Stanford Wilderness Medicine Fellowship
Wilderness Medicine is a rapidly evolving field that is increasingly important as large numbers of people are involved in outdoor activities for adventure, science, recreation, exploration, industry, combat, and disaster relief. In U.S. National Parks alone, visits have increased from 220 million in 1983 to more than 400 million in 2000. It is incumbent to have physicians trained to meet the unique challenges and emergencies that arise in diverse environmental conditions far from definitive medical care. Stanford Medical Center founded this country’s first fellowship in 2003 to train physicians in this dynamic multidisciplinary specialty; which relates to nearly every specialty in medicine.
Fellowship Goals & Objectives
The Stanford Wilderness Medicine Fellowship is a one year program. The goals of the fellowship are to provide physicians with cognitive knowledge, formal training, and clinical skills in Wilderness Medicine. Each fellow will be expected to further their knowledge by performing original research, educating other physicians, and serving as a medical resource for outdoor organizations. There is a core curriculum; the fellow’s specific areas of interest will dictate their research and clinical activities.
Surgery 223 (Wilderness Medicine)
Stanford is one of only a few programs in the country to offer a medical student elective in Wilderness Medicine. The elective is offered during the spring semester and the course includes didactic sessions, clinical skill building workshops, and real-time moulaged scenarios to offer students applications of their new skills and knowledge. In addition to Stanford faculty, national experts in Wilderness Medicine are brought in to teach many aspects of the course. The Wilderness Medicine fellow is expected to present lectures and assist in directing the elective.
Research
Fellows will conceive and perform original investigations leading to presentations and publication of results. Research projects related to Wilderness Medicine are perpetually in progress by faculty members within the Division; including: evaluation of serum electrolytes in desert endurance racers; new frostbite treatment methods; and evaluating protective measures for box jellyfish envenomations.
Prior Fellow's research projects have included: prophylaxis of headaches at high altitude; prevention of pulmonary hypertension, and evaluation of deep venous thromboses at high altitude. Fellows have access to statisticians and analysts through Stanford’s Center for Research and Disease Prevention for help with planning projects and interpreting data.
Education
While creating new ideas and contributing to the knowledge base of Wilderness Medicine is crucial; so too is transmission of that knowledge. By the end of the fellowship year, the participant will have acquired the expertise to train students, physicians and lay persons in the field of Wilderness Medicine. The fellow will have the opportunity to hone academic, teaching, and presentation skills by participating in both residency and faculty activities. Fellows will have the opportunity to attend, and may be invited to present, at one or more national conferences including:
Clinical Activities
The fellow’s salary is covered by working as clinical instructors in the Emergency Department at Stanford University Hospital, which includes adult and pediatric components. The Stanford E.D. is part of a world-renowned medical center with a Level I adult & pediatric trauma center that manages a busy and diverse patient population. The high acuity patients allow fellows to continue mastering their clinical skills and become adept at educating residents from Emergency Medicine and other specialties. The typical clinical obligation is 16 to 18 hours per week in the ED.
Fellows are scheduled for eight consecutive weeks of protected, non-clinical time to support their research efforts and/or pursue unique wilderness experiences of their choosing. Year-round clinical electives include:
- Grand Canyon Clinic, Arizona.
- International Medicine clinics in Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, & Ethiopia.
- Big Sky Ski Resort Clinic, Montana.
- Racing The Planet - Chile, Egypt, China, Antarctica as desert expedition doctor.
- University of California, San Francisco (Fresno campus) – National Park Ranger Paramedic Training Program.
- Telluride Medical Center/Institute for Altitude Medicine, Colorado.
- Grand Teton National Park Search and Rescue, Wyoming.
- Yampa Valley Medical Center, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
- University of California, San Diego - Hyperbaric and Dive Medicine.
Wilderness Medicine Faculty at Stanford
Many of the Emergency Medicine faculty members at Stanford are experts and leaders in the field of Wilderness Medicine.
Paul S. Auerbach, MD, FACEP, FAWM : Clinical Professor of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine, Founder and past President, Wilderness Medical Society; Editor, Wilderness Medicine; Author, Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine; Author, Medicine for the Outdoors and A Medical Guide to Hazardous Marine Life, An Ocean of Colors, and Diving the Rainbow Reefs; Editor Emeritus, Wilderness & Environmental Medicine (formerly Journal of Wilderness Medicine).
Alan Gianotti, MD, FACEP: Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine; Expedition Doctor & Staff Physician, Himalayan Rescue Association.
Grant S. Lipman, MD: Clinical Instructor of Emergency Medicine, Associate Director Wilderness Medicine Fellowship, Division of Emergency Medicine; Executive Board Member - ACEP Wilderness Medicine Section; Expedition Doctor.
Kelly P. Murphy, MD: Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine; Co-Director, International Medical Options - Papua New Guinea Medical Project & Ethiopian Medical Project; Founder and Director, International Medical Options - Vietnam Medical Project.
Robert L. Norris, MD, FACEP: Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Chief, Division of Emergency Medicine; Editor-in-Chief, Wilderness and Environmental Medicine; Member National Geographic Belize Team; World-renowned Expert on Snake and Arthropod Envenomation.
Eric A. Weiss, MD, FACEP: Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine; Wilderness Medicine Fellowship Director, Former Board of Directors, Wilderness Medical Society, Author of A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness and Travel Medicine, and Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine.
Ken Zafren, MD, FACEP: Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Emergency Medicine; Chairman, Medical Committee of the Mountain Rescue Association, Associate Medical Director - Himalayan Rescue Association; Vice President - International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine.
Application Process:
The program is limited to one fellow per year. Graduation from an accredited U.S. Emergency Medicine residency program is required. For further information regarding the fellowship and application process, please contact:
Eric A. Weiss MD, FACEP
Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine
Director, Wilderness Medicine Fellowship
Stanford University
701 Welch Road, Building C
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Email: Eric A. Weiss, M.D.
Grant S. Lipman, M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine
Associate Director, Wilderness Medicine Fellowship
Stanford University
701 Welch Road, Building
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Email: Grant S. Lipman, M.D.
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