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The Office of Wilderness Medicine

 

 

About Wilderness Medicine

The Wilderness Medicine Program at MCG focuses on training residents and students how to handle medical emergencies in remote settings where emergency services are not readily available. Injuries can happen anywhere, and we should all be prepared to treat patients outside of the conveniences of a hospital. The Office of Wilderness Medicine is directed by the Center of Operational Medicine (COM). The COM supports the initiative by providing people/management, resources, and equipment for many of the wilderness training activities. For more information about the COM, visit www.mcgcom.com.

 

Wilderness Medicine Medical Director

Michael Caudell, MD, FACEP, FAWM

Dr. Michael Caudell is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and the Medical Director for Wilderness Medicine and Survival Medicine within the Center of Operational Medicine at MCG. Dr. Caudell obtained his MD from MCG and remained here to complete an emergency medicine residency. Dr. Caudell is one of the founders of MedWAR (Medical Wilderness Adventure Race) and serves as the Executive Director for the Southeast Race. He is also the Secretary of ACEP's Wilderness Medicine Section, Vice Chair of the Wilderness Medical Society Education Committee, a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) and serves on the Board of Directors for both the Appalachian Center for Wilderness Medicine and the North American Educational Adventure Racing. He is a faculty member for the Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) course, and he is the course director and instructor for the American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid.

Wilderness Medicine News & Courses

The Southeast MedWAR Race

The 9th Annual Southeast MedWAR Race was held Saturday, April 18th, 2009 at Fort Gordon, GA. Southeast MedWAR was the original MedWAR race. The race was a great success, with 36 teams participating. Congratulations to MCG Emergency Medicine Department's team for coming in 2nd place! The team, called "No Permanent Damage" consisted of Dr. Richard Schwartz, Dr. Stephen Shiver, Dr. Brad Reynolds, and Nevin Lambert, PhD. Great job!

 

All of the 2009 MedWar race results and photos can be found at: http://www.medwar.org/southeast/index.htm

 

Second Annual Wilderness First Aid Course a Huge Success!

The Second Annual American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Course was held at the Knox Scout Reservation in Lincolnton, GA in March 2009. The course had a 100% pass rate, and all students were certified in Basic Wilderness First Aid. The 11 students were comprised of Boy Scouts and Boy Scout Leaders from the Augusta metro area. The students were very satisfied with the wilderness medicine education the course provided. Some of the Scout Leaders took the training so that they would be able to lead the Scouts in the wilderness areas of New Mexico later this year. In 2008, many local Scouts participated in the first course to prepare for a 10-day remote mountain trip in the Cascade Range of Mount Rainier National Park.

The Wilderness First Aid Course consists of 16 hours of basic assessment and first aid training in remote settings, blending didactics, hands-on skills, and wilderness scenarios. Enrollment is open to the general public. For more information about future courses, please contact Kathy Dunn at kadunn@mcg.edu.

Upcoming Events

3rd Annual Southeast Regional Student Wilderness Medicine Conference

On Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7th 2010, the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) will be hosting the 3rd Annual Southeast Student Wilderness Medicine Conference., sponsored by the Appalachian Center for Wilderness Medicine (ACWM).

Saturday’s schedule will include morning didactic sessions and afternoon educational workshops at the MCG campus. Instructional courses and activities will focus on the skills necessary to practice medicine in situations removed from immediate help, technology, and easy transport.

Sunday’s schedule will focus on outdoor scenarios and simulations. An orienteering course will be established wherein participants will encounter multiple (simulated) wilderness medicine cases and/or situations.

For more information go to www.appwildmed.org

 

Southeast MedWar (Medical Wilderness Adventure Race)

Fort Gordon, GA

April 17, 2010

The Southeast Medical Wilderness Adventure Race (MedWar) is a unique adventure race complete with questions and interactive, hands-on scenarios, designed to test your academic and practical knowledge of wilderness medicine. Teams consist of any four people with an interest in wilderness medicine, often a combination of healthcare professionals, emergency personnel, students of all varieties, and outdoor enthusiasts.

 

**The Third Annual Wilderness First Aid Course!**

**Advanced Wilderness Life Support, Fall 2010!**