Poster Competition Finalists

Thank you to all the entries! We have received an incredible variety of submissions for both physical and digital posters, showcasing new original research, intriguing case reports, or thought-provoking topic discussions related to any area of Extreme Medicine.

The winner and runner-ups will be announced on Sunday 17th November 2024 live at the World Extreme Medicine Conference

Here are the finalists who have been shortlisted for the competition⤵

These posters will be judged by:

  • Jeremy Windsor: Consultant Anaesthetist, Director of the Centre for Mountain Medicine at the University of Central Lancashire.
  • Shawna Pandya: Aeromedical Flight Physician, Aquanaut and Member of the International Astronautical Federation’s Human Spaceflight Committee.
  • Will Duffin: GP, Doctor for US TV Show ’Survivor’ and Joint Medical Director at World Extreme Medicine

The judging criteria will be based on clarity, originality, relevance, impact and referencing.

Virtual Reality in Analog Space Missions | Ales Svoboda

A scoping review examining Virtual Reality applications in analog space missions, focusing on implementation challenges and outcomes across 22 studies, where 77% focused on microgravity simulation and only 23% reported nausea occurrence, with sample sizes ranging from 1 to 60 participants.

Anesthesia Mission in Tamale | Adrian Bencat, Nela Pelankova & Dagmar Seidlova

A case study examining anemia management during surgical missions in Ghana, focusing on the critical challenges faced when 38 of 56 patients presented with below-normal haemoglobin levels.

Mapping Remote Telementored Ultrasound Deployments (RTMUS) for Use in Austere Environments | Albert J Kuzniar & Liz Shaw

A scoping review of 86 studies examining how remote experts guide novice operators to perform ultrasound scans in challenging environments, from wilderness settings to space missions.

ICED OUT: Integrated Cold-Chain Eliminating Disease Outreach | Alex Chang, Mwatela Kitondo, Hellen Nyakundi & Edward Obwavo

A pilot study testing motorcycle-based laboratory transport systems across rural Kenya, connecting seven healthcare centres to Pokot villages for improved visceral leishmaniasis diagnostics.

From Need to Impact: Advancing Global Solidarity for Vulnerable Frontline Populations Amid the War in Ukraine | Brock Jenkins, Michail Liontiris & Alexandra Sophie Swallow – Digital Submission Only.

A comprehensive analysis of CADUS’s humanitarian interventions in Ukraine since March 2022, detailing the evacuation of 1,443 patients, training of 2,344 individuals, and distribution of essential medical equipment to frontline populations.

Deep Palmar Space Infection in the Mid-Atlantic – A Case Report | Jonathan Inglesfield – Digital Submission Only.

A case study documenting deep palmar space infection in a yacht helmsman during the 2002 Challenge Transat race, highlighting the progression from hand blisters to severe infection requiring helicopter evacuation and surgical intervention, with implications for early recognition and treatment in offshore sailing.

Implementing and Evaluating a Sustainable Prehospital Trauma Training Program During the Ukraine-Russia War | Brock Jenkins et al. – Digital Submission Only.

A study evaluating a four-phase trauma training programme in Ukraine, which trained 178 local participants and achieved a 20% increase in knowledge scores, focusing on developing sustainable, locally-led emergency medical education.

Enhancing Cognitive Performance in Extreme Medical Environments: The Impact of Action Video Gaming | Charis Sung

A University of Lincoln study examining how action video gaming affects cognitive performance in aviation medicine, finding a positive correlation between gaming hours and CBAT scores, with gamers showing enhanced accuracy and faster reaction times in auditory attention tasks.

Low Dose Methoxyflurane vs Alternative Fast Acting Strong Analgesics in the Pre-hospital Setting | Charlotte Greene – Digital Submission Only.

A literature review comparing methoxyflurane to other pre-hospital analgesics across seven studies, finding methoxyflurane offered faster onset than tramadol and Entonox, while showing mixed results against morphine and fentanyl.

Snake Violence & Folklore | Diana Meirinho Domingues, Kevin Arbuckle, Hazel Nichols, Yowasi Byaruhanga & Jessica Mitchell

A study exploring how folklore influences human-snake conflict in Southwest Uganda, revealing that educational workshops helped reduce aggressive behaviours toward snakes, while identifying prevalent themes in local snake-related stories.

Thermoregulation at Altitude | Edmund Adams, Andrew Cowburn & Tamlyn Peel

A study examining how hypoxia affects skin temperature regulation during cold exposure, finding lower temperatures during hypoxic conditions across both acral and non-acral skin sites, with implications for cold injury prevention at altitude.

Assessing Fitness to Dive: Are There Shades of Grey Within the Blue? | Emma Wallace

A review examining the complexities of fitness-to-dive assessments for working divers, exploring how biological, psychological, and social factors intersect with diving safety standards, while questioning where firm guidelines versus flexible approaches may be appropriate.

Foot Health on Expedition | Eve Ducker & Charles Pan

A study examining foot injuries during expeditions across different environments, finding over half of participants sustained foot injuries, with most occurring in poorly prepared individuals. Research led to development of a seven-step prevention protocol for expedition foot care.

Comparison of Cadaveric Warming Rates in Accidental Hypothermia between Continuous and Dwell Thoracic Lavage | Justin O’Leary et al. – Digital Submission Only.

A cadaveric study comparing two thoracic lavage methods for treating severe hypothermia in resource-limited settings, finding no significant difference in rewarming rates between continuous infusion and dwell techniques.

A Pilot Study Evaluating the Acceptability and Effectiveness of Podcasts as a Tool for Delivering Health Education in Rural Mali | Megan Roby et al. – Digital Submission Only.

A six-month study examining podcast-based health education about snakebite prevention in rural Mali, finding a 22.4% improvement in knowledge among mine workers, with high acceptance rates for podcast-based learning via WhatsApp.

Wild Trials 2023: A Case for Pre-Hospital Teaching in UK Medical Schools | Michael Woodward, Hetty Breed & Elin Davies

A study examining medical students’ exposure to pre-hospital emergency medicine through a national wilderness medicine competition, finding that 82.1% of participants had no curriculum-based pre-hospital experience, despite high interest in the specialty.

Optimizing PFO Screening for Scuba Divers: A Novel Approach to Reducing Dive-Related Health Risks | Mohamed Ibrahim et al.

A Mayo Clinic study examining the use of pulse oximetry to detect patent foramen ovale in scuba divers, based on oxygen saturation changes during Valsalva maneuvers, with potential implications for reducing decompression sickness risk.

INSPIRE22: Physiological Monitoring During Antarctic Expedition | Natalie Taylor et al.

A study evaluating wearable technology use during an Antarctic skiing expedition, examining the effectiveness and limitations of three monitoring devices for collecting physiological data in extreme environments.

COOLFLY – Countermeasure Against Cardiovascular Instability in Changing G-Forces | Renana Bruckstein et al. – Digital Submission Only.

A parabolic flight study evaluating peripheral cooling as a method to reduce blood pooling during gravitational changes, finding that cooling effectively stabilizes cardiovascular function and blood pressure during orthostatic challenges.

Medical Kit at 8000m: Lessons Learnt, Time to Update? | Stacey Cromey-Hawke et al.

A comparative study examining medical kit contents across three high-altitude expeditions, finding consistent medication choices over 30 years with key adaptations including the introduction of tranexamic acid and variations in dosing for altitude-related illnesses.

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema and High Altitude Cerebral Edema in a Himalayan Trekker with a Descent Ascent Profile | Surya Prakash Joshi et al.  – Digital Submission Only.

A case study examining high-altitude illnesses in a 31-year-old trekker who developed HAPE and HACE despite following recommended ascent protocols in Nepal’s Manang Valley, highlighting the importance of individual susceptibility factors beyond ascent rates.


Unless marked ‘digital submission only’ – you’ll be able to see these entries and learn more about their research at the conference!

Major Prize Boost for Our Annual Poster Competition!

We’ve upped the ante on our annual poster competition by giving our prizes a big boost. Your creativity and talent deserve recognition, and we’re excited to offer these fantastic rewards ➡️

First Place Prize

🏆 3-day ticket to WEM25*

Immerse yourself in the world of extreme medicine at our conference. Network, learn, and be inspired.


*Important Note for First Place Prize:

  • The winner will receive a code to book their WEM25 ticket once the event is announced.
  • This prize is non-refundable and cannot be exchanged.
  • The prize does not include travel or accommodation expenses.

Second Place Prize

🥈 WEM Annual Membership + Merchandise

Stay connected year-round with our members-only portal and show off your achievement with our branded merch.

Third Place Prize

🥉 WEM Merchandise

Take home a piece of WEM with our merchandise.

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