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Running South America with Katherine Lowrie WEM20

#WEM20 NEW Session: ‘Running South America’ with Katherine Lowrie

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“A feat of extraordinary courage and determination” – Sir Ranulph Fiennes

A real treat for #WEM20 will be to hear from nature conservation advisor, author and illustrator Katherine Lowrie, as she talks to us about her remarkable story of personal endurance. An expedition that saw her become the first, and only woman in the world to have run the entire length of South America (alongside her husband) all to raise money and awareness for conservation.

Combining their love of wildlife and wilderness their epic adventure saw them run the 6,504 mile length of South America unsupported, they travelled through Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Venezuela as they ran back-to-back marathons (they had run the equivalent of 250 marathons by the end of the expedition), day-after-day, for months on end. In constantly changing environments ranging from jungle, mountains and coasts, the couple ran from the freezing south to the tropical north, slept by the side of the road and pulled everything they needed to survive in a homemade bamboo and recycled bicycle trailer.

They took in awe-inspiring scenery, ran through the biggest rainforest on earth, came across a multitude of wildlife and were able to drop into local schools to talk to children about their journey and enjoy the generosity of the local people. They survived hurricane force winds, searing heat, near 100% humidity, swarms of biting insects and some of the most crime-ridden places on the planet.

Their plight even drew admiration from several celebrities and notable people, including HRH Prince Charles who said:

“I am hugely impressed that you are undertaking such a gruelling and challenging run for such a vitally important cause and I pray you will not have too many blisters, mosquito bites and other travel scars by the time you return from such an extraordinary marathon (…) I send you both my kindness good wishes and admiration”.

Hear Katherine’s remarkable story on Day 1 – Expedition and Wilderness Medicine of the 2020 World Extreme Medicine Conference.

The essentials:

Who: Katherine Lowrie
What: ‘Running South America’
When: Saturday 17th October 2020 @ 17.00
Where: Salisbury Suite

Are you ready to be ‘Inspired Beyond The Ordinary’?

Book your tickets today and take the first steps on the road to an amazing career in extreme medicine. Once you’ve confirmed your place, plan out your days using the #WEM20 App (coming soon) where you can search by theme, guest speaker or the days you’re attending. Alternatively, visit our website where workshops are listed by time, date and location. Then from the 18th September you’ll be able to start booking your preferred workshops.

With so many amazing career opportunities all over the world, what are you waiting for?
#BeExtreme

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Sophie Bostock, World Extreme Medicine Conference

#WEM20 Speaker: Sophie Bostock, a Sleep Evangelist on a mission

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An exciting and unique opportunity to hear from Sophie Bostock, a Sleep Evangelist on a mission who will be discussing the importance of regular sleep-wake patterns for health, performance and wellbeing as well as sharing strategies for anyone preparing to sleep in extreme environments.

We are delighted to welcome Sophie to our 9th annual World Extreme Medicine Conference this October in Edinburgh. As a passionate advocate for the importance of sleep for health and wellbeing, she brings with her an enormous amount of knowledge and experience around the science of sleep and performance. Plus, Sophie will also be sharing her exciting challenge where she will be rowing 2,400 miles across the Pacific in 2021; to get up close and personal with sleep loss and circadian disruption and experiencing first-hand how athletes cope with extreme sleep deprivation in endurance sports.

As today’s frenetic 24/7 world becomes more challenging, psychological resilience is key and with science behind her Sophie argues that sleep holds the key. Sleep loss interferes with all of the critical components of resilience and problem solving, a key factor when dealing with medicine, especially in the extremes.

Sophie’s background is as a scientist and has always been intrigued by what makes us feel good and function. Following degrees in Medicine at Nottingham University and a MSc in Entrepreneurship, and several years consulting before developing an interest in healthcare innovation. Sophie completed a PhD in Psychobiology at University College London (UCL) investigating why happiness protects against heart disease, and how to improve wellbeing at work.

This work led to an interest in sleep and her research pointed to sleep being one of the unsung heroes of mental and physical resilience. It was at this point that Sophie spent the next 5 years first as a research scientist, then as UK Innovation Lead at Big Health, an award-winning digital medicine company, where in 2016 she was awarded an NHS Innovation Accelerator Fellowship for her work on ‘Sleepio’, an online sleep improvement programme that has been made available on the NHS to a fifth of the UK population.

A climbing accident caused by sleep deprivation in 2018 was the trigger for Sophie to become a full-time champion for the importance of sleep and launch www.TheSleepScientist.com. Sophie now works as an independent Sleep Evangelist and when she’s not providing keynote conference talks, TEDx talks, consulting and coaching you’ll find her rowing, climbing, swimming, windsurfing and following the sunshine around the world.

As an energising and inspiring speaker, we can’t wait to welcome Sophie to the mainstage on Day 3 of the conference for her talk about ‘Sleeping in the Extremes’. In this session, Sophie will share findings from 15+ interviews with elite endurance athletes and experienced ocean rowers, to explore preparation, and any physical and mental techniques they have used to improve resilience to sleep loss. This is the perfect session for anyone preparing to sleep in an extreme environment, or coping with circadian disruption, including shift workers.


Feeling ‘Inspired Beyond the Ordinary’?
Join us this year for one of the most energetic and unique networks in the universe and be part of the world’s greatest gathering of extreme medics and thought-leaders; dedicated to inspiring and sharing medical knowledge with you. Book your place today!

#BeExtreme

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World Extreme Medicine ‘Inspiration Beyond The Ordinary’ Conference 2020

What’s NEW: World Extreme Medicine ‘Inspiration Beyond The Ordinary’ Conference 2020

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And so, it begins… our world-renowned World Extreme Medicine Conference just got BIGGER and better!

Fresh voices, new workshops and pioneering research from across the extreme medicine world are gathering in one place for the 9th Annual World Extreme Medicine Conference. Which means we’ve got details, details and even more details.

While we don’t want to give too much away, here is a small taster of the most exciting things heading to #WEM20…

NEW Theme: Inspiration Beyond The Ordinary

This year our theme examines unearthing inspiration beyond the everyday encounters we face as medics and explorers. It’s a full-force celebration of what the mavericks of humankind are capable of when we erase traditional boundaries of medical knowledge and shatter constraints to reach the heart of extreme medicine – and you’re invited.

Mark Hannaford, Conference Founder said:

“The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Inspiration Beyond the Ordinary’. Working as a medic means you’ve already picked a career that is beyond the ordinary – the day to day life of a medical professional is filled with challenges far from what most people would consider ‘normal’. Life-altering injuries, births and deaths are witnessed regularly, sometimes within a single shift.

This has an enormous impact on the physical and mental health of you, as practitioners. Add in an ever-increasing workload and long hours, it’s hardly surprising that stress, burnout and frustration are all on the rise.

Which is why we’ve made ‘inspiration’ the focal point of this year’s WEM Conference. We’ve invited some of the most inspirational speakers from around the globe to share their experiences from the world of extreme medicine. Our timetable is packed with sessions that will point the way to pursuing your own medical adventures and open the door to exciting opportunities that will help you find your own inspiration. You’ll have handy tips to help you manage stress and look after your own mental wellbeing so that patient care, in turn, improves and ensure that above all, you leave inspired, beyond the ordinary.”

NEW Categories: to make planning easier

Following the successful introduction of categories across last year’s conference programme, we’ve brought them back for this year. You’ll see the categories listed across all three days, making it easier for you to plan your days around the speakers you want to hear from and the workshops you don’t want to miss out on. Download our #WEM20 app (watch this space – it’s coming soon) and you will find each category colour coded, so all you have to do is choose the categories you’re interested in, filter the results and track the relevant talks and workshops for the days you’re attending.

The #WEM20 categories are:

  • Medicine Beyond Earth – space, aeronautics and pure escapism.
  • Extreme Innovation – new technologies and ideas that transform and inspire.
  • Beyond the Battlefield – working in the ‘hot zone’, includes military and humanitarian deployments to areas of war and conflict.
  • Extreme Sports – supporting athletes and adventurers who are pushing the limits of human capability.
  • I’m a Casualty, get me out of here! – the art of rescue and evacuation from challenging environments, major incident planning and extended casualty care.
  • Extraordinary Resilience – self-care, psychology and mental health.
  • Extreme Evidence – cutting edge science and primary research.
  • Extreme Careers – inspiration, insights and actionable tips from medics who are on incredible life journeys.
  • Health and Climate Change – environmental and ecological impacts on health and how we should respond as a medical community.
  • Human Factors and Leadership – human performance within complex systems and dynamic environments and inspiring others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more.
NEW Guest Speakers: these are just the tip of the iceberg

We are delighted to have some of the world’s most remarkable medics, world-leading adventurers and internationally acclaimed explorers as part of our guest speaker line up this year.

They will inspire and encourage you with their own personal stories and experiences and share new innovations, expertise and wisdom in medicine conducted in challenging and often harsh and dangerous environments.

Guest speakers to look out for include:

Jennifer Ngo-Anh, SciSpace Team Leader – European Space Agency (ESA)
Jennifer coordinates ESA’s ground-based and space-based (e.g. International Space Station) activities in the areas of human research, biology and physical sciences.
Speaking on Day 1

Andy Elwood, Men’s Mental Health Specialist
Campaigner, speaker and Mental Health First Aid instructor, Andy is candid about his own struggles and believes that mental health deserves parity with physical health.
Speaking on Day 2

Vik Mohan, GP
Architect of the award-winning Population, Health and Environment (PHE) programme, Dr Mohan is a champion of biodiversity conservation and global social justice.
Speaking on Day 2

Sophie Bostock, Sleep Evangelist
A champion of sleep, Sophie is on a mission to help millions of people to lead healthier and more productive lives by unlocking the science of sleep and performance.
Speaking on Day 3

Stephen Fabes, Doctor, Presenter & Author
Over 6 years, Stephen crossed 75 countries and pedalled a distance equivalent to over twice around the equator, while exploring the social, historical and political backdrop to health.
Speaking on Day 1

Not to mention some of our favourite speakers and good friends returning to the stage including Salehya Ahsan, Mike Barrett, Burjor Langdana, Kate Baecher, Mike Smith and Karen O’Neil.

NEW Workshops

Across all 3 days we have an array of practical sessions, hands-on workshops and panel discussions that reflect the theme for that day. Learn from our hand-picked experts who will be showcasing and teaching you the essential skills required when in extreme and under-resourced conditions.

Our workshop booking system will go on sale and be available to book from 21st September and remain open until 9th October, meaning you will have more time to research and plan your visit via the #WEM20 app and website. For anyone who misses the booking window we will be setting aside a limited number of spaces for each workshop which will be available on the day on a first come, first served basis.

Workshop highlights include:

  • Running South America – Day 1
    ‘A feat of extraordinary courage and determination’ ~ Sir Ranulph Fiennes
    An extraordinary and gruelling tale of survival through hurricane-force winds, searing heat, near 100% humidity, swarms of biting insects and some of the most crime-ridden places on the planet.
  • Filtering the Noise – Rapid Decision Making – Day 3
    Take part in an immersive experience focused on dealing with simple tasks in a simulated confined space, while under distraction.
  • Rapid Recovery, Resource Building and Personal Resilience – Day 3
    Learn to relax and unwind anywhere (even a noisy helicopter or bumpy transporter) and at any time, for rapid destress and recharge.
  • How to get your First Job as a Humanitarian Medic – Day 2
    How do you prepare for it?  What courses are relevant? How do you make it a career, or juggle with a full-time job? Find out from the experts.
What can you expect across the 3 days?

We have a jam-packed schedule of events bringing you the very best practical training, motivating insights and innovation, plus of course, the most amazing networking opportunities, where else in the world will you have the opportunity to speak with a NASA astronaut one minute and then meet a world record holder and leading explorer the next?

Day 1: Expedition and Wilderness Medicine
Bringing you the very best of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, from the most remote regions of Antarctica to the depths of space.

Day 2: Disaster and Humanitarian Medicine
The day focuses on Humanitarian and Disaster medicine, equipping you with the skills you need in order to deliver medical care where it’s needed most.

Day 3: Extreme Pre-Hospital Care & Retrieval Medicine
Learn about pre-hospital care at its most extreme, as we explore how emergency medicine and prolonged care is delivered in the most remote environments

Our World Extreme Medicine Conference comes highly recommended from past delegates:

”I can say, without hesitation, that the WEM19 programme content was by far the most interesting of all conferences I have experienced.  I felt both humbled and inspired by the sessions I attended and have come away with ideas racing around my mind.”

Gp Capt Di Lamb PhD | Defence Professor of Nursing | Research & Clinical Innovation | Royal Centre for Defence Medicine | Joint Medical Command

So watch this space – there’s still plenty more to come!

If you are ready to be inspired beyond the ordinary, book your tickets now and be part of the world’s greatest gathering of extreme medics and thought-leaders; dedicated to inspiring and sharing medical knowledge with you.

 

 

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Antibiotic Resistance

#WEM19: Antibiotic Resistance – a threat on a par with Climate Change

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Latest research regarding antibiotic resistance was revealed at the 2019 World Extreme Medicine Conference (#WEM19) that took place in Edinburgh, as well as discussions on a few of the issues surrounding this current threat, such as over prescribing, lack of regulation and illicit OTC sales.

The World Bank estimates that between 1.1% and 3.8% of global GDP could be lost due to antibiotic resistance, known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the ability of a microorganism to stop an antimicrobial from working against it if left unchecked – roughly the same as the global economic impact of climate change.

At #WEM19, leaders in this field, Dr’s. Aula Abbara, Consultant in Infectious Diseases, and Esmita Charani, Senior Lead Pharmacist, both of Imperial College London, talked about AMR, the threat it poses all of us, and how it particularly affects populations in conflict zones, refugees and lower income countries. The World Bank projects that 24 million people could fall into extreme poverty by 2050 because of antimicrobial resistance, most of these people would come from low and middle-income countries.

AMR is a particular worry in war zones with over-prescribing amongst doctors driven by patient expectations and little regulation in the distribution and OTC sale of antibiotics. As an example; several hundred households in Syria were sampled randomly and 85% of responders reported using antimicrobials in the preceding 4 weeks, with only 43% of these courses being prescribed by a healthcare professional.

During their informative session on Day 2 of the conference (Disaster and Humanitarian Medicine), Aula and Esmita focused on how medics working in humanitarian settings will encounter this problem and what they can do to treat and mitigate it.

In particular they spoke about “antibiotic stewardship” – what doctors and patients anywhere in the world can do to ensure antibiotics are used sensibly – so we have them available to us as a therapeutic option for as long as possible. They also discussed how antibiotics are currently being used in hospitals and how poor communication between medical teams often results in antibiotic misuse, which will ultimately have an effect on all of us.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the outgoing chief medical officer and the UK’s first Special Envoy on AMR has highlighted it as a ‘catastrophic threat’ which is on par with Climate Change – but the problem has not yet been met with the same levels of interest or activism.

Aula and Esmita commented:

“It’s a sad fact of life that Antibiotic Resistance is just not visual enough to grab the headlines. Conflict destroys health systems and it’s all too easy for a local medic to give an antibiotic when the patient asks for it. That’s also increasingly true in many western health systems.

The scale of the problem cannot be exaggerated – and we need to do something to address it fast.”

 

Book your tickets to #WEM20 and join the discussion on world health issues and how they could impact the work of you and your team.

#BeExtreme

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How the World Extreme Medicine Conference can help further your medical career

Conference founder Mark Hannaford on why #WEM20 is so important and how it can help further your medical career

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This is the 9th year we have held an annual World Extreme Medicine Conference and interest in this area of medicine is growing all the time. Now, more than ever before, medical professionals are being asked to deliver high quality medicine in the world’s most remote areas; supporting expeditions, adventure holidays, responding to sudden onset disasters or being deployed on humanitarian missions.

Over the 3-day conference held in Edinburgh, we will cover everything from pre-hospital, to expedition and military medicine, as well as humanitarian healthcare in crisis situations.

Doctors and medics who decide to work in extreme medicine will have a rewarding and dynamic career that offers plenty of diversity and challenges along the way, but it can be incredibly tough at times and individuals need to ensure they are suited to the job. You need to be able to cope with long deployments far away from home and work in situations that may expose you to things that shock you or even threaten your safety.

The aftermath of a deployment, particularly in a crisis zone, can also be difficult to navigate. It is quite common to get post-expedition blues, and medics can suffer from PTSD just like combat soldiers. For disaster medicine, you need huge adaptability and ability to respond quickly. One of the benefits of the conference is that organisations such as Medicins San Frontieres and the International Red Cross come and explain what it is they do, with feedback from medics who have already volunteered. This will cement some people’s determination to sign up, but others can see that it isn’t for them.

The military has driven many of the advances in trauma medicine which are saving lives in NHS hospitals and at road traffic accidents in the UK right now. Defence Medical Services are one of our partners and they will be on hand to talk about opportunities within the service for medics who wish to follow a military pathway.

Raleigh International is another partner organisation that needs the services of well-trained medics. They take young people on expeditions to build their confidence and increase their opportunities and they have a very well established medical system.

You don’t need to be a trauma consultant or a medical doctor to get involved. There is a great need for healthcare workers who have the skills to give ongoing treatment to people who may be swept up in a crisis situation. People in the Bahamas may be coping with the aftermath of a devastating storm, but they still need physiotherapy, maternity nurses, psychological assistance and paramedics to attend emergencies.

If you have a calling, there’s a place for you!

Be inspired beyond the ordinary and book your tickets now and be part of the world’s greatest gathering of extreme medics and thought-leaders; dedicated to inspiring and sharing medical knowledge with you.

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Edinburgh, Scotland

5 interesting things to see and do in Edinburgh while at the WEM Conference

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With a dramatically beautiful Old Town, a dynamic and stunning modern New Town and historic details, monument and famous landmarks around every corner, Edinburgh is the perfect city to host our annual World Extreme Medicine Conference. Known for its innovation, discovery and progress particularly concerning medicine, Scotland’s capital city provides an abundance of activities for you to participate in and interesting places to visit and enjoy as part of your stay.

Here are a few of our recommendations for things to see and do while staying in Edinburgh:

Surgeons’ Hall Museums
A must see for any medical maverick, is a trip to the award-winning Surgeons’ Hall Museum – home to one of the largest and most historic collections of surgical pathology in the United Kingdom. Owned and founded by The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and initially established as a medical teaching resource, the Museums consist of the Wohl Pathology Museum, the History of Surgery Museum and The Dental Collection and have long since held fascinating and extensive collections of pathology, anatomy and medical ephemera. Following a major £4.4 million Heritage Lottery Funded redevelopment project, the Museums reopened in 2015 and created a new space to share the historical journey of surgery and its advances.

Mary Kings Close
Journey back in time and explore the 17th-century warren of streets hidden underneath the famous ‘Royal Mile’ that was once a breeding ground for the black death. Experience over 400 years of history, capture a unique glimpse into Edinburgh’s past and unlock the secrets of this glorious city. Wander through a labyrinth of Old Town alleyways, Explore the rooms, meet the residents and discover untold tales on this one-hour guided tour.

National Museum of Scotland
Enjoy walking around the National Museum of Scotland and taking in an eclectic collection of extraordinary treasures from around the world relating to nature, art, science and technology. Uncover the darker side of Scottish History with tales of the infamous ‘body snatchers’ William Burke and William Hare and see for yourself the tiny, four-inch-long effigies of the victims of Edinburgh’s famous anatomy murders. The taxidermy remains of ‘Dolly’, a scientific marvel and the first mammal ever cloned from an adult cell can also be found in the science and technology gallery here at the museum.

Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park walk
Take a couple of hours out of your day, stretch your legs and experience a proper hill walk in the heart of Edinburgh city. Start by walking to Arthur’s Seat, the highest of a group of hills that were formed from the remains of a volcano and that make up Holyrood Park. Once you reach the summit (some 251 metres high and surprisingly rocky) enjoy fabulous views across the city and beyond. Carry on walking behind the crags until you reach the top of Salisbury Crag where you will be able to look down over Holyrood Palace, the Scottish Parliament and the white roof of Dynamic Earth (home to #WEM18).

Edinburgh Castle
Dominating the skyline of the city of Edinburgh from its position on Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle is a world-famous icon and one of the most exciting historic sites in Western Europe. Rich with history and with scenery that will take your breath away, a visit to this iconic castle is a must. Explore the various attractions with a guided tour or discover the castle and its people at your own pace with an audio tour. Walk through The Great Hall, witness the firing of the One o’clock Gun, a much-loved Edinburgh tradition or seek out the Crown Jewels in the ‘Crown Room’.

We’d love to hear what you’ve got planned or get up to during your visit to our World Extreme Medicine Conference and what discoveries you’ve made during your explorations of this glorious city. Share your photos with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #WEM20 or download our app and let other delegates know the best places to visit.

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Will Sharp MBE, Royal Naval Medic

18 CPD credits for attending the greatest Medicine Conference in the world!

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Event: World Extreme Medicine Conference 2020
Date: 17th-19th October 2020
Location: Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

The World Extreme Medicine Conference (#WEM20) is a place with its foundations firmly rooted in all things remarkable, championing leaders of their fields in Extreme, Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, Disaster and Humanitarian Medicine, Pre-Hospital Medicine as well as fascinating talks on Austere Medicine, plus Space Medicine from NASA & ESA personnel over 3 electrifying, high-profile days.

To that end, just by attending the event, you’ll be awarded 6 CPD (Continued Professional Development) credits per day, accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh); come for the full 3 days and you’ll earn yourself 18 CPD credits and everlasting glory*.

*Don’t quote us on this; WEM cannot guarantee everlasting glory, though we heartedly encourage you to aspire to it!

How to book your place
First off, click here to uncover and exhilarate over our (still growing) list of phenomenal speakers, then click here to see what extreme treats are in store for you on each day. (Links open in a new window, we don’t want you absconding just yet!).

Next, consider your options below and decide which ticket matches your thirst for extreme, cutting-edge, medical knowledge and CPD credits.

1-day ticket = 6 CPD credits
The cost:
£150 | Students
£185 | Intermediate – Nurses, Paramedics, F1 & F2s
£245 | Medic – Registrars & Consultants

3-day tickets = 18 CPD credits
The cost:
£405* | Students
£499.50* | Intermediate – Nurses, Paramedics, F1 & F2s
£661.50 | Medic – Registrars & Consultants

* There are a set number of tickets allocated and will be subject to availability

If you’ve already settled on a day – or 3, then click here to BOOK NOW and prepare yourself for the world’s greatest assembly of extreme medics and world-renowned guest speakers!

To further enhance your #WEM19 experience, once you’ve registered for tickets, why not take a look at our host of practical workshops running across the 3 days, where you can get hands-on experience and learn field-proven techniques and ‘hacks’ to inspire and enhance your skills.

The World Extreme Medicine Conference is organised as ‘Not for Profit’ activity by our hosting company World Extreme Medicine (WEM).

What are CPD credits exactly?
In short, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) defines the engagement of professionals in activities that aid to develop their knowledge through various learning methodologies:

  • Workshops
  • Conferences
  • Best practice techniques
  • Sharing ideas
  • Online educational programmes

The primary focus is to maintain academic and practical relevance in your field, enabling you to up-skill, irrespective of your age, educational background and/or career.

I want CPD credits – sign me up!

Join your peers for the most extreme medical event of the year and help us break down inter-disciplinary barriers, build lasting bridges and network with some of the most innovative and authoritative medical minds in the world.

Then take all those CPD credits for your remarkable achievement!

P.S. At World Extreme Medicine, we also offer a wide range of the most extreme courses in expedition, wilderness, disaster, humanitarian and pre-hospital medicine – all of which offer even more CPD credits ready to be earned – uncover them right here.

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Book today and join your fellow extreme medics for inspiration and engagement that is quite literally out of this world!

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World-renowned experts across the medical and expedition disciplines are gathering in Edinburgh in October for the largest 3-day medical event in the world and so could you.

Throughout the 2020 World Extreme Medicine Conference you’ll have the opportunity to find out more on Extreme, Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, Disaster & Humanitarian Medicine and Extreme Pre-Hospital Care and Retrieval Medicine ; as well as discovering cutting-edge research, get hands-on with industry-leading practical techniques and network with like-minded medical mavericks from around the globe.

Here are a few of the incredible benefits open to a professional of your calibre…

  • The potential to further your career by building lasting relationships with other significant leaders in their fields.
  • Hear from an exceptional selection of explorers, medics, armed services personnel and humanitarians as they share their experiences and educate about the key issues and challenges being faced today in the world of extreme medicine
  • Unique workshops covering a range of topics, including how to react in the first crucial minutes of a multiple casualty terrorist attack, how to get your first job as an expedition medic, expedition dentistry and IO learning sessions.
  • Exhibitions from some of the world’s most advanced innovators in extreme medicine.
  • CPD credits: for each day you attend, you receive 6 CPD credits; a total of 18 if you attend the full 3 days.

Join one of the most energetic and unique networks in the universe and be part of the world’s greatest gathering of extreme medics and thought-leaders; dedicated to inspiring and sharing medical knowledge with you.

Book now: www.extrememedicineexpo

N.B. If you are unable to attend this year’s conference, you can catch up on many of the talks through our podcast – ‘WEMcast’ or watch past conference sessions on our dedicated YouTube channel.

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flexmed

FLEXmed: have a compatible Medical and Expedition Career

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Exclusively unveiled at the 2017 World Extreme Medicine Conference and one of our most popular sessions since, our panel of experts Saleyha Ashan, Linda Dykes, Pauline Cutting, Daniel Sedgewick, Alex Rowe and Sundeep Dhillon discussed how you can approach and introduce a flexible working system into your hospital department that could save you money as well as offering a variety of benefits for all medical staff – FLEXmed!

By changing attitudes and taking on a different perspective to working rosters, it allows staff to take back control of their lives and permits them to explore alternative career enhancing opportunities like expedition medicine, volunteering in local community services such as the RNLI and Air Ambulance Service, or even taking time out to pursue a dream like climbing Mount Everest.

The benefits of implementing a #FLEXmed roster programme are numerous for both the staff and the hospital:

  • It offers flexible working patterns for staff, allowing them to choose the hours they work depending on their personal preference.
  • Provides opportunities for staff to further their career by acquiring new skills.
  • Allows staff the time to find out what their passion is in life and what they want to do in the future.
  • Promotes a better quality of life with the right work/life balance.
  • Gives an innovative recruitment solution that will attract new employees into the health sector.
  • Acts as a positive influence on staff encouraging good morale, strong teamwork, and a high level of loyalty within the team.
  • Caters for staff wanting to volunteer for expedition, humanitarian and community work, which in turn will provide a great experience and relevance to their medical career.
  • As a department head, you will learn to value your trainees and take the time to understand their wants and needs.
  • Offers staff respite from the ‘hot zone’, taking them off the ‘shop floor’ and avoiding burn out, meaning they are able to provide a better quality of service.
  • By developing great job posts, you could potentially save thousands of pounds on staff wages by not having to employ agency locums.
  • Staff can still enjoy the benefits of being an NHS employee with paid holiday, sick pay and being part of a team that wouldn’t be present if you were a career locum.

How introducing an annualised roster can work for you…
Dr Rob Galloway, an A&E doctor in Brighton introduced and created the first annualised roster to provide a flexible working system for all in a ground-breaking move. He now has a team of over 20 A&E registrars working at Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust self-rostering. An amazing achievement and one that will be made even easier with the launch of the official software at the Emergency Medicine Trainee’s Association 2017 Conference that took place in November 2017.

It was the success of this annualised working system that inspired Linda Dykes to launch #FLEXmed to the Emergency Department at Bangor Hospital, Wales. Linda first introduced annualised plans a couple of years ago and while it challenged the system and those working in it, within months the benefits were obvious with a happier and more efficient, effective workforce. Saleyha Ashan and Daniel Segwick have both worked with Linda in Bangor and experienced the benefits first-hand; with Daniel now implementing this flexible annualised job plan system into his new department where he is now working in Slough, London.

So, how does an annualised plan work? The principles are set around a unit of time, a ‘session’ and you can maximise your flexibility by choosing the sessions most compatible for you.

Annualised job plan principles:

1. Not all shifts are created equally
Each shift is the equivalent of a set number of sessions (as listed below):

Normal day shift: 8am – 4pm or 9am – 5pm = 2 sessions
Late shift: 4pm – 12pm = 2.4 sessions
Night shift: 10pm – 8am = 3.3 sessions
All weekend 10hr shifts = 3.3 sessions

This means that if you worked more night shifts or weekend shifts as they are worth more time as a session, you would work less actual days over the course of the year.

2. Annual total number of sessions you have to work
Once you know your annual allocated number of sessions, you are then in a position to choose the shifts most well-matched for you, which in turn could reduce the number of days you work throughout the year.

If we take the example of a Clinical Fellow, they need to work 420 sessions a year (traditionally 13 sessions a week). This could equate to:

• 210 day shifts
OR
• 127 night/weekend shifts

A great example of how this annualised roster plan works to the benefit of the individual is a consultant who works at Brighton Hospital full time. He takes on all manner of shifts (mainly nights and weekends) for 6 months of the year and for the remaining 6 months spends time participating in expedition and humanitarian work. He’s built up and worked all of his sessions through 6 months of mainly night and weekend work, and then reaps the benefits in the second half of the year travelling and practicing medicine outside of his ‘normal’ job.

3. You don’t have to work the same number of sessions each week
There is also flexibility in the number of sessions you work each week, so if you wanted to take a 3-week holiday, with some ‘give and take’ you can make up the missed sessions in the weeks pre-and post-holiday without taking any extra holiday or unpaid leave.

The success of this flexible working system is dependent on colleagues working together, so you complement one another’s shift patterns. To successfully implement the annualised plan into your hospital department, it’s important to remember teamwork is essential to maintain the service throughout the year and everyone must be on the same page and have realistic expectations.

We think this flexible approach to working in the NHS is a fantastic idea, that will allow staff the opportunity to experience amazing new adventures as well as acquiring new skills that can only further their medical career. For anyone looking to broaden their horizons, we offer a variety of Extreme Medicine courses around the world that provide aspiring and experienced expedition doctors, nurses, paramedics and advanced medics with the skills and practical knowledge to become valuable members of an expedition medical team.

 

Be at the forefront of medical innovation and new ways of thinking at this year’s World Extreme Medicine Conference – book your tickets to #WEM20 now!

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World Extreme Medicine Conference

6 excellent reasons to attend #WEM20

Ben AbbottWEM20, , , , , ,

Now in its 9th year, the 3 day World Extreme Medicine Conference is a powerful and high-profile event, created to break down barriers, build bridges and make connections within the extreme medicine community.

It is recognised for its world-renowned speakers, its authoritative and innovative content, plus its contribution to sharing information for those practising medicine in the most remote and austere environments known to humankind.

This amazing worldwide gathering of eclectic medical minds, thought-leaders and extreme adventurers gives you access to one of the most energetic and unique networks in the universe – a truly compelling and enticing proposition for our global audience of medical professionals.

6 excellent reasons to attend the World Extreme Medicine Conference 2020:

  • World-renowned speakers – we’re able to attract an extraordinary selection of speakers who will share their extreme experiences in fascinating talks, explain field-proven techniques, promote new approaches and best practices, and inform and educate fellow medics about the key issues and challenges being faced today in the world of extreme medicine.
  • Topics – the conference brings together four disparate but overlapping medical fields in one arena: Pre-Hospital, Disaster & Humanitarian, Expedition, and Extreme Medicine. As well as covering rescue equipment, medical supplies, generalist expedition and remote environmental kit, pharmaceuticals, and innovations and communications equipment and services.
  • Hands on experience – we host practical workshops on field-proven techniques and ‘hacks’ to inspire and enhance your skills, helping you to become a more effective and highly valued practitioner of remote medicine.
  • Networking – where else can you meet face-to-face and share experiences with a diverse mix of world-renowned experts in their fields; from Arctic explorers to vascular surgeons, remote medics, to NASA & ESA personnel. Plus, the opportunity to converse with your counterparts and colleagues from around the world.
  • Further your career – enhance your knowledge and increase your skill set to ensure you are in the best position possible to further your medical career and become a more effective and highly valued practitioner. The World Extreme Medicine Conference is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) for 6 CPD credits per day.
  • One of a kind event – our medical conference is one like no other. The energy is unparalleled and the presence of so many awe-inspiring, talented, clever minds creates an electrifying experience you can’t afford to miss!

Be part of the world’s biggest gathering of extreme medics; dedicated to preparing, inspiring, sharing and connecting medical knowledge with you. Book today!

 

N.B. If you are unable to attend this year’s conference, you can catch up on many of the talks through our podcast – ‘WEMcast’ or watch past conference sessions on our dedicated YouTube channel.

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