Medical Student Elective Opportunities
Name | Location | Dates | Notes |
Kaweah Delta Wilderness Medicine Elective | Visalia, CA; Sierra Nevada mountains | February 26 - March 8, 2024 | |
Wilderness Medicine Society BreckWild (Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University) | Breckenridge, Colorado and the San Rafael Swell, Utah | April 8 - May 4, 2024 | |
University of Utah, Backpacking Medicine Course | Zion National Park, Utah | April 15 - 27, 2024 | |
University of Utah, Search and Rescue Course | Salt Lake City, Utah | April 15 - 27, 2024 | |
George Washington U Sch of Med | Washington D.C. | April | |
John's Hopkins Wilderness Medicine Course | Washington D.C. | Spring | |
West Virginia University Wilderness Medicine Elective | New River Gorge, WV | July - August | |
Maine Medical Center and Tufts | Maine | August 25 - September 20, 2024 | Contact |
Carolina Wilderness EMS Externship | Burke County, NC | August 25 - September 24 2024 | Accepts residents and 4th year medical students; only 2 spots |
Carilion Medical Center | Roanoke, Virginia | September 16-29, 2024 | Stephanie Lareau: stephlareau@gmail.com |
University of California, San Francisco - Fresno Campus | Fresno/Yosemite, CA | September 2 - 15, 2024 | |
University of South Carolina SOM | Greenville, SC | 9/23/2024- 10/18/2024 | |
University of Colorado School of Medicine - Advanced Wilderness Medicine | Estes Park, CO and Moab, UT | Usually Spring, dates not yet posted | |
Climate Medicine | Anschutz Medical Campus, CO | Dates not posted yet | |
University of Colorado School of Medicine - Introduction to Wilderness Medicine | Denver, CO | 10/14/2024 | MS1 - MS2 students |
University of Nevada, Reno | Reno, NV | Winter and Spring offerings | 2 week elective; Contact: familymed@med.unr.edu |
University of California, San Diego | San Diego, CA | Fall offering | Christanne Coffey: chcoffey@ucsd.edu |
University of Utah Associate in Wilderness Medicine VIRTUAL Course | Virtual | N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A | |
Wilderness Medicine in the Alps | Chamonix, France; Courmayeur, Italy; Geneva, Switzerland; Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | July 1 - July 13, 2024 (Application closed) |
Application closed, look out for 2025 dates |
Resident Physician Elective in WM (WildernessMD / McGill University) | Quebec, Canada (multiple sites) | March - April (Application closed) | Application for 2025 will be available soon. 2024 application has closed. |
Wilderness Medicine Society Virginia | New Castle, VA | Already done for 2024, look out for 2025 dates | 2 or 4 week options |
Madigan Army Medical Center Wilderness Medicine Rotation | Tacoma, WA | Not specified | |
University of Virginia Wilderness Medicine Electives | Charlottesville, VA | Not specified | 2 weeks |
University of New Mexico School of Medicine | New Mexico, Colorado | 3/3/2025 | |
NOLS & HAEMR Medicine in the Wild Elective | N/A | No Upcoming Course Dates Listed | |
University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine | Burlington, VT | Not specified | 2 weeks |
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 8/26/2024 | 4 weeks |
University of Nevada Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV | 3/25/2025 | 2 weeks |
Texas A&M | Corpus Cristi, TX | 9/23/24 | 4 weeks |
Cornell Wilderness and Environmental Medicine Wilderness Medicine Elective | Ithaca, NY | Not specified | Not updated since COVID |
Elective Scholarships | Application Date | Amount | Notes |
UCSF Fresno scholarship for visiting EM students | 2/29/2024 | Covers course fees | For medical students pursuing EM from disadvantaged background |
UCSD visiting student scholarship | April 15, 2024 | 1500 + covers necessary fees throughout rotation | Aimed at individuals from rural backgrounds and DEI |
Kaweah Delta visiting student scholarship | June 1 | $1000 for travel and housing, waived applications fee | Aimed at individuals from rural background and DEI; 2 scholarships available |
George Washington University Visiting Student Scholarship | Not stated | $1000 for travel and housing | DEI scholarship |
University of Virginia Visiting Student Leadership and Travel Scholarship | Not stated | $1,500 | DEI preference |
Resident Elective Opportunities
Name | Location | Dates | Notes |
Resident Physician Elective in WM (WildernessMD / McGill University) | Quebec, Canada (multiple sites) | March - April | Application for 2025 will be available soon. 2024 application has closed. |
University of Utah, Backpacking Medicine Course | Zion National Park, Utah | April 15 - 27, 2024 | |
University of Utah, Search and Rescue Course | Salt Lake City, Utah | April 15 - 27, 2024 | |
Wilderness Medicine in the Alps | Chamonix, France; Courmayeur, Italy; Geneva, Switzerland; Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | July 1 - July 13, 2024 | Application deadline 2/15/2024, but similar dates every year |
Carolina Wilderness EMS Externship | Burke County, NC | August 25 - September 24 2024 | Accepts residents and 4th year medical students; only 2 spots |
Wilderness Medicine Society Virginia | New Castle, VA | January-February (already completed for 2024) | 2 or 4 week options |
Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine | Varies | Varies | Fellowship credits for attending participating events |
Other Wilderness Medicine Curses and Scholarships
Course Scholarships | Application Date | Amount | Notes |
Dorothy Molter WFR scholarship | April 1 annually | $1,000 | Ely, MN based |
Wild Med Adventures - Adirondacks AWLS | April 30, 2024 | 1 x $1799 (full scholarship), 2. x $899.5 (half scholarships) | September 12-15, 2024 |
American Mountain Guides Association: Instructor Scholarships | May - July | Covers course fees | These are scholarships aimed for those pursuing instructor level training. Must be member of AMGA. |
Center for Wilderness Safety | Anytime | 25-50% of course fee | WFR/Wilderness First Aid |
Wicked Good Wilderness Medicine | Anytime | Covers course fees | WFR/Wilderness First Aid |
Longleaf Wilderness Medicine | Anytime | Varies, personalized based on need | WFR/Wilderness First Aid |
Flagstaff Field Medicine WFR course | Anytime | Covers course fees | Additional Link for Scholarship website |
Desert Mountain Medicine Women's Wilderness Medicine Program | Anytime | Varies, personalized based on need | Program website |
Desert Mountain Medicine BiPOC scholarship | Anytime | Varies, personalized based on need | Program Website |
WMS Research Grants | Anytime | Various amounts (multiple $5000 - $10,000 grants) | Must be WMS member |
NOLS: Wilderness EMT scholarship | Anytime (more funds earlier in cycle starting September 1st annually) | $500 - $2000 | |
NOLS: Wilderness WFA scholarship | Anytime (more funds earlier in cycle starting September 1st annually) | Max $4000 | |
NOLS: Moving Hands Scholarship | Anytime | Covers course fees | Only for those fluent in American Sign Language |
Wilderness Education Association Kitty Drury Memorial Scholarship | Anytime | Covers course fees | For instructor level education. NC based. |
Wilderness Education Association Pete Petersen Memorial Scholarship | Anytime | Covers course fees | Covers Wilderness Education Association courses |
Misc. Instructor Level Training Scholarships | Varies | Varies | |
Backcountry Medical Guides | Varies depending on course | Varies, personalized based on need | Need based scholarships for courses ranging from wilderness medicine, WFR, ski/snowboard medicine, mountain bike medicine, maritime medicine, trail running medicine, etc. |
Jake Kelley Wilderness EMT scholarship | Anytime | $1,000 | Aimed towards ski patrollers, Montana based |
Wilderness Medicine Fellowships
Program | Location | Number of Fellows | Required number of Clinical Shifts During Fellowship | Medical Student Elective at Program for Teaching Opportunities | Notes |
Massachusetts General Hospital Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | Boston, MA | 2 | 16 hours/week | Y | 1 or 2 year options |
University of Colorado Wilderness and Environmental Medicine Fellowship | Denver, CO | Not Specified | 8 shifts/month | Y | Summit Research Station - Greenland Required Rotation |
University of Utah Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | Salt Lake City, UT | 2 | 8 shifts/month | Y (multiple courses) | Optional EMS medical director course, SAR opportunities, Jackson Hole SAR + Ski Patrol Required Rotation, Denali, AK SAR partnership |
University of Texas, San Antonio Wilderness and Survival Medicine Fellowship | San Antonio, TX | 1 | Not listed | Y (AWLS and Big Bend Courses) |
|
University of New Mexico Wilderness and Austere Medicine Fellowship | Albuquerque, NM | Not Specified | 20 hours/week | Y (co-director of med student elective) | Khumbu climbing center, Nepal med ed teaching rotation, SAR involvement |
University of Nevada, Reno Wilderness Medicine Fellowship (FAMILY MEDICINE ONLY) | Reno, NV | Not Specified | Not listed | Y | Through Dept of Family and Community Medicine, must qualify for board certification in primary care. Great Basin National Park partnership. Tahoe area events. |
UMass Chan - Baystate Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | Springfield, MA | 1 | 95-100 8.5 hour shifts annually |
N |
|
Yale Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | New Haven, CT | 1 | 18 hours/week | N | |
Wake Forest University School of Medicine Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | Winston-Salem, NC | Not Specified | 6 shifts/month | Y (through Carolinas med student program) | Assistant medical director of NC State Parks EMS system, flight opportunities |
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Wilderness and Austere Medicine Fellowship | Lebanon, NH | Not Specified | 18-20 hours/week | N | Required flight and EMS rotations/positions |
George Washington University Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | Washington D.C. | Not Specified | Not listed | Y | |
Idaho State University Wilderness Medicine Fellowship (FAMILY MEDICINE ONLY) | Pocatello, ID | Not Specified | Not listed | N | For people who have completed family medicine residency |
Medical College of Georgia Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | Augusta, GA | 1 | Not listed | Y | |
Stanford University Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | Palo Alto, CA | 1 | 8 shifts/month | Y | 2 year fellowship. Required avalanche center work in Chamonix, France. Required ultramarathon coverage. |
University of California, Irvine Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | Irvine, CA | 1 | Not listed | N | Work at Catalina Island Medical Center. |
University of California, Fresno Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | Fresno, CA | 1 | 8, 8 hour shifts/month | Y (2 separate courses) | Optional second year for MPH. Involvement in NPS Parkmedic Program. Assistant medical director for marathon. |
Carilion Clinic Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | Roanoke, VA | 5 | 1200 hours clinical work annually | Y (WMS elective and VT wilderness medicine elective) | Options through EM, FM, IM, NP/PA; work with blue ridge adventure med which has it's own resident elective and conference as well as peru and nepal exchange programs, work with Roanoke County EMS (will get called for relevant wilderness medicine cases), flight opportunities. |
University of Vermont Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | Burlington, VT | 1 | 6 shifts/month at 2 different hospitals | Y | Alaska Glacier Icefield Program for scientific expedition, Aconcagua mountain medicine, SAR team member, flight opportunities. |
Upstate Medical University Wilderness Medicine Fellowship | Syracuse, NY | 1 | Not listed | N | |
Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine | Varies | N/A | N/A | N/A | Must attend relevant sessions (conferences, courses, etc.) to complete, can start during residency |
DiMM and DiDMM Courses
Course | Location | Course Types Offered | Price | Notes |
Canadian Society of Mountain Medicine | British Colombia, Canada | Foundational DiMM; Alpine Helicopter Rescue Specialty Course | $5995 CAD summer session; $6600 CAD winter session | Winter (April) and Summer (September) courses |
McGill University/Wilderness MD | Multiple sites including Parc Nationale des Monts-Valins, Quebec, Canada | Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Specialty Course | $6927 CAD per session | |
Alpine Rescue Training Centre/ Air Zermatt | Zermatt, Switzerland | Terrestrial Mountain Rescue Course; Alpine Helicopter Rescue Specialty Course | $6200 CHF summer session; $6000 CHF winter session | Winter (April) and Summer (September) courses |
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow | UK, Morocco | Foundational DiMM; Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Specialty Course | $7300 pounds for entire course | 2 part course |
Wilderness Medicine Society with University of Utah | Varies (Upcoming Utah and British Colombia) | Foundational DiMM | $2150 per session | Summer Pre-Conference, Winter Avalanche Session, Rock Session (Field Session), Alpine Session (Field Session) |
International Mountain Medicine Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico | Albuquerque, NM (also Ouray, CO for winter session only) | Foundational DiMM; Alpine Helicopter Rescue Specialty Course |
$4200 per session | Winter and Summer courses |
The University of Colorado, Section of Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine/DiMM Andes | Various regions of the Andes, changes annually | Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Specialty Course | Not listed | |
Mountain Medicine Society of Nepal | Nepal | Foundational DiMM | Not listed | Offers scholarship opportunities for Nepalese physicians |
***General DiMM information | https://icar-med.com/DIMMCourses/Types-of-Courses/ | https://www.theuiaa.org/mountainmedicine/diploma-in- mountain-medicine/ |
DiDMM
Course | Location | Amount | Notes |
Wilderness Medical Society Diploma in Diving and Marine Medicine | Varies (Upcoming in La Jolla) | Sessions priced at $895 - $2150. Does not include travel or lodging. | 3 x in person session ideally completed in 3 years. Sessions: Marine Medicine, Diving Medicine, Medicine at Sea. Can complete in any order. |
DiDMM International, non-english courses
Course | Location | Course Types | Language |
Austrian Society for Mountain and High Altitude Medicine and German Society for Mountain and Expedition Medicine | Austria | Foundational DiMM | German |
Association Nationale des Médecins et Secouristes en Montagne (ANMSM), France | France | Foundational DiMM | French |
German Society of Sports Medicine and Prevention (DGSP) Landesverband Baden | Germany | Foundational DiMM; Terrestrial Mountain Rescue Specialty Course | German |
Bergwacht Bayern | Germany | Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Specialty Course | German |
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Berg- und Expeditionsmedizin e.V. (BExMed) | Germany | Foundational DiMM | German |
National & Kapodistrian University of Athens – Medical School Msc International Medicine & Health Crisis Management | Greece | Foundational DiMM | Greek, English |
Universita delgi Studi di Podova | Italy | Foundational DiMM | Italian |
University of Insubria Varese | Italy | Foundational DiMM; Terrestrial Mountain Rescue Specialty Course | Italian |
HEMS Association Italy | Italy | Terrestrial Mountain Rescue Specialty Course; Alpine Helicopter Specialty Rescue Course |
Italian |
Japanese Society of Mountain Medicine | Japan | Foundational DiMM; Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Specialty Course | Japanese |
The Norwegian Society of Mountain Medicine | Norway | Foundational DiMM | Norwegian |
Instituto de Medicina de Montaña y del Deporte (IMMED), Spain | Spain | Foundational DiMM; Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Specialty Course | Spanish |
Transfrontalier Hospital in Cerdanya (Puigcerdà) and the University of Barcelona, Spain | Spain | Foundational DiMM; Terrestrial Mountain Rescue Specialty Course |
Spanish |
Institut d’Estudis de Medicina de Muntanya (IEMM), University of Barcelona | Spain | Foundational DiMM; Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Specialty Course | Spanish |
Camilo José Cela University | Spain | Foundational DiMM; Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Specialty Course; Terrestrial Mountain Rescue Specialty Course |
Spanish |
Universidad Zaragoza, Spain | Spain | Foundational DiMM; Terrestrial Mountain Rescue Specialty Course |
Spanish |
Swiss Society of Mountain Medicine | Switzerland | Foundational DiMM | French, German |
Swiss Society of Mountain Medicine | Switzerland | Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Specialty Course | French, German |
Wilderness Medicine Conference Opportunities
Conference | Location | Date |
WMS Winter Conference | Whistler, BC | March 10-13, 2024 |
CORD EMRA Wilderness Committee Meeting | Various | March 21, 2024 |
Southeastern Student Wilderness Medicine Conference | West Virginia University | May 4-5, 2024 |
Medicine of the Extremes Wilderness/Austere/Tactical/Global Medicine Conference | The Pines Resort, Bass Lake, CA | May 7-9, 2024 |
Wilderness Medicine CME | Santa Fe, NM | May 29 - June 2, 2024 |
Wilderness Medicine CME | Big Sky, MT | July 27 - 31, 2024 |
World Congress on Mountain Medicine | Snowbird, UT or virtual | July 28 - August 1, 2024 |
WMS Summer Conference | Snowbird, UT | July 28 - August 1, 2024 |
Annual Wilderness Medicine and Survival Skills Conference | Hanover, PA | September 20 - 22,2024 |
WMS Winter Conference | Crested Butte, CO | February 2-5, 2025 |
Wilderness Medicine CME | Big Sky, MT | February 22 - 26, 2025 |
Northwest Wilderness Medicine Conference | Mt Hood, OR | 2024 completed, look for 2025 dates |
Mid-Atlantic Student Wilderness Medicine Conference | Philadelphia, PA | No 2024 dates available yet |
Wilderness Medicine Conference Scholarships
Conference Scholarships | Application Date | Amount | Notes |
Wilderness Medicine CME STUDENT Conference Scholarship | Anytime | Covers conference registration | Requires you to work as a volunteer at the conference |
Matt Curley Wilderness Medicine Scholarship Fund (RESIDENTS ONLY) | Anytime | $1000 conference fund, conference fee waived | You will give a 30 min presentation at WMS conference |
WMS Conference Scholarships (Winter or Spring) | Depends on conference | $200 conference fee | Must be a WMS member |
Wilderness Medicine Trip Opportunities
Name | Location | Date |
WMS Adventure CME | Various | Various |
Wild Med Adventures: CME Trips | Various | Various |
University of Colorado Adventure CME | Custom | Custom |
Blue ridge Adventure Medicine | Various international trips | Various international trips |
Wilderness Medicine CME | Various international trips | Various international trips |
WMS CME trips | Various international trips | Various international trips |
Bio Bio CME trips | Various international trips | Various international trips |
ExpedMed CME trips | Various international trips | Various international trips |
Tahoe Wilderness Medicine CME | Various | Various |
MedTreks Inernational CME | Various | Various |
Wilderness Medicine Associates International | Various | Various |
Remote Area Risk International | Various | Various |
Wilderness Medicine Expedition Scholarships
Expedition Scholarship | Time | Amount | Notes |
American Alpine Club: Jones Backcountry Adventure Grant and Live Like Liz Award | January 30 annually | 2 x $1500 grants | For expedition related to splitboard backcountry trip |
American Alpine Club: Live Your Dreams Scholarships | April 30 annually | $200 - $1000 | Climbing, ski/snowboard expedition grants |
American Alpine Club: Cutting Edge Grant | October 1 - December 31 | $5000 - $15,000 | Expedition Grant |
American Alpine Club: Zach Martin Breaking Barriers Grant | Anytime | 1-2 grants x $5000 each | For those pursuing expeditions focused on humanitarian relief |
Misc. Adventure Grants | Varies | Varies | Support various types of expeditions |
Additional Wilderness Medicine Resources
Source | Link |
GoWME | https://www.gowme.org/resources |
SAEM | https://www.saem.org/about-saem/academies-interest-groups-affiliates2/join-an-interest-group/wilderness-medicine-professionals/medical-student-rotations-in-wilderness-medicine |
WMS | https://wms.org/WMS/WMS/Attend/Electives/WM-Electives-Listing.aspx |
EMRA | https://www.emra.org/be-involved/committees/wilderness-committee/wilderness-electives-for-medical-students |
***Many of the links on these websites are old/not helpful, but there is also some very helpful info on many of these sites*** |
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