dynamic individuals who is a leader in his field, and a great prototye for those interested in making Wilderness Medicine a career focus.
Dr. Ken Kamler and the 1996 Everest Disaster
One of the true privileges I have as the director of the ExpedMed and Medical Fusion conferences is the opportunity to meet and associate with so many amazing individuals. Over the past few years I have been blessed to spend time with some incredibly talented and exceptional colleagues. These associations have inspired and encouraged me, and I have grown tremendously because of these relationships.
One of these talented and inspiring individuals in Dr. Ken Kamler, Vice President of The Explorers Club. I first met Ken a number of years ago at an Explorers Club event in New York City. Since that first meeting, Ken has become a dear friend who has written a chapter in our Expedition & Wilderness Medicine textbook and also spoken numerous times at our conferences.
The lecture above is a video of Ken giving a presentation at TED about the 1996 disaster on Mount Everest. This event was chronicled in Jon Krakauer's book Into Thin Air. Ken was the only physician on the mountain during this episode, and even though I have heard his talk numerous times, I still find it incredibly gripping.
Take a few minutes to watch Ken's presentation. You won't be disappointed.
Thanks once again to Ken for his participation in our events and his inspiring career, and thanks to all the other talented individuals who make our conferences so successful.
Wilderness Medicine Career: What Medical Societies Should You Join?
ExpedMed Introduction
In this short video, Dr. Greg Bledsoe discusses ExpedMed and introduces the viewer to the company and its goals.
ExpedMed Interview with Dr. Eric Johnson
Former President of the Wilderness Medical Society, Dr. Eric Johnson, sat down with us at a recent ExpedMed meeting to discuss Wilderness Medicine.
ExpedMed TV Interview
Here's a television segment that discusses our first Expedition Medicine National Conference and interviews Dr. Greg Bledsoe.
Renting a Satellite Phone
If you're going to a remote place, you might want to consider renting a satellite phone. These phones have come down significantly in price and can be rented very easily. In this video, Dr. Greg Bledsoe demonstrates how convenient it is to rent a satellite phone and ship it back to the rental company.
Ship passing through Saint Simons Island Sound
Ok, this is a little bit frivolous and not specifically about WIlderness Medicine, but every time I stand on this beach and look across to Jekyll Island I feel good. It's one of my favorite places in the world and this blog will be discussing other beautiful places in the future.
In this video a ship passes through the sound between Saint Simons Island and Jekyll Island. I love it.
Hudson Bay in Churchill
Here's a quick video of the Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba.
The brisk wind was whipping up the sea foam and splattering our crew and cameras.
Polar Bear In Churchill
Our ExpedMed crew went to Churchill, Manitoba this past October. Here's a quick video of one of the polar bears that approached out Tundra Buggy one morning. We'll be posting more information about this and other trips very soon. Keep watching the ExpedMed blog for more information.
