World Extreme Medicine: Where Man Goes, Medicine Must Follow

World Extreme Medicine (WEM) is delighted to announce that we have been selected to work with and assist the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) in taking forward a review of the provision of medical support for visits to this UK Overseas Territory. We will produce a clinical review and develop guidelines for minimum medical standards helping to ensure the safe operation of tourism and expedition vessels operating in sub Antarctic waters.

This review will clarify minimum standards for physicians seeking to work on vessels in remote polar maritime environments and for vessels carrying fee paying clients. Building on the work already undertaken for GSGSSI, WEM was selected to undertake this review based on our expert knowledge, experience of providing cover in remote areas and our extensive peer review network, enabling us to disseminate recommendations widely across the medical community.

GSGSSI is committed to facilitating visits that are safe, responsibly managed and environmentally sensitive. GSGSSI looks forward to working closely with WEM and the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) in the delivery and implementation of this review.

More about WEM

We live in an evolving world where the spread of rapid pandemics is not only a hypothetical concept but a reality, where terrorism makes its way on to our streets and refugees suffer in distress.

World Extreme Medicine is a global community of like-minded individuals offering an international conference, immersive training courses and a post-graduate academic programme.

Our World Extreme Medicine conference is a platform where inspiring medical minds meet, share experiences and promote cross-disciplinary working.   Our partners come from an eclectic range of disciplines; medicine to zoology, military to aero medical retrieval.  We introduce research, left field paradigms and innovation.  The energy is unparalleled and the presence of so many amazingly energetic minds creates an electrifying experience.

Our training portfolio gives medical professionals confidence to take their skills into challenging environments.  Join us in remarkable places like Namibia and the foothills of the Himalayas for fully immersive learning experiences, approved by the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh FPHC (subject to assent).

Partnering in a unique co-venture with the University of Exeter Medical School, WEM developed the world’s first post-graduate qualification in Extreme Medicine.  The programme meets modern medicine’s clinical governance values and demonstrates core competencies for travel and expedition medicine.  The modular learning programme matches students’ interests and passions to achieve a Post-Graduate Certificate, Diploma or Masters in Extreme Medicine.

World Extreme Medicine is dedicated to sharing and spreading best practice for the world’s medical professionals, willing to risk themselves to help others.

More about South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands

South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) is a UK Overseas Territory, situated 800 miles South East of the Falkland Islands. The main island of South Georgia is approximately 170 km long and between 2 and 40 km wide and occupies an area of 3,755 km2, more than half of which is permanently ice covered. Mt Paget rises to 2,934 m and is the highest point in all UK mainland and territories. The South Sandwich Islands are a chain of eleven small volcanic islands stretching from 56-60oS, 550 km South East of South Georgia. SGSSI is administered by a Government based in Stanley, Falkland Islands. In recent years visitors to SGSSI have numbered over 9,000, mostly on cruise ships operated by members of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) who come to see SGSSI’s major populations of seabirds and marine mammals, including globally threatened species such as the wandering albatross.