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The Big Debate: What are YOU worth as an expedition medic

Free to register

Should expedition medics be paid for their time, skills, and risk? Or is it just part of the ‘experience’?
This powerful and honest panel discussion, recorded live at the World Extreme Medicine Conference, dives deep into the realities of pay, exploitation, professional standards, and what needs to change in the expedition medicine industry.

🎙 Panelists:
→ Alex Taylor: ED Registrar, Mountain Leader, Adventure Medic Editor
→ Ben Alba: ED Doctor, Expedition Medic, Co-Founder of The Ubuntu Network
→ Will Duffin: GP, WEM Medical Director, Expedition & Film Medic
→ Mark Hannaford: CEO & Founder of World Extreme Medicine

We talk openly about:

• When (and how) to advocate for fair pay
• The risks medics take on expeditions
• Indemnity, contracts, and setting boundaries
• How the industry can evolve, from the bottom up and the top down

Mentioned in the session:

Whether you’re just starting in expedition medicine or have decades of fieldwork behind you, this conversation is essential viewing.

If you are a World Extreme Medicine Member – you can view this session here.

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Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the current landscape of pay and conditions for expedition medics, including common models (paid, unpaid, and pay-to-work).

  2. Identify key risks and responsibilities associated with undertaking medical roles on expedition, including legal and professional implications.

  3. Evaluate their own readiness for expedition work using established guidance such as the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care framework and BS 8848.

  4. Discuss the role of indemnity and personal liability, and recognise the importance of clear contract terms and appropriate insurance.

  5. Apply strategies for self-advocacy and constructive negotiation when discussing remuneration and conditions with expedition providers.

  6. Reflect on the broader ethical implications of unpaid medical work in commercial environments and how this may affect the wider profession.

  7. Explore collective solutions and potential industry standards that could drive fairer practices across the expedition medicine sector.

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