2023 - 2024 Wilderness Committee Leader Spotlight

Matt Basinger, MD, Chair of the EMRA Wilderness Committee, 2023-2024

Matt Basinger.jpgProgram: University of Michigan

Your goal as an EMRA leader:I joined EMRA as a leader to provide accessible and diverse opportunities and experiences to residents, medical students, and alumni in the sphere of wilderness medicine. I hope to facilitate personal and professional growth in wilderness medicine, and lead a successful and educational Medical Wilderness Adventure Race with my committee this year.

What do you think are the top three traits of a great leader? The well functioning teams I have been a part of have a leader that listens to recommendations from those that they represent and work with, delegates tasks and provides learning opportunities for teammates, and supports teammates in their pursuits and tasks. I hope to be a leader that provides appropriate autonomy to my committee members, yet provides the support needed to pursue their wilderness aspirations. I also hope to listen to the EMRA membership body to offer events and opportunities that benefit their professional growth.

What is the best advice you've ever received? Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

What is your favorite hack for night shifts? Keeping an Ale8 (ginger/citrus soda native to the Red River Gorge) for a pick-me-up at 5am on the last couple hours of shift. Tasting the carbonated beverage of choice of hard overhung climbs in the Red at 5am stokes me up to finish the shift.
 
Favorite channel on social media? Jerry of the Day or Kookslams

Joe Mueller, MS4, Chair-Elect of the EMRA Wilderness Committee, 2023-2024

Joe Mueller.jpgProgram: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To facilitate the success of the wilderness committee as we achieve our goals of organizing MedWAR and sharing opportunities for wilderness medicine with residents and students throughout the country. In addition, to highlight applications of wilderness medicine in service to underserved patient populations and expand access to the wilderness for groups not traditionally represented in that sphere.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? When I attended ACEP 2021 as a third year medical student, the EMRA members I met while attending the wilderness medicine section meeting were some of the most welcoming people at the conference. After getting home, I did more research about the goals of ACEP and EMRA and realized I identified with their missions of building a strong specialty and future leaders in the field. I applied for a committee position, and now here I am a year and a half later!
 
What is the best advice you have ever received? If you have a decision that is 60/40 and you’re waiting for it to be 90/10, it may never get there. You sometimes have to make the decision when it is 60/40

What is something people don't know about you? Although I grew up in Iowa, I was born in New Jersey!

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: I like the idea of being a backpacking guide out west!

How many apps do you have on your phone? 92. According to my friends, it’s not normal to have them organized by subcategory on one screen!
 
What is the last non-textbook you read? Worst Journey in the World, an account of the Robert Falcon Scott expedition to the South Pole

Kara Hatlevoll, DO, MS, FAWM, Vice Chair of the EMRA Wilderness Committee, 2023-2024

Kara Hatlevoll.jpgProgram:Norman Regional Hospital

Your goal as an EMRA leader: Continue to bridge students, residents, and the wilderness medicine community together in order to build a stronger community.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? EMRA has served as an awesome way to continue to build both my personal and professional networks with incredibly intelligent and enthusiastic individuals who have become close friends, mentors, and inevitably future leaders in their fields.
 
What is the best advice you have ever received? “Keep the dirt, it makes you a better person.”
 
What is something that people don't know about you? I grew up restoring classic Chevrolet cars with my dad. We started with a '68 Camaro.

Favorite life hack for night shifts: Changing up the on-shift music for something at a faster tempo that you can’t help but jam to is crucial for the middle-of-the-night energy dip.

What's the last non-textbook you read? My most recent reads were Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann and Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales. Both absolutely incredible reads.

Carlos I. Enciso Lopez, MD, Vice Chair of the EMRA Wilderness Committee, 2023-2024

Carlos I. Enciso Lopez.jpgProgram: University of Michigan

Your goal as an EMRA leader: My goal as an EMRA leader is to carry the torch of the excellent work that has been done thus far. I want to contribute and hopefully improve upon our education, activities, and diversity in the field of emergency medicine. Additionally, I want diversify Wilderness Medicine by making materials, education, and involvement more accessible to URM and non-traditional learners and professionals.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? I wanted to be a part of a greater community of learners and professionals who strive to create excellence and expand their own skills. I also wanted to have the opportunity to contribute to society as a whole in hopes of having a positive and impact in the world of emergency medicine.

What is something people don't know about you? I was a Toyota certified automotive technician for several years prior to starting college and pursuing a career in medicine.

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: A community college science teacher. Community college was almost like a "second chance" for me to pursue a professional career. I would have loved to "pay it forward" someday by providing that same opportunity for someone someday.

Favorite life hack for night shifts: Lots of bad "dad jokes", coffee, and skittles.

Sarah Spelsberg, MD, FAWM , FEWM, Vice Chair of the EMRA Wilderness Committee, 2023-2024

Sarah Spelsberg.jpgProgram: Saint James School of Medicine

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To bring awareness of the contributions wilderness focused medicine can bring to modern medicine. To educate learners of the incredible wilderness medicine educational opportunities available to them.

Why did you get involved in a professional society? As a way to give back and bring awareness to the specialty.
 
What is the best advice you have ever received? Everything is going to be okay if you breathe, give it time, and try again.
 
What is something that people don't know about you? I went to medical school in my 40s.

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: Pilot or astronaut

What's the last non-textbook you read? The age of empathy by Frans de Waal

What's on your playlist? The foo fighters and sting among many other things

Joshua Marcum, DO, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Wilderness Committee, 2023-2024

Joshua Marcum.jpgProgram: Sunrise GME Consortium

Why did you get involved in a professional society? I’m excited to build my professional network / meet cool people
 
What do you think are the top three traits of a great leader? Communication, motivation, humility

What is the best advice you've ever received? Always chocolate in the mountains!

What is something that people don't know about you? I hate asparagus

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: Coast Guard Helicopter Pilot or Climbing Ranger for the Park Service. They both seem like they’d be awesome!

What's the last non-textbook you read? Currently reading Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

Favorite channel on social media? Currently apolloandfrens. I relate to him as I also always “wannasnack”

What's on your playlist? Currently Front Country, Steep Canyon Rangers, Boston, Blink 182

Jacques (Jack) Lowe, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Wilderness Committee, 2023-2024

Jacques Lowe.jpgProgram: Carle Illinois College of Medicine

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To create more opportunities for involvement for students! EMRA did so much for me and I want to pay it forward.

What is something that people don't know about you? I used to be a bartender before medical school.
 
If you weren't an emergency physician, what would you be? I'd probably live in a van and give the digital nomad life a try!
 
What is the last non-textbook you read? The Food Lab by J Kenji Lopez
 
What's on your playlist? Any song by Emawk or Miyachi

Justine McKittrick, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Wilderness Committee, 2023-2024

Justine McKittrick.jpgProgram: Medical University of South Carolina

Your goal as an EMRA leader: My goal is to instill a passion for practicing medicine at sea and in other austere environments to students and residents around the country!

Why get involved in a professional society? I want to be connected and involved in the EM community at a national level rather than just within my own department.

What is the best advice you have ever received? You need to feel uncomfortable in order to grow

What is something people don't know about you? I have a one year old baby girl

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: a teacher

What is your favorite hack for night shifts? MONSTER!!!



Chelsea McAuslan, Asst. Vice Chair of the EMRA Wilderness Medicine Committee, 2023-2024

Chelsea McAuslan.jpgProgram: Washington State University Elson S Floyd College of Medicine

Your goal as an EMRA leader: To promote unification and growth in emergency medicine.

Why get involved in a professional society? I love collaborating with highly motivated and creative individuals from varying backgrounds to better ourselves as providers and our emergency medicine community.

What is the best advice you've ever received? Comfort and growth cannot co-exist.

If I weren't an emergency physician, I would be: a wolf biologist

What's the last non-textbook you read? Difference Matters by Brenda Allen

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