Ken Zafren, MD, FACEP

Academic Focus or Interests

I am active in the fields of wilderness and environmental medicine, especially high altitude medicine and physiology, frostbite, hypothermia, medical care in remote areas and mountain rescue. I edit the “Images” section of Wilderness and Environmental Medicine and am the senior author of the chapter: “Environmental Conditions” in the Atlas of Emergency Medicine.

Publications

Zafren K, Reeves J, Schoene RB. Treatment of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema by bed rest and supplemental oxygen. Wilderness Environ Med 7(2):127-132, 1996

Zafren K, Honigman B. High altitude medicine. Emer Med Clin N Amer (15) 1:191-222, 1997

Zafren K, Thurman RJ, Storrow AB. Environmental Conditions. In: Knoop KJ, Stack LB, Storrow AB (editors) Atlas of Emergency Medicine (second edition). McGraw-Hill: New York, 513-563, 2002

Peer Reviewed Publications

Reeves J, Wagner J, Zafren K, et al. Seasonal variation in barometric pressure and temperaturein Summit County : effect on altitude illness. In: Sutton JR, Houston CS,Coates G (editors) Hypoxia and Molecular Medicine : 275-281, 1993

Zafren K, Reeves J, Schoene RB. Treatment of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema by bedrest and supplemental oxygen. Wilderness Environ Med 7 (2):127-132, 1996

Forster H, Zafren K. Thoracostomy at the scene of an accident in the mountains. Guideline ofthe Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (International Commission for Alpine Rescue), St. Jean , Switzerland , 1996

Forster H, Zafren K. Treatment of dislocations and fractures. Guideline of the Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (International Commission for Alpine Rescue), St. Jean , Switzerland , 1996.

Zafren K. Epidemiology of Himalayan trekking. Proceedings of the International Congress of Mountain Medicine, Interlaken , Switzerland : 23-25, 1997

Zafren K, Honigman B. High altitude medicine. Emer Med Clin N Amer (15) 1:191-222, 1997

Forster H, Zafren K. State of art of surgical techniques in mountain rescue. Proceedings of the International Congress of Mountain Medicine, Interlaken , Switzerland : 34-36, 1997

Zafren K. Hyponatremia in a cold environment. Wilderness Environ Med 9 (1): 54-55, 1998

Zafren K. Mountain Rescue in North America . Progress in Mountain Medicine and High Altitude Physiology. Japanese Society of Mountain Medicine: Torokorozawa, 279-282, 1998

Zafren K. Himalayan Rescue Association. Progress in Mountain Medicine and High Altitude Physiology. Japanese Society of Mountain Medicine: Torokorozawa, 283-284, 1998

Zafren K. Rescue on Ptarmigan Peak . Alaska Med (40) 2: 36 -37, 1998

Butler F, Zafren K (editors). Tactical management of wilderness casualties in special operations. Wilderness Environ Med 9 (2): 64-117, 1998

Zafren, K. Scenario 9: altitude sickness. In: Butler F, Zafren K (editors). Tactical management of wilderness casualties in special operations. Wilderness Environ Med 9 (2): 108-111, 1998

Zafren K., Kercher E. Erythema nodosum. Wilderness Environ Med 10 (3):171-173, 1999

Zafren K. Lightning injuries. Wilderness Environ Med 10(4):253-255, 1999

Basnyat B, Savard GK, Zafren K. Trends in the workload of the two high altitude aid posts in the Nepal Himalaya. J Travel Med 1999; 6:217-222, 1999

Zafren K. Short haul release assembly - “3-ring circus.” Wilderness Environ Med 11 (2):109-111,2000

Zafren K. Unusual presentation of a fracture and possible early compartment syndrome. Wilderness Environ Med 11 (3):199-200, 2000

Zafren K. Immersion injury. Wilderness Environ Med 11 (4):269-271, 2000

Zafren K. Poison oak dermatitis. Wilderness Environ Med 12(1):39-40, 2001

Zafren K. Warnings in the wilderness: preventive search and rescue. Wilderness Environ Med 12(2):129-133, 2001

Zafren K. Wound care in the wilderness. Wilderness Environ Med 12(3):201-203, 2001

Rammlmair G, Zafren K, Elsensohn F. Qualifications for emergency doctors in mountain rescue operations. In:Elsensohn F (Ed.) Consensus Guidelines on Mountain Emergency Medicine and Risk Reduction. International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine, 2001

Rammlmair G, Zafren K. Immobilization and use of the vacuum mattress in organized mountain rescue. . In: Elsensohn F (Ed.) Consensus Guidelines on Mountain Emergency Medicine and Risk Reduction. International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine, 2001

Zafren K. Prehospital diagnosis and staging of hypothermia. In: Brugger H, et al. (Eds.) Jahrbuch 2001. Österreichische Gesellschaft für Alpin- und Höhenmedizin: Innsbruck, 11-15, 2001

Zafren K, Thurman RJ, Storrow AB.  Environmental Conditions.  In: Knoop KJ, Stack LB, Storrow AB (editors) Atlas of Emergency Medicine (second edition).  McGraw-Hill: New York, 513-563, 2002

Zafren K.  Effect of insurance on admission for head injury.  Am J Emer Med 19:460, 2002

Zafren K.  Management of blunt trauma victims with significant hemoperitoneum with normal examination.  Am J Emer Med 21:513, 2003

Zafren K.  Thrombotic complications at altitude.  Wilderness Environ Med 15: 155, 2004

Sacco F, Zafren K, Brown, K et al.  Guidelines for the management of head injuries in remote and rural Alaska. Alaska Med 46(58-62), 2004

Zafren K.  Heat illness. In: Mahadevan SV, Garmel GM (Eds.) An introduction to Clinical Emergency Medicine, Cambridge University Press, New York: 619-625, 2005

Zafren K.  Hypothermia. In: Mahadevan SV, Garmel GM (Eds.) An introduction to Clinical Emergency Medicine, Cambridge University Press, New York: 626-632, 2005

Zafren K.  Lightning injuries. In: Mahadevan SV, Garmel GM (Eds.) An introduction to Clinical Emergency Medicine, Cambridge University Press, New York: 633-638, 2005

Zafren K.  Near drowning. In: Mahadevan SV, Garmel GM (Eds.) An introduction to Clinical Emergency Medicine, Cambridge University Press, New York: 639-643, 2005

Zafren, K, Durrer B, Herry, J-P, Brugger H, Lightning injuries: prevention and on-site treatment in mountains and remote areas.  Resuscitation 65:369-372, 2005

Zafren K, Lim  IT.  Hypothermia: a cold weather hazard.  Trauma Reports 6(6):1-12, 2005

Zafren K. Too high too fast: experiences at high altitude, In Smith AW, Schwartz E, Shaw M (editors) Travel Medicine: Tales Behind the Science.  Elsevier, Amsterdam 177-181,
 2007

Zafren K. Pilgrimages in the high Himalayas. In Smith AW, Schwartz E, Shaw M (editors) Travel Medicine: Tales Behind the Science.  Elsevier, Amsterdam 279-283, 2007.

Zafren K, Wiget U Expedition self-rescue and evacuation, In Bledsoe G, Manyak M, Townes D. Expedition Medicine.  Cambridge University Press, New York.  In press.

Zafren K, Hackett P. High altitude medicine (3rd edition). Powerpoint presentation. Wilderness Medical Society. In press.

Zafren K, O'Malley J, Mills WJ. Frostbite and Other Cold Injuries (3rd edition).  Powerpoint Presentation; Wilderness Medical Society. In press.

Zafren K, Thurman RJ, Jones,I.  Environmental Conditions.  In: Knoop KJ, Storrow AB
Stack LB, Thurman RJ (editors) Atlas of Emergency Medicine (third edition).  McGraw-Hill: New York, In Press

Zafren K., Ngo J. High altitude Illness. Trauma Reports.  In Press.

Book Chapters

Zafren K, Hackett P. High altitude medicine. Educational slide set. Wilderness Medical Society, 1992

Zafren K, O'Malley J, Mills WJ. Frostbite and Other Cold Injuries. Educational slide set. Wilderness Medical Society, 1995

Zafren K, Storrow AB , Schmidt JC, Stack LB. Environmental Conditions. In:Knoop KJ, Stack LB, Storrow AB (editors) Atlas of Emergency Medicine. McGraw-Hill: New York , 451-480, 1997

Zafren K, Storrow AB , Schmidt JC, Stack LB. Environmental Conditions. In:Knoop KJ, Stack LB, Storrow AB (editors) Pocket Atlas of Emergency Medicine. McGraw-Hill: New York , 303-314, 2000

Zafren K, Hackett P. High altitude medicine (revised edition). Educational slide set (Powerpoint presentation). Wilderness Medical Society, 2001

Zafren K, Thurman RJ, Storrow AB. Environmental Conditions. In: Knoop KJ, Stack LB, Storrow AB (editors) Atlas of Emergency Medicine (second edition). McGraw-Hill: New York, 513-563, 2002

Abstracts

Zafren K, Hlastala MP. Gas exchange during acute hypoxia in dogs. Abstracts of the Third Banff International Hypoxia Symposium, 1983

Editorials and Letters

Zafren K. More on tetracycline and ticks. New Engl J Med (308) 7: 403-404, 1983

Zafren K, Purcell T. Open and closed peritoneal lavage. Ann Emer Med (21) 10:1298, 1992

Zafren K, Purcell T. Base deficit as a diagnostic test for abdominal injury. Ann Emer Med (21) 11: 1406, 1992

Zafren K. Warning! Long commute. Science (272): 1726, 1996

Zafren K. Use and abuse. The Economist (Nov 30, 1996):8, 1996

Zafren K. Outcome assessments and air ambulance services. Lancet 347:1843, 1996

Zafren K. Re: Prevention and management of cardiovascular events during travel. J Travel Med (4) 4:152, 1997

Zafren K. Telemedicine revisited. Ann Emer Med (31) 6: 790, 1998

Zafren K. Migratory pain in appendicitis. Amer Jour Emer Med (16) 4: 437-438, 1998

Zafren K. Gamow bag for high-altitude cerebral oedema. Lancet 352: 325-326, 1998

Zafren K, Butler F. Wilderness medicine and military medicine. Wilderness Environ Med 9 (2):62-63, 1998

Zafren K. Tragedy on Ptarmigan Peak . Wilderness Environ Med 9 (3):188-190, 1998

Zafren K. Brown recluse spider bite. Wilderness Environ Med 9 (4) 211-212, 1998

Zafren K. Chilblains (pernio). Wilderness Environ Med 10 (1):25-6, 1999

Zafren K. Prognostic indicators in frostbite. Wilderness Environ Med10(2):115-6, 1999

Zafren K. Response to safety of rescuers letter. Wilderness Environ Med 10(3):204-205, 1999

Zafren K. How useful is on-mountain sonography? Wilderness Environ Med 12(1):230-231, 2001

Zafren K. Effect of insurance on admission for head injury. Am J Emer Med 19:460, 2002

Zafren K. Management of blunt trauma victims with significant hemoperitoneum with normalexamination. Am J Emer Med 21:513, 2003

Presentations

Zafren K. Surviving the unexpected night out. Course lecture presented at the Second World Congress on Wilderness Medicine, Aspen , Colorado USA 1995

Zafren K. Being an expedition doctor. Course lecture presented at the Second World Congress on Wilderness Medicine, Aspen , Colorado USA 1995

Zafren K. Himalayan Rescue Association. Course lecture presented at the Second World Congress on Wilderness Medicine, Aspen , Colorado USA 1995

Clem W, Zafren K. Improvised techniques in mountain rescue. Course lecture presented at the Second World Congress on Wilderness Medicine, Aspen , Colorado USA1995

Zafren K. Epidemiology of Himalayan trekking. Course lecture presented at the International Congress of Mountain Medicine, Interlaken , Switzerland 1997

Forster H, Zafren K. State of art of surgical techniques in mountain rescue. Course lecture presented at the International Congress of Mountain Medicine, Interlaken , Switzerland : 34-36, 1997

Zafren K. Mountain Rescue in North America . Course lecture presented at the International Congress of Mountain Medicine, Matsumoto , Japan 1998

Zafren K. Himalayan Rescue Association. Course lecture presented at the International Congress of Mountain Mediicine, Matsumoto , Japan 1998

Zafren K., King SJ. Mountain Rescue. Course lecture presented at the International Congress of Mountain Mediicine, Matsumoto , Japan 1998

Zafren K High Altitude Illness. Course lecture presented for Mountain Travel, Mt. Kilimanjaro , Tanzania 1998

Zafren K Hypothermia and frostbite. Course lecture presented for Mountain Travel, Mt. Kilimanjaro , Tanzania 1998

Zafren K Heat related disorders. Course lecture presented for Mountain Travel, Mt. Kilimanjaro , Tanzania 1998

Zafren K Submersion accidents. Course lecture presented for Mountain Travel, Mt. Kilimanjaro , Tanzania 1998

Zafren K Wilderness trauma. Course lecture presented for Mountain Travel, Mt. Kilimanjaro , Tanzania 1998

Zafren K The expedition physician. Course lecture presented for Mountain Travel, Mt. Kilimanjaro , Tanzania 1998

Zafren K Envenomation by snakes. Course lecture presented for Mountain Travel, Mt. Kilimanjaro , Tanzania 1998

Zafren K Current research in wilderness medicine. Course lecture presented for Mountain Travel, Mt. Kilimanjaro , Tanzania 1998

Zafren K. Himalayan Rescue Association. Course lecture presented at the World Congress on Wilderness Medicine (III). Whistler, British Columbia , Canada 1999.

Zafren K. Prehospital diagnosis and staging of hypothermia. Course lecture presented at the International Congress on Cold Injuries. Bruneck/Brunico Italy, 2000

Zafren K. Challenges of expedition medicine. Course lecture presented at the International Congress of Mountain Medicine. Arica, Chile 2000

Zafren K. Guidelines of the International Commission for Alpine Rescue – Medical Commission. Course lecture presented at the International Congress of Mountain Medicine. Barcelona, Spain 2002

Zafren K, Wiget U. Improvised rescue techniques. Course lecture presented at the 4 th World Congress on Wilderness Medicine, Whistler, British Columbia Canada 2004

Zafren K. Cold water near drowning. Course lecture presented at the International Conference on Cold-Weather Medicine, Anchorage , Alaska USA 2004

Zafren K. Alaska State Guidelines for treatment of cold injury. Course lecture presented at the International Conference on Cold-Weather Medicine, Anchorage, Alaska USA 2004

Zafren K. Case studies of cold injury. Course lecture presented at the International Conference on Cold-Weather Medicine, Anchorage, Alaska USA 2004

Zafren K. Medical aspects of avalanche rescue. Course lecture presented at the International Conference on Cold-Weather Medicine, Anchorage, Alaska USA 2004

Zafren K. Altitude medicine. Course lecture presented at the International Conference on Cold-Weather Medicine, Anchorage, Alaska USA 2004

Zafren K., Mills W, Hamlet M. Mountain rescue case studiess. Course lecture presented at the International Conference on Cold-Weather Medicine, Anchorage, Alaska USA 2004

Zafren K. Challenges and opportunities in high altitude medicine and mountain rescue. Course lecture presented at the lecture series of the Nepal Society of Mountain Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal 2004

Zafren K. Controversies in high altitude medicine: what is the optimal dose of acetazolamide to prevent acute mountain sickness. Course lecture at the International Summer Conference on Wilderness Medicine, Snowmass, Colorado USA 2004.

Zafren K. Controversies in high altitude medicine: high altitude case studies. Course lecture at the International Summer Conference on Wilderness Medicine, Snowmass, Colorado USA 2004.

Awards and Society Memberships

• Service Award of the Wilderness Medical Society 2004
• Education Award of the Wilderness Medical Society 2003
• Vice President for the Americas – International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine 2001- present; United States Representative 1995-present
• Secretary-Treasurer – Alaska Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians 2001-present
• President - Alaska Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians 1997-1998
• Associate Medical Director ( North America ) - Himalayan Rescue Association 1993-present
• Medical Director - Lake Clark National Park 1997-present
• Medical Director - Alaska Mountain Rescue Group 1994-present
• Medical Director - Denali National Park Mountaineering Rangers 1997-2001
• Board of Directors - Wilderness Medical Society: 1991-1996; 1999-present
• Editor, Images Section - Wilderness and Environmental Medicine (Journal of the Wilderness Medical Society) 1998-present
• Journal Reviewer for Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, High Altitude Medicine and Biology, and Wilderness and Environmental Medicine
• Co-chair, Program Committee – International Conference on Cold-Weather Medicine 2004
• Chair, Conference Planning Committee of the Wilderness Medical Society 1998-2002
• Co-chair, Program Committee - World Congress III on Wilderness Medicine 1999
• Advisory Committee - International Congress of Mountain Medicine 1997
• Chair, Program Committee - 7th Annual Winter Wilderness Medicine Conference 1997
• Co-chair, Program Committee - 2nd World Congress on Wilderness Medicine 1995

Membeships

• American Alpine Club
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American Academy of Emergency Medicine
• American College of Emergency Physicians
• American Physiological Society
• International Society for Mountain Medicine
• International Society of Travel Medicine
• National Association of State EMS Directors
• National Association of EMS Physicians
• Wilderness Medical Society

Current Activities

Author and Editorial Consultant – High Altitude Illness Module of the Physicians Information and Education Resource (PIER) – American College of Physicians 2004-present

Journal Reviewer for Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, High Altitude Medicine and Biology, Journal of Travel Medicine, and Wilderness and Environmental Medicine

Chair, Medical Committee - Mountain Rescue Association 1998-present

Climbs and treks in North and South America, Europe, and Asia 1972-present