Alpine Medicine Course
Set yourself a new challenge – cold weather, mountaineering medicine.
Cold, altitude, terrain, and limited resources turn even simple clinical decisions into complex problems. This 6-day Alpine Medicine course in Slovenia takes you into the Julian Alps to explore how medical care is practised when the environment actively shapes risk, judgement, and outcomes.
Through a blend of focused teaching, practical workshops, and field-based learning, you’ll move beyond theory and into real alpine conditions, developing the confidence and decision-making needed to operate safely and effectively in mountainous environments.
Alpine Medicine Course
Modules
Day One
Arrival, orientation, and setting the foundations for alpine medicine. You’ll be introduced to medical practice in mountainous environments, with a focus on human factors, risk awareness, and expedition planning, before preparing kit and equipment for winter alpine travel.
Day Two
Applied alpine medicine through focused teaching and practical workshops. You’ll develop skills in mountain rescue medicine, splinting and immobilisation, prolonged care, alpine planning, and disaster response, alongside hands-on sessions focused on operating safely in cold environments.
Day Three
Cold, altitude, and mountain-specific medical challenges take centre stage. Teaching covers hypothermia, cold injury, altitude illness, medicolegal considerations, and avalanche medicine, with scenario-based learning to support decision-making in complex alpine situations.
Day Four
The expedition phase begins. You’ll travel into the mountains to develop core alpine and winter skills, applying medical and expedition principles while moving through winter terrain and preparing for multi-day mountain living.
Day Five
A full mountain day focused on integration and endurance. Working alongside experienced guides, you’ll continue alpine travel and scenario-based learning, managing fatigue, risk, and clinical decision-making in cold, high-altitude environments.
Day Six
Final mountain activities and course consolidation. You’ll reflect on learning, decision-making, and team performance before returning from the mountains and bringing the course to a close.
Your Teaching Faculty
Hannah Lock
Luke Stevens
Jamie Pattison
Slovenia
What's Included?
Field-Based Training & Practical Workshops
Learn through hands-on training designed for alpine environments. Teaching is delivered through practical workshops, simulations, and scenario-based learning, ensuring skills are developed in conditions that reflect real mountain challenges.
Expert Faculty & IFMGA Mountain Guides
You’ll be taught by experienced medical faculty alongside professional IFMGA mountain guides. This integrated approach ensures clinical learning is grounded in real-world alpine movement, risk management, and terrain awareness.
Accommodation, Meals & Expedition Support
Your course fee includes accommodation and meals from the start of the course through to its conclusion, as well as logistical support throughout the expedition phase, allowing you to focus fully on learning and performance.
CPD Hours & Course Certification
This course has been awarded 30 CPD hours by RCSEd, and 44.5 CPD hours by The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). On completion, you’ll receive a certificate of attendance recognising your training in alpine and cold-environment medicine within a challenging, real-world setting.
What past attendees say
“one of the best courses i have done. Keep up the good work ! ”
“Absolutely loved this course, my best one with WEM so far. It was a great mix of lectures and scenarios. Very enthusiastic, patient and encouraging teachers. Thanks to all 4 instructors, inspiring as always. ”
“Jamie, Luke, Hannah and Ella did an amazing job facilitating this course. It was clear how passionate they all are about this specialty and it made learning from them a privilege. Special thank you to Jamie for all the extra work we saw him do in preparing each aspect of the course whilst we had moments of down time. Would recommend this course to anyone who loves the mountains. ”
“I want to thank the whole team for the unforgettable experience and valuable lessons that I learned. Now I really want to do the masters to attend more of your courses, thank you! ”
Case Studies
This course is designed for healthcare professionals and students who want to apply their clinical skills in alpine and cold-weather environments. It’s particularly suited to those interested in expedition, wilderness, or mountain medicine. While prior mountain experience is helpful, the course focuses on developing judgement, teamwork, and decision-making rather than technical climbing ability.
