World Extreme Medicine Conference: A World First For Extreme Medicine And Skiing

In a world first, extreme medicine combines with some of the best skiing that Europe has to offer, with attendees mixing in the company of great sportspeople, expeditioners, doctors and other medical professionals.

From January 20 to January 27 2018 in Livigno, Italian Alps, medical professionals will learn and gain motivation from world leading expeditioners, doctors and athletes, including Michael Edwards, the ski-jumper better known as Eddie the Eagle.

There are many more inspiring speakers, such as Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox of SAS: Who Dares Wins, mountaineer Cathy O’Dowd, the first woman to climb Everest from both sides, Dave Pearce, Everest summiteer and Aldo Kane, Safety Director for Bear Grylls and Steve Backshall.  Others include Antarctic medic Ben Cooper, ex British Ski Team and Olympic Physio Laura Penhaul, hostage and ransom negotiator Martin Brennan and clinical psychologist Dr Nathan Smith. 

Over the seven-day conference called WEMski (http://bit.ly/2B432ej), attendees will spend the mornings exploring Livigno’s 125km of ski runs before experiencing five afternoons of exciting and informative content.  

Mark Hannaford, founder of course organisers World Extreme Medicine (http://bit.ly/2B432ej), said, “As we all know, doctors, paramedics and nurses are under immense pressure and their time off is precious.  We’re putting together a programme that combines the excitement of skiing with brilliant conference content that can kick-start a rewarding career in extreme medicine.

“We are working with Dr Nathan Smith to design content centring around real-world experiences of extreme physical and psychological challenges, impacts of stressors, excellence in leadership, medicine in the extremes and much more.

“WEMski is perfect for anyone who has an interest – or more – in medicine, and loves the great outdoors.”

Professor Chris Imray is an experienced medical officer on high-altitude expeditions, and began altitude research with the Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society in late 1980s.  He took part in the 2006 Xtreme Cho Oyu expedition to Tibet and was the Deputy Climbing Leader of the 2007 Caudwell Xtreme Everest Expedition. He summited both Cho Oyu (8201m) and Everest (8550m) and has the dubious distinction of having the second lowest arterial gases ever recorded in an adult (at 8,400m). 

As a doctor working for the European Space Agency, Dr Beth Healy spent more than a year in the remote Concordia space analogue research facility in the Antarctic – including the 105-day polar night.  

Voted Best European Resort in the London-based World Snow Awards, Livigno is a leading winter location with a solid infrastructure including Europe’s largest wellness facility, a modern lift system accessing over 125km of skiing in addition to an extensive freeride mountain, 45km of cross-country walking/skiing paths and several extensive snow-parks that play host to international events. 

On the final day, there will be an Alpine barbeque at the top of the mountain. WEMski welcomes skiers and non-skiers alike.  For more information, visit organisers World Extreme Medicine’s website:http://www.expeditionmedicine.co.uk/index.php/products/events/-/pt-0010/-/75/9/index.html  

Links:

World Extreme Medicine Website: https://worldextrememedicine.com/

WEMski Sign Up: https://worldextrememedicine.com/products/conferences/wemski-livigno-italy-january-2018/

World Extreme Medicine (formerly Expedition & Wilderness Medicine) is the world's leading provider of expedition, wilderness and remote medicine training courses for medical professionals. 

Designed to provide medics with the expert knowledge and practical skills they need to become valuable members of an expedition or a remote medical team, World Extreme Medicine’s courses achieve 100% approval ratings from participants, with 82% deeming them ‘Excellent’.

Courses take place both in the UK and abroad, with locations carefully chosen to enhance learning opportunities in the field and enrich the experience for all those taking part.