Ski

WEM recently asked itself the question ‘who takes care of the carers?’ with relation to medical professionals working in extremes be that in war zones, expeditions, remotely with little support, as an isolated or overwhelmed GP, in a busy stressed Emergency Department or on a paramedic crew.

We then asked ourselves the question ‘what can WEM do to help?’ and we came up with our answer; WEMski a Human Factors Ski Medicine course with a difference!

With our history and heritage firmly steeped in expeditions, special forces medicine and working in some of the planets most remote, and dangerous locations we know the pressures clinicians, nurses and paramedics have to work under.

Working in partnership with clinical physiologist Dr Nathan Smith and extreme environment safety specialist Aldo Kane our aim was to develop an event that brought together inspirational minds in a environment where we could use adventure and the outdoors as a medium for leaning engendering conversations around human factors in clinical teams and helping to build life-long networks.

Building a team which includes polar & Everest expedition experts Professors Mike Stroud and Chris Imray, special forces veteran Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox, Olympic physio and Coxless Crew Lead Laura Penhaul, Everest summiteer Cathy O’Dowd, hostage negotiator Martin Brennan, Dave Pearce Bear Grylls former safety director, Dr Beth Healey the inaugural gathering was held in Livigno, in the Italian Alps in January 2018, with an annual gathering planned with a focus on mental health, resilience and looking at medical careers from a greater focus placed on work/ life balance.

Eddie the Eagle leads the charge!

#Medicine #Extremes #Mental Health #Expeditions