Wilderness Medicine
The Wilderness Medicine Program at Stanford Department of Emergency Medicine offers cutting-edge training for healthcare professionals and enthusiasts, focusing on medical care in remote, austere, and wilderness settings.
What Makes Our Program Unique:
- World-Class Faculty: Our faculty are experts in emergency medicine, outdoor adventure, and survival, many with global humanitarian and research experience.
- Innovative Research: Stanford's program leads in wilderness medicine research, shaping best practices for remote care.
- Global Outreach: Our faculty engage in local and international missions, contributing to global medical relief and knowledge.
Founded in 2003, Stanford’s Wilderness Medicine Fellowship was the first of its kind and remains a leader in the field, offering academic rigor, fieldwork, and unmatched faculty expertise. Backed by Stanford's renowned medical school, we have a rich history of producing skilled clinicians and leaders in wilderness medicine.
NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
As the first formal Wilderness Medicine program in the country, our faculty serve as thought leaders and advisors at the regional and national level. Recent faculty leadership roles include:
- ACEP Wilderness Medicine Section Chair
- Medical Director, Racing The Planet
- Medical Advisor, Outward Bound
- Associate Medical Director, Himalayan Rescue Association
- Board of Directors, Wilderness Medical Society
- Medical Director, The Athenian School Wilderness Program
RESEARCH
Stanford Emergency Medicine's Wilderness faculty and fellows have published nearly 100 peer-reviewed studies in the past ten years, exploring a wide variety of topics.
Recent featured studies include:
- Wilderness Medical Society clinical practice guidelines for prevention and management of avalanche and nonavalanche snow burial accidents.
- Prevention and Treatment of Nonfreezing Cold Injuries and Warm Water Immersion Tissue Injuries
- Clinical staging of accidental hypothermia: The Revised Swiss System
Search a complete list of Stanford Emergency Medicine faculty studies by author or keyword here.
NEWS
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Clean Indoor Air: A New Frontier in Public Health
In response to growing concerns around the health impacts of indoor air, a two-day roundtable co-led by Dr. Milana Trounce of Stanford University convened experts across disciplines to define and advance scientifically grounded standards for indoor air quality.
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Penguins, snow, and lots of running
Dr. Rebecca Walker not only ran an icy ultramarathon -- she also served as guide for Brazilian runner Vlad Dos Santos, who is blind.
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Greening in the ED
In emergency medicine, where every second counts, the push for sustainability might seem daunting. However, Stanford’s Marc and Laura Andreessen Emergency Department (ED) is making strides in creating a more ecologically friendly environment.
FACULTY
Contact:
Michael Vernon, Administrative Program Coordinator
Honoring the Founder of Wilderness Medicine
Paul Auerbach, MD, Stanford Emergency Medicine professor, and founder of the Wilderness Medicine sub-specialty and the Wilderness Medicine Society passed away in 2021.