Wilderness Medicine Interest Group
Wilderness Medicine Interest Group at University of Miami
Purpose: The Wilderness Medical
Society (WMS) was conceived by three California
physicians to institute sound principles of medical practice in wilderness
settings. Its specific purpose was "to encourage, foster, support, and
conduct activities or programs concerned with life sciences which may
improve the scientific knowledge of the membership and the general public
in matters related to wilderness environments and human activities in these
environments."
What is Wilderness Medicine? Wilderness medicine focuses on medical
problems and treatment in remote environments. It includes aspects of
physiology, clinical medicine, preventive medicine, and public health.
While wilderness medicine shares many interests and methods with other
specialties such as sports medicine and emergency medicine, it incorporates
a unique spectrum of topics and distinctive perspective that validate it as
an individual field of study.
Click
here for a slideshow of about the UM WMIG (Powerpoint
2 MB download)
Click
here to learn more about ”What is Wilderness Medicine?”
Click
here for more information on the University of Miami
chapter
Click
here for a history of WMS
Click
here to learn more about Student Electives
UM WMIG Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Wilderness Medicine?
Wilderness medicine focuses on medical problems and treatment in remote
environments. It includes aspects of physiology, clinical medicine, preventive
medicine, and public health. While wilderness medicine shares many interests
and methods with other specialties such as sports medicine and emergency
medicine, it incorporates a unique spectrum of topics and distinctive
perspective that validate it as an individual field of study. The Wilderness
Medical Society (WMS) is the only medical organization devoted to studying and
advancing all aspects of wilderness medicine. The program of the Wilderness
Medical Society is closely aligned with the concerns of this field.
2. Why do a wilderness medicine elective in
medical school?
A: To broaden your knowledge of the
outdoors, be able to comfortably treat common injuries and trauma in the
wilderness setting, learn about disaster medicine, and be able to comfortably
triage patients in remote areas. Many students enjoy the hands-on learning
outside of the hospital setting. And finally, to have an
adventure and a heck of a lot of fun with other like-minded medical students.
3. Who qualifies to do a wilderness
medicine elective?
A: Any 4th year medical student
in good standing. Some electives, like the Wilderness Medical Society and USUHS course in the Great Smoky Mountains (Feb 2007), take 3rd year students.
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