The longest-running Wilderness Medicine conference in the United States east of the Rockies will return to Chattanooga June 22-26 at the Convention Center. The conference is designed for physicians and other health care professionals and features educational sessions and opportunities for outdoor activities.
Topics include Survival Skills, Wilderness Medical Kits, Hyperthermia, Water Disinfection, Breaks and Strains in Backcountry, Travel Medicine, Lightning Injuries, Snake Bites, and many others.
A total of 45 hours of continuing medical education units is available.
Jay Lemery, MD, President of the Wilderness Medical Society, said, “Wilderness Medicine has never been more relevant. What better place to get together than the resurgent city of Chattanooga and its spectacular surroundings.”
The conference is organized under the leadership of Chris Moore, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Erlanger at Hutcheson Hospital and a life member and past board member of the Wilderness Medical Society. “The field of wilderness medicine has evolved and grown, but at its core wilderness medicine continues to be distinct in its disproportionate dependence on basic clinical judgment and unique in its reliance on improvisation.”
“The fact that Chattanooga is affordable, easily accessible, and within an hour or less of world famous rivers, rocks and caves, makes this an extremely exciting event,” he said. The faculty includes many of the most prominent names in wilderness medicine.
Attendees can attend the entire conference or register for a half-day of conference sessions/continuing medical education. Register by calling Janice at 505/506-4496.
Two special programs will be open to the public in conjunction with the June Southeastern Wilderness Medicine Conference targeting medical professionals.
A Wilderness Safety for the Outdoor Enthusiast forum and reception will be offered on Friday, June 21, from 4:30-7 p.m. at The Church on Main. It will feature some of the nationally known experts who are participating in the wilderness medicine conference.
Conference organizer Chris Moore, M.D., and Paul Brock said the talks for this safety session will be aimed more toward the general public involved in hiking, climbing, paddling, caving, mountain biking and other activities that involve the out of doors. The cost is $20.
In addition to mini-lectures by world renowned doctors, the price includes two drink tickets for the post meeting reception, where snacks will be served, along with a meet and greet with the faculty.
The public is also invited to "Adventure and Science on Mt. Everest," an evening presentation by Kris Erickson, a North Face athlete, at the IMAX theater downtown on Tuesday, June 25, 6:30 to 9. A Rock/Creek Pint Nite reception will precede the program. The cost is $10 with a suggested $5 donation to the charity being sponsored by Rock/Creek. The price also includes two drink tickets.