World Extreme Medicine Podcast

On this episode, our guest Klara Weaver talks about Wedel seals farting in her face in Antarctica, peeing in a Nalgene in the middle of the night (and the need to practice in the shower), sexism in expedition medicine, the role of social media in expedition medicine self promotion and keeping it grounded, the importance of ‘mentally’ unpacking after expedition, shout out to our supportive family f...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Shawn Rowland, a Hawaiian physician who stepped onto the frontlines of the intense Lahaina fire disaster. Dr. Rowland, a board-certified Family Medicine physician and the founder of Jase Medical, brings a unique perspective to the challenges of disaster response. With a background that spans rural and critical access hospitals, as well as international medical...

On this episode, join host Eoin Walker as he sits down with Jim Bond, an experienced consultant in travel and exhibition medicine, to discuss the critical decline of the African wild dog population across Africa. Jim shares his extensive knowledge and passion for one health, particularly in the context of the rabies risk reduction scheme. Together, they explore the various threats facing the Afric...

In this episode we have a fascinating conversation, we have an incredible interview with a true renaissance man, Emil Sante. With an impressive background as a paramedic, ski patroller, search and rescue member, and even a coroner, Emil has truly seen it all. From his adventures on treacherous mountainsides to the solemn duties of unravelling the mysteries of death, Emil's stories will leave y...

Today we have a topical special on heat stroke, following the record-breaking temperatures across Europe recently peaking at 44 degrees Celsius!   Heat stroke is one of the truly terrifying environmental emergencies, with a mortality rate approaching a staggering 33% (when associated with hypotension). Not only does it have an extremely high mortality rate – but also leaves many patients with sign...

Welcome to part two of Kilimanjaro Diaries! Ffyon Davies was invited to support a charity trek up Mount Kilimanjaro as the medic last year, alongside Francis Screech. Their first-time ascent of the tallest freestanding mountain in the world was both thrilling and nerve-wracking for her. Although she had prior experience climbing Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro presented new challenges with its extreme alt...

Welcome, to Kilimanjaro Diaries... Part one! Ffyon Davies was invited to support a charity trek up Mount Kilimanjaro as the medic last year, alongside Francis Screech. Their first-time ascent of the tallest freestanding mountain in the world was both thrilling and nerve-wracking for her. Although she had prior experience climbing Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro presented new challenges with its extreme al...

In this session Eoin speaks with Claire Park on a new primary triage tool developed by Claire and a research team. It has been accepted and agreed by NHS England for use by all UK ambulance services and prospectively by National Police and Fire Services. It has also been adopted by the UK MOD to roll out across all UK military personnel internationally. Claire Park is a Consultant in Pre-hospital...

In this session we are speaking with Justin Shook on his experiences as a Parachute Jump Medic (PJ for short) with 131st Rescue squadron Pararescue. Justin is a senior team leader, paramedic, jump master, dive supervisor and instructor, evaluator and chief of weapons and tactics at Moffett Federal Air Field in California. Get ready for a podcast journey as Justin takes us deep into the captivating...

Following International Paramedics Days we wanted to carry on the conversation. In this episode we will examine the current climate of critical care within the UK, how that looks and the journey of where its come from. We examine the anatomy of competency, portfolios, the journey towards MSc established programmes, intervention & drugs Vs critical thinking and much more.  Eoin Walker is joined...

In this session our newest podcast host Sarah Spelsberg speaks with Stephen Wood about emergency concerns and preventive warnings heading into the Fourth of July holiday in the US – a holiday renowned for increased trauma, burns, and explosive injuries - as well as how he balances his extreme/tactical medicine careers with his leadership, research and academia. Stephen proves that you really can h...

On this episode, Eoin Walker and guest Gregg Brady discuss the importance of pre-hospital triage, particularly in high-stress environments like active shooter incidents. Brady, who is the Deputy Chief for FDNY, discuss pre-hospital triage, its evolution and utility in modern day medicine. Incidents involving active shooters, violent extremists, barricade situations or other acts of aggressive dead...

Jeremy Joseph, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon began his medical school training in 1977. He then conducted his ophthalmology training at the Royal London Hospital. He was appointed as a consultant in 1994. He then continued his post at the Central Middlesex Hospital. Mr. Joseph retired from practice in 2018 with the intention of continuing to work abroad for charities. On this episode Jeremy spea...

On this episode, host Ffyon Davies speaks with Charlie Mize about his experience establishing specialty care and a prehospital critical care air retrieval program in Bhutan, as well as founding his own aviation consulting company. Charlie also discusses his expertise in emergency medicine and offers insights on providing elite care in low-resource settings. He emphasises the importance of returnin...

Join us for an exciting episode as we explore the exhilarating world of the PGHM and their remarkable rescues this season. Experience the thrill as we dive into the daring missions conducted by Pierre Muller, an Emergency Medicine Doctor and Alpinist renowned for his technical expertise. From Mont Blanc's treacherous slopes to remote corners of the globe, Pierre's life-saving operations ha...

Our guest is Dr. Barry Mckenna, part of the Forces of Nature team planning a 2,000km, unsupported kayaking expedition from Seattle to Skagway Alaska known as 'The Inside Passage', all in aid of the military charity The Not Forgotten. We discuss the medical requirements of the team members, including two bilateral above knee amputation members, one with significant abdominal injuries, one w...

"Nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself, despite the difficulties you may face." Rebekka started her career as a medical technician before qualifying as a paramedic in Switzerland. After completing her Master’s degree in Mountain Emergency Medicine, she started working as a freelance flight paramedic, which led her to working as the lead critical care and flight paramedic on De...

Cat is an NHS dentist in Cornwall and a recent faculty member of World Extreme Medicine, teaching expedition dentistry. She has always had a passion for adventure and helping others and this has led her on a journey across the globe. From the jungles of Borneo to the deserts of the Gobi, the African grasslands and the mountain regions of Nepal and Patagonia, Cat has travelled extensively to provid...

In this episode we explore unconventional career paths into extreme medicine. Many people in extreme medicine have led extraordinary careers – and sometimes they have even led more than one extraordinary career. Most of us in extreme medicine start out in medicine as our primary career …..and then work to combine our passion for medicine with our passion for the extreme!  Jamie flipped that idea o...

Dr Will Duffin speaks to former Navy Diver and prolific underwater explorer and researcher Dr Joe Dituri. This episode is recorded from underwater as during Joe's 100 day under sea mission in the Jules Undersea Lodge in Florida. You can learn more about Joe's groundbreaking work here:  https://drdeepsea.com/100-day-undersea-mission The following topics (amongst many others) are discussed:W...

Eric Pirie has taken an interesting career path; starting in a non medical job, journeying through Mountain Rescue, a full time outdoors instructor and culminating in qualifying as a paramedic in his fifties. Eric joins Deb Swann to discuss how you can forge your own career pathway to combine an outdoors passion with a medical career. Eric discusses his experience of working with Mountain Rescue,...

Benjamin Black joins us to discuss his recent book launch of ‘Belly Woman’ a first-hand account of the impact a humanitarian crisis has on access to maternal and reproductive healthcare. Belly Woman explores the global disparity in maternity care, including safe abortion care, alongside the compounding factors of a humanitarian emergency that was the Ebola crisis. Benjamin Black is an obstetrician...

James Thacker is a IFMGA Mountain Guide, member of the British Association of Mountain Guides (BMG) and Mountaineering Instructor (WMCI) splitting time between Chamonix, France, and Kingussie, Scotland. James' enthusiasm for working in the mountains has taken him to Arctic Greenland, the Himalayas, the "classic north faces" of the European Alps and rock climbing around the world. For...

In this particular episode, Dr. Li and Dr. Chung, two physicians specializing in paediatric emergency medicine, joins us to discuss considerations related to paediatrics during disasters. The conversation emphasises the importance of planning for such events, which includes the involvement of paediatric patients in disaster drills. The discussion also highlights the need for careful planning in re...

In this episode, Will Duffin is joined by Ffyon Davies, a fellow extreme medic, to discuss her most memorable moments in the field. They delve into her experiences in Mountain Rescue and as an Expedition Medic on Mount Kilimanjaro, which is considered one of the most challenging roles in the field. The conversation covers a range of topics including team dynamics, leadership, casualty management,...