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#VirtualWEM20

#VirtualWEM20 Guest Speaker and Session Highlights

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Our Virtual World Extreme Medicine Conference is jam-packed with some of the world’s most respected medics, world-leading adventurers and internationally acclaimed explorers sharing their experiences and knowledge on what extreme medicine has meant to them.

Throughout the sessions 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.

Here are just a few of the highlights:

Speaker: David Wightwick, Chief Executive Officer, UK-Med

With a background in senior roles in the humanitarian sector and now in his current position as the Chief Executive of UK-Med, David will be examining the factors that inform a humanitarian medical response to infectious disease outbreak the roles of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Emergency Medical Teams (EMT), Humanitarian and Health Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), how they work together and examples of UK Emergency Medical Team activities.

Starting from a global perspective and then honing down to the detail, session attendees will gain invaluable insights into how responses differ and evolve depending on the need – drawing from live UK EMT /UK Med case studies including: the Rohingya Refugee Camps, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh; Lebanon – following the August explosion at Beirut Port; Ghana and Chad. This is a not to be missed session if you are interested in international emergency medical response.

Session: Global Impact and Emergency Medical Team Responses to COVID-19
When: Day 2 – Sunday 18th October at 2.15pm
Where: Stage 1


Session: Remote Medical Support supporting the TV & film industry around the world

Have you ever wondered how you can become an expedition medic working on some of the world’s largest film projects?
Wonder no more as WEM’s Media Medical Director Dr Joe Rowles Remote Medical Support Specialist will be joining us on Day 1 of the conference talking about his top tips for combining adventure with your medical career. With an incredible CV providing remote medical support stretching back through to projects in Borneo, Cambodia, Congo, Guatemala, Pakistan, Iran and Costa Rica, Joe will be drawing on his own experiences including his time on ‘CBS Survivor’ and most recently leading the WEM Medical Team supporting the World’s Toughest Race in Fiji now showing on Amazon Prime. Here’s a small insight into what it takes to work on the #worldstoughestrace as the film crew caught up with Joe in the bonus material for Episode 6.

Who: Joe Rowles, Project Director
When: Day 1 – Saturday 17th October at 10.00am
Where: Stage 1

Session: Medical Challenges on the Moon, Mars and Beyond

This session is perfect for anyone with an interest in the future of human spaceflight, and the challenges that come with it. As the international community eyes ever-distant and increasingly ambitious destinations, we must consider the challenges that come with delivering healthcare in such hostile environments. During this session Shawna will cover the risks of the human spaceflight environment, including, but not limited to physiological changes, design constraints, the ideal standard of care, emerging challenges that come with far-off locales, and end by examining the novel technologies and concepts that will help overcome these challenges.

Who: Shawna Pandya, Physician, Aquanaut, Speaker
When: Day 1 – Saturday 17th October at 3.30pm
Where: Stage 2

Speaker: Stephen Fabes, Doctor, Cyclist, Presenter, Author

Stephen Fabes is an A&E doctor and author with a bad case of wanderlust and no sense of direction. He finally found his way home in 2016 after cycling the length of six continents – a six-year adventure across 75 countries and 53,000 miles.

In this session, Stephen will tell us the story of a six year bike ride around the world, and how he visited remote medical clinics en-route and explored the social context of health and disease. He’ll discuss his experience at various medical projects, from mobile medical clinics in northern Kenya and floating medical clinics on the Tonle Sap in Cambodia, to mental health rehab in Mumbai, orthopaedic wards in Afghanistan and the Jungle in Calais. Expect tales of adventure alongside an examination of the cost of marginalisation, and its effect on the health gap

If you’re a medic with a sense of adventure and a passion for storytelling or has an interest in the social determinants of health this session is a must watch!

Session: To the ends of the Earth: Cycling Six Continents
When: Day 1 – Saturday 17th October at 5.30pm
Where: Stage 1


Session: From expedition medicine to marine conservation: one doctor’s journey

This session will appeal to any health care professional who wants to help tackle global health inequality and use their skills to serve the world’s hardest to reach communities. Vik will make a compelling case for thinking holistically about human and environmental wellbeing, sharing principles that are applicable to every aspect of health care.

Working as an expedition medic for Blue Ventures in southwest Madagascar, Exeter based GP Vik Mohan uncovered a huge unmet need for health care among coastal communities. Through integrating health services into Blue Ventures’ existing conservation efforts, he has witnessed first-hand the multiple benefits of working in this integrated and holistic way, from improved natural resource management and community resilience, through to improvements in maternal and child health. During this session, Vik will be sharing his experiences of integrating health care with conservation and how improved health enabled these communities to better engage in marine conservation.

Who: Vik Mohan, GP
When: Day 2 – Sunday 18th October at 4.30pm
Where: Stage 1

Speaker: Aruv Gupta, FY4 Doctor

Arav is a London-based FY4 doctor with two firm beliefs: First, it’s not about how fast you climb to the top of the ladder, but rather how much of the view you drink in on every rung. And secondly, behind every failure lies growth.

A promising FY3 packed with long-awaited expedition work was curtailed due to Covid-19, but a silver lining came in the opportunity to work as a medic with marine conservation charity Sea Shepherd. The mission: an offshore campaign against illegal and unreported (IUU) fishing in Gabon. Three months at sea has provided ample opportunities to practice remote healthcare as well as invaluable headspace to reflect on an unprecedented year. He’s learnt about the importance of human factors on expedition, why harnessing failure is essential for progress and even a little jungle etiquette on safari! During his session, Arav will shed light on these themes and more, and of course share the odd nautical tale or three – it’s not all been plain sailing!

Session: Setting sail with Sea Shepherd: Life as a Medical Doctor aboard a marine conservation project
When: Day 2 – Sunday 18th October at 11.45am
Where: Stage 2


Feeling ‘Inspired Beyond the Ordinary’?
Join us this year at #VirtualWEM20 for one of the most energetic and unique networks in the universe and be part of the world’s greatest gathering in an online environment of extreme medics and thought-leaders; dedicated to inspiring and sharing medical knowledge with you. Book your place today!

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JD Polk, NASA Chief Medical Officer

#VirtualWEM20 Speaker: JD Polk, NASA’s Chief Medical Officer

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We are honoured to have JD Polk join us at this year’s Virtual World Extreme Medicine Conference. As the Chief Health and Medical Officer of NASA, located at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C he wears multiple hats at the space agency, which makes him the perfect speaker to discuss and understand how important medicine in the extremes can be to future exploration.

Having received his degree in Osteopathic Medicine from the A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri, JD Polk then went on to complete his residency in emergency medicine with the Mt. Sinai hospitals via Ohio University. He also completed his training in aerospace medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch. As well as being board certified in both emergency medicine and aerospace medicine. JD Polk holds a Master in Science in Space Studies from the American Military University, a Master in Medical Management from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, and a Masters Certificate in Public Health from the University of New England.

As a highly distinguished medic, JD Polk is well published in the fields of emergency medicine, disaster medicine, space medicine, and medical management. He has received numerous awards and commendations including citations from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, White House Medical Unit, Association of Air Medical Services, U.S. Air Force, and has received the NASA Center Director’s Commendation, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the National Security and International Affairs Medal and the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal.

JD Polk came up through the space programme, starting as one of the Rescue Forces, known as ‘air docs’, the doctors who fly on the search and rescue helicopters and then worked his way up almost through every position they had in medical at NASA. Positions he held included the rank and file Flight Surgeon going back and forth to Russia, the Chief of Medical Operations, the Chief of the Space Medicine Division, the deputy Chief Medical Officer at Johnsons Space Center and then in November 2016 JD Polk became NASA’s Chief Health and Medical Officer.

It’s a position that sees JD Polk provide oversight, policy direction and guidance to the medical and occupational care of all NASA employees – including its astronauts. He is also the health and medical technical authority for the agency, overseeing a team that serves as experts on the health specifications for vehicle development at NASA.

Throughout his career at NASA JD Polk has overseen 25 missions in different functions, between space shuttle launches, Soyuz launches, rescue surgeon for 5 different launches and landings and then the most recent NASA SpaceX Dragon launch, a historical moment which saw the first commercially built and operated spacecraft fly to the International Space Station.

As an energising and inspiring speaker, we can’t wait to welcome JD Polk to Day 1 of the conference. With the advent of commercial enterprises, we are entering a new age of space exploration, and so during his session JD will reflect on the successful launch of the NASA SpaceX Dragon capsule and discuss future developments and plans, including a moon base and exploration to Mars. He will also consider why these developments are so important – including the advancements in medicine and healthcare that are pushing the boundaries of exploration.

Here is what JD Polk, had to say after speaking at the 2019 World Extreme Medicine Conference:

JD Polk, NASA Chief Medical Officer


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 in an online environment of extreme medics and thought-leaders; dedicated to inspiring and sharing medical knowledge with you. Book your place today!

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#VirtualWEM20: Setting Up and Using HopIn, the Virtual Event Platform

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You’ve purchased your #VirtualWEM20 ticket, mapped out your day and prepped your home office (with tonnes of snacks, obviously) for a weekend of extreme content. 

But what next?

We’ve created this blog to answer that very question – from setting up your Hopin profile to navigating the platform. Read (or watch!) on for all the information you need…

What is Hopin?
We’ve invested in a virtual event platform called ‘Hopin’ to host the event. Hopin brings all the best bits of an ‘in-person’ event to your screen – from multiple stages to networking and exhibitor booths, meaning you get an incredible conference-style experience from the comfort of your own home!

Purchasing your ticket
If you haven’t secured your space yet, you can purchase your ticket for #VirtualWEM20 by clicking HERE. A ticket will cost you £100, giving you access to the platform for the conference weekend, plus access to the full library of talks for 12 months after the conference closes.

How to set up your Hopin profile
Once you’ve purchased your tickets, you’ll need to create a Hopin profile to allow you to access the online event. We’ve created a short video with step-by-step instructions on how to do this.

 

 

Prefer step-by-step instructions – we hear you. Here’s how to sign up to Hopin in three easy steps.

Step 1: After you’ve purchased your ticket, look out for an email inviting you to set up your Hopin account – it’ll look a little bit like this:

 

Step 2: Click on the link provided. You’ll be taken through to this browser window:

Step 3: Simply hit the ‘Checkout’ button – and you’ll be invited to Sign Up to Hopin. Enter your details and click  ‘Sign Up’.

And that’s it! You’re all signed up and ready to go. We’d recommend watching the video for a brief tour of the virtual environment and check out our ‘Housekeeping’ blog for some top tips to ensure you get the most out of #VirtualWEM20.

 

Other blogs that may be of interest, include:

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#VirtualWEM20: Our top tips for the best online experience

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Secured your space at #VirtualWEM20 ✅

Set up your profile on HopIn ✅

Watched the video tour of the virtual platform ✅

Great news – you’re almost ready to go!

Last on the checklist – some housekeeping! We know admin is often bottom of the ‘To-Do’ list, so we’ve made it easy for you and complied a list of top tips that will enable you to have the best possible online experience.

First and foremost:

  • Don’t leave it till the last minute! We are a small admin team here at WEM, and if you are having issues accessing the event it’s best to let us know as soon as possible so we can help you. We’ll be super busy on the day supporting all of our speakers, exhibitors and fellow delegates and we don’t want you to miss any of the action if you’re waiting for our assistance.

Technology: 

  • We recommend attending the event using a laptop or PC.
  • Join from a compatible browser. HopIn works best on Chrome and Firefox. Make sure your browser is up to date.
  • Check that your laptop or desktop microphone and camera are both working – you’ll have to the chance to network face-to-face and ask questions directly to our speakers – you don’t want to miss out due to faulty technology.
  • Test your WiFi speed and network. HopIn recommend a minimum of 5mbps download and 2mbps upload. Ensure that housemates aren’t planning on downloading or streaming large files during the day, which could reduce the bandwidth of your internet and cause delays in streaming.

On the day:

  • The platform will open at 8am (GMT+1) on Saturday 17th October. We recommend jumping into the event as soon as you can so you’ve got time to familiarise yourself with the controls and start chatting to other delegates before the schedule begins at 8:45am (GMT+1).
  • Prepare your learning environment. Find a quiet area without distractions and make sure you’ve got enough food and drink to see you through the day (although we’ve also built in breaks to give you time to stretch your legs and grab a bite to eat!).
  • Map out the day. In true WEM fashion, there is a lot going on. Make sure you know the talks you’d like to attend live and which ones you’ll re-watch at a later date.
  • When an area (e.g. Stage) is ‘live’ according to the event schedule, the red ‘LIVE’ tag will be shown, so you’ll know exactly where the action is!

 

Other blogs that may be of interest, include: 

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#VirtualWEM20 Day 2 Highlights

#VirtualWEM20 Day 2 Highlights… Disaster, Humanitarian and Extreme Pre-Hospital Medicine

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In the last 12 months, we’ve witnessed raging wildfires, an explosion in Beirut that killed nearly 200 people and a pandemic that has spread across the globe, all in addition to ongoing unrest, famine and displaced communities around the globe.

That’s why Day 2 of our conference focuses on providing you with the skills and tools to provide medicine where it’s needed most. We’ve combined our ‘Disaster and Humanitarian’ and ‘Extreme Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine’ themes, usually spread over two days, into one jam-packed, totally EXTREME day of content.

Do you want to be ‘Inspired Beyond the Ordinary’? Read on to find out what Day 2 has to offer…

  • WEM Trauma Lead Eoin Walker will be joined by Advanced Paramedic Jason George. Jason was one of the first on scene during the London Bridge Terror Attack in 2019, in which two people were killed, with three others left seriously wounded. Jason and Eoin will reflect on the lessons learnt serving on the frontline of medicine, reviewing the aspects of care they’ve deployed during hostile and life-threatening situations.
  • GP and Blue Ventures Medical Director Vik Mohan will take to the (virtual) stage to discuss how he utilises his skills as a medic to support a variety of marine conversation projects around the globe. Originally an expedition medic supporting adventures all over the globe, Vik witnessed first-hand the importance of a holistic approach to community and health development and biodiversity conservation. In this session, he’ll explore how he integrated the health care systems in some of the world’s hardest to reach communities with a conservation mission that spans across five countries and reaches over 50,000 people.
  • Karen O’Neill and Josie Gilday, WEM Faculty and incredibly experienced humanitarian medics, will kick off Day 2 of #VirtualWEM20. An Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Karen has divided her career between Emergency Department nursing in the NHS and the humanitarian sector. During the West Africa Ebola Crisis, Karen worked as a Medical Advisor the UK’s National Ebola Response Programme in Sierra Leone. She’s also used her skills onboard the Save the Children search and rescue programme operating in the Mediterranean. Josie Gilday is a consultant in humanitarian nursing with bags of experience, having spent over 5 years in the field with MSF in places including Haiti, Ivory Coast and Ethiopia. Josie specialises in managing and improving nursing workforces in humanitarian settings, ensuring the best possible standard of care in remote, under-resourced facilities and clinics.
  • How would you manage the health of a severely unwell patient located hours away from you, in a cave known to only three people in the world? Alistair Morris, a Consultant Paediatrician and medic for his local Mountain Rescue Team will describe his experience tackling this near-impossible mission, serving as the doctor on scene tasked with the enormous challenge of bringing this man to safety in a rescue attempt that lasted for 17 hours. He’ll describe the challenges of providing care in one of the most remote places imaginable, in which any equipment requests would take hours to arrive.
  • Do you dream of utilising your skills as a medic to bring about change in low income health systems? That’s exactly what Paramedic Nich Woolf did, pulling together a relentlessly hard-working team, a tonne of kit and a carefully devised syllabus designed to improve staff training at a hospital in northern Afghanistan. Nich developed a programme that centred around the pre-hospital essentials specific to the caseload commonly faced by medics working in Afghanistan, including resuscitation and mass casualty triage training. After three trips, Nich was able to hand the programme back to the team at the hospital, ensuring the long-term development and training of staff operating in the area. This session is aimed at anyone wanting to make a change in health care systems around the world.


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 in an online environment of extreme medics and thought-leaders; dedicated to inspiring and sharing medical knowledge with you. Book your place today!

Read More
#VirtualWEM20 Day 1 Highlights

#VirtualWEM20 Day 1 Highlights… Expedition and Wilderness Medicine

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Welcome to Day 1 of the most EXTREME medical conference – and this year, we’re bringing the conference to you, wherever that may be, with our first fully online offering!

It’s been an interesting year (to say the least!), with lots of us missing out on climbing mountains, rowing oceans or making the trek to Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh for our annual conference. If, like us, you’re in need of some ‘Inspiration Beyond the Ordinary’, then make sure to check out Day 1 of #VirtualWEM20. We’ve gathered some of the world’s most inspiring medics and adventurers, including astronauts, innovators and world-record breakers to ensure you get your fix of truly extreme medicine.

Are you ready to be ‘Inspired Beyond the Ordinary’ from the comfort of your own sofa? Here’s just a small taster of what Day 1 has to offer…

  • Expedition Leader Jo Bradshaw will join us to explore why, when providing medical support in remote environments, being technically brilliant just isn’t good enough. Jo has led and supported expeditions for over 12 years and has worked with tonnes of medics. She will explore the lessons she’s learnt during this time, specifically the differences between being a good medic and being a good expedition medic – from perfecting your sleeping-mat side manner to looking after yourself and others while you’re all pushed far outside of your comfort zone. This session is perfect for anyone wanting to explore and reflect on how by working together, we can all be better at our roles while on expedition.
  • Have you ever wondered how you can use your skills to support the medical teams working on some of the most challenging film projects around the world? The good news is, WEM’s Media Medical Director Joe Rowles will be joining us to discuss his top tips for combining adventure, medicine and media work. Joe has a seriously impressive CV, including work in Borneo, Cambodia, Iran and Costa Rica, as well as serving as the medical director for both ‘Survivor’ and ‘Eco Challenge’ over the last few years.
  • While you wait, why not listen to this WEM podcast from World’s Toughest Race: Eco Challenge, competitor Sonja Wieck who talks us through her participation in the event, as well as her interactions with the WEM medical team committed to keeping her in the race as the Fijian terrain took its toll.
  • The hugely popular ‘How to get your first job in Expedition Medicine’ returns for 2020, adapted for the virtual environment but still designed to equip even more people with the skills and knowledge needed to land their first job in expedition and wilderness medicine. We’ll be joined by some of the brilliant WEM faculty, who’ll share their unique stories, plus some top tips for anyone looking to break into the industry. You’ll have the chance to ask your most pressing questions to our panel throughout the session.
  • Health Psychologist Esther Murray, the first researcher in the UK to explore the concept of moral injury in medicine, will join us to reflect on how the coronavirus pandemic has pushed into the limelight the inequalities and psychological challenges facing our already overstretched medical workforce. Esther will consider some of the techniques used for alleviating stress and what we might want to hold on to as we move forward, living and working alongside COVID-19. In the meantime, why not check out her WEM Academy Live session alongside Matt Walton and Mike Christian reflecting on ‘The Silent Mental Health Pandemic’.
  • Stephen Fabes will offer up some much needed armchair escapism, reminding us of the expeditions and adventures that are waiting for us when it’s safe to do so. Stephen, an A&E doctor based in London, cycled the length of six continents in a whopping six-year adventure comprising 75 countries and 53,000 miles. During this incredible journey, he visited remote medical clinics ranging from mobile medical clinics in northern Kenya to floating medical clinics on the Tonle Sap in Cambodia.


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 in an online environment of extreme medics and thought-leaders; dedicated to inspiring and sharing medical knowledge with you. Book your place today!

Read More

#VirtualWEM20 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQ’S)

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Here is everything you need to know to help you prepare for our very first Virtual World Extreme Medicine Conference 2020 – the world’s largest online gathering of extreme medics!

What is the World Extreme Medicine Conference?
Founded 9 years ago by Mark Hannaford, (Founder and CEO of World Extreme Medicine) the World Extreme Medicine Conference is an exciting platform for medical minds to share experiences, innovations, best practise, promote cross-disciplinary working and generate new research. It challenges thinking, builds bridges and introduces new ideas about medicine at its most remote and austere.

When is the #VirtualWEM20 Conference taking place?
Our new #VirtualWEM20 conference takes place 17th & 18th October 2020 (Saturday and Sunday), where you’ll experience the biggest and best content, we had planned for the stage at WEM20 – plus all-new panel sessions and speakers. Delegate registration opens at 8:30am each day, and the conference closes at 6.30pm on Sunday 18th.

What is the key theme for #VirtualWEM20?
Over the 2 days, there are a range of topics based around our overarching theme of ‘Inspiration Beyond The Ordinary’; a theme we are confident will resonate with anyone practising medicine in extreme conditions.

What is the cancellation/refund policy on tickets?
Unfortunately, we aren’t able to offer refunds on Virtual WEM20 tickets. However, your ticket secures you much more than access to the two-day event. You’ll have access to the entire library of talks for 12 months after the conference concludes, so don’t worry if a busy schedule means you aren’t able to make the entire conference.

Where can I find the #VirtualWEM20 schedule?
You can find the schedule for each of the 2 days on our website. Day 1 sessions will focus on Expedition and Wilderness Medicine and Day 2 will be focusing on Humanitarian, Disaster and Pre-Hospital Medicine; with both days featuring fascinating and inspiring content from globally renowned speakers.

You will also be able to view the schedule on the HopIn platform; our virtual conference environment (more details to follow).

Please note, the schedule is based on GMT+1 timings.

What if I miss parts of the conference?
If you purchase a ticket but are only able to watch a few sessions, don’t panic, you won’t miss out. Anything you’ve missed will be available to watch at your leisure on the WEM Academy (a new digital resource for extreme medical professionals) within a week of the conference concluding, so you can dip in and out of the live sessions during the conference weekend as it suits you.

Is it possible to watch the conference at a later date?
We understand that our delegates are busy people from all over the globe, so if you are unable to buy a ticket to our #VirtualWEM20 weekend, we will be offering the complete package of talks for purchase shortly after the conference concludes.

This will be available over on the WEM Academy a week after the conference concludes. After buying the package, you’ll have access to these videos for 12 months.

Can I purchase a single day ticket?
Unfortunately, we aren’t offering single day ticket options this year. With a more streamlined schedule, we’re instead offering the full online experience for both days, plus access to all of the conference content after the conference concludes.

Is there a student discount?
Yes, there is, please send an email to [email protected] for more information.

How do I register for the HopIn platform?
Once you’ve purchased your ticket to #VirtualWEM20, you’ll receive three emails – one confirming your payment, the second with the event start and end times (so you don’t forget!) and a third welcoming you to HopIn. There will be a link within this email that allows you to setup your HopIn account. It’s a super easy process, but if you need any extra help we’re around to help.

Why purchase a live ticket?
We’ve worked hard to make sure you still have a first-rate conference experience, meaning most of what you love about attending a WEM conference in person has been moved to the virtual space. We have an incredible online platform, a jam-packed schedule of talks, round-table discussions with leading experts, networking with WEM Faculty, speakers and fellow delegates, live Q&A, polls, plus a virtual exhibition hall where you can visit exhibitor booths and speak to them directly.

Be inspired and be part of the most extreme online event of the year!

What will I need to participate?
A laptop or desktop with a webcam if you’d like to be on screen during networking/roundtable discussions and a good internet connection. You will also need to set up your HopIn profile (part of the sign-up process) before the conference begins.

Top Tip: HopIn works best on Google Chrome.

What should I wear?
PJ’s! The great news is that you can wear whatever you like so if you’re watching from home think cosy and comfortable – there’s no judgement here!

Do I get a certificate for attending?
Yes! You’ll get your own personalised certificate. These will be available shortly after the conference.

Is the World Extreme Medicine Conference accredited?
Yes! The conference is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh for 6 CPD per day – that’s 12 hours of CPD for attending both days.

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#VirtualWEM20 Conference

#VirtualWEM20 Tickets Launched!

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Having reviewed COVID-19’s impact on large gatherings, we have come to the decision to move WEM20 over to the online arena (book your ticket here!).

While we understand you may be saddened to not be attending Dynamic Earth this October (we are too), everyone’s safety must take priority.
That said, we believe your continued access to new learning opportunities is also a priority, so we have a remedy…

Introducing: The Virtual World Extreme Medicine Conference 2020 (17th & 18th Oct)

For the first time in WEM history, we’re hosting a virtual conference – so you can be inspired from the comfort of your sofa (or, frankly, from wherever in the world you can get online).

Split over two action-packed days on 17th and 18th October, you’ll encounter the biggest and best content we had planned for the stage at WEM20, plus we’re adding brand new panel sessions and speakers.

We’ve worked hard to make sure you still have a first-rate conference experience, meaning most of what you love about attending a WEM conference in person has been moved to the virtual space:

  • The reception area where you’ll find your schedule, updates from the WEM Team and our fantastic sponsors
  • Live group breakout spaces for our WEM roundtable panels and collaboration with fellow delegates
  • Networking hubs that allow you to search for and discover people to chat to, where you can then jump into a one-on-one private live video conversation
  • Our virtual exhibition hall featuring showcases from our exhibitors and a dedicated chatroom where you can find out more from them directly
  • Your personal profile, where you can share information about yourself with other delegates, upload your picture and be discovered via our networking hub

Conference-specific details, including session times, speakers and how you can get actively involved, will be released via our social media channels and email – so keep your eyes peeled!

Book WEM20 Tickets

I’m a WEM20 ticket holder – what happens now?

As a paid-up WEM20 ticket holder, you have a couple of options:

  • First refusal on tickets for our 10th anniversary WEM21 conference next year
    Contact us to request that your place be transferred to WEM21 and secure your spot months before they go on sale to the public (you’ll also receive a 10% discount on a place at #VirtualWEM20)
  • A full refund for those who can’t commit to WEM21
    You can request a full refund at any time (no need to decide right now, so no rush). We aim to process refunds within 30 days.

Why transfer a WEM20 ticket to WEM21?

A good question deserves an even better answer: because next year signals the 10th anniversary of the World Extreme Medicine Conference!

And since last year was a sell-out (leaving us with an extensive waitlist), transferring from WEM20 to WEM21 now guarantees that place – which means zero FOMO at what promises to be our most extreme event yet.

Do you have information on WEM21?

We’re still working out the details so, for now, picture this:

  • A jam-packed schedule featuring the most prolific convention-breaking, discipline-blending, boundary-shattering medics this side of the known universe.
  • Evening events where rubbing shoulders with those same maverick medics is a must – and at which we may even consider switching our waterproofs for black tie (shocker!)
  • Plus, every detail that makes a WEM Conference so career-defining: tonnes of networking, ‘get your hands dirty’ workshops, outdoor ‘rain or shine’ technical sessions, and bracing morning runs with our team to kickstart your day.

We’ll be heading back to Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh from 13th – 15th November 2021.

Can I buy my ticket to WEM21 yet?

Tickets aren’t available right now, but after the #VirtualWEM20 conference in October, you’ll be able to register your interest with us so we can update your progress and notify you when tickets go on sale.

If you’re a current WEM20 ticket holder, you can ask us to transfer your ticket to WEM21.

We’d like to sincerely thank you for your continued support and patience during what has been a trying experience for us all.
If you have any further questions, please get in touch.

 

Refund Terms & Conditions

  • If the VirtualWEM20 Conference is cancelled for whatever reason, you will receive a full refund, although you can choose to transfer your funds to the following year which guarantees your space at what we expect to be a sell-out conference.
  • For all delegates who purchased a WEM20 ticket before 22nd July 2020, we are offering you 10% off your #VirtualWEM20 ticket.
      • Please note you can only purchase up to 10 tickets (unless your original booking was of a larger size).
      • Should you choose to transfer your ticket/payment from 2020 to WEM21, and later decide to cancel, our standard cancellation terms will apply. You would also lose your 10% discount for #VirtualWEM20 Conference.
  • Refunds will be processed in line with PayPal’s terms of 30 days. Once received back from PayPal, WEM will issue the refund within 2 days.
  • WEM reserve the right to refuse the purchase of tickets and/or transfer of funds should they deem this necessary.
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#WEM20 NEW Workshop: Harnessing your inner power: Rapid recovery, resource building and personal resilience

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NOTICE: WEM20 has now moved over to the online arena becoming #VirtualWEM20 – a virtual conference to be held on Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October 2020. Immerse yourself in a WEM online environment where you can be inspired from the comfort of your sofa (or, frankly, from wherever in the world you can get online). So, unfortunately whilst this particular workshop won’t be running, you can find our brand new #VirtualWEM20 programme including inspiring panel sessions and fascinating speakers here.

Book your place today!


“There is never enough time to rest/recover/prepare…”

In a constantly moving and ever-changing world there is very little time to truly take care of ourselves. This is even more prevalent as a medic, where you’ll frequently find yourself in challenging and extreme environments having to adapt and react as the situation in front of you unfolds. Leaving little or no time to decompress and escape the pressures and assaults on our mental stability before moving onto our next patient or case.

In our session ‘Harnessing your inner power: Rapid recovery, resource building and personal resilience’ on Day 3 of our World Extreme Medicine Conference, our workshop host Dr Kate Beaven-Marks will be discussing self-hypnosis and how it can become an incredible skill to have in your tool box for when you need to take time out and practice some much needed self-care.

There are huge benefits to be gained for clinicians and emergency workers using self-hypnosis which Kate will be discussing; including releasing and processing trauma, reducing stress, boosting resilience and building coping strategies and resources. As an experienced clinical hypnotist, Kate will be teaching you a specific self-hypnosis method during this session that can be used to help you relax and unwind anywhere and at any time (from noisy helicopter to bumpy transporter). By taking the time to look after yourself, it will leave you feeling refreshed, recharged and ready to face your next challenge.

In addition, self-hypnosis is also a remarkable tool for mental rehearsal, planning and preparing for both expected situations and training for effective contingency responses. So, if you are wanting to make more efficient use of your own inner resources to help you cope more effectively in challenging situations then this session is for you! You will also be able to use the skills learnt in this session to develop and support your colleagues by teaching and sharing what you have learnt.

Join Kate’s workshop on Day 3 – Extreme Pre-Hospital Care and Retrieval Medicine of the 2020 World Extreme Medicine Conference.

The essentials:
Who: Kate Beaven-Marks
What: ‘Harnessing your inner power: Rapid recovery, resource building and personal resilience’
When: Monday 19th October 2020 @ 11.00
Where: Boardroom

 

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Andy Elwood - World Extreme Ocean Medicine Course

Men’s Mental Health Specialist, Andy Elwood joins us at #WEM20

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NOTICE: WEM20 has now moved over to the online arena becoming #VirtualWEM20 – a virtual conference to be held on Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October 2020. Immerse yourself in a WEM online environment where you can be inspired from the comfort of your sofa (or, frankly, from wherever in the world you can get online). So, unfortunately whilst this particular session won’t be running, you can find our brand new #VirtualWEM20 programme including inspiring panel sessions and fascinating speakers here.

Book your place today!

There is nothing more important than our mental health, it’s integral to our physical health and our ability to the best medics we can be. And so, we are delighted to have Andy Elwood, Men’s Mental Health Specialist joining us as a guest speaker at this year’s 2020 World Extreme Medicine ‘Inspiration Beyond the Ordinary’ Conference.

Risking his own life to save others, both as a Paramedic on Search and Rescue Helicopters (a career that has seen him serve 20-years in the emergency services) and as a paramedic on the battlefields of Afghanistan during military service, Andy now saves lives delivering Mental Health First Aid using an internationally recognised education and training programme first introduced to England in 2007 by the Department of Health. By campaigning and delivering this exceptional training, Andy believes he will save more lives than he would by dangling under a SAR helicopter as a paramedic.

Hugely inspiring, his approach is different, refreshing and unique, as well as serving a massive purpose to those that meet him. The conversations Andy is having are enabling culture change regarding mental health and wellbeing for both individuals and organisations, which in turn allows for more openness to occur and often difficult conversations to take place.

Believing mental health deserves parity with physical health, Andy’s initiative has seen him visit emergency services on a tour around the UK using his classic 1973 Land Rover. The project named ‘Andy’s Landie’ encourages others to speak out regarding mental health issues. By taking those that want to out on a drive, enabling them to chat and break down barriers, Andy hopes it will start them on a journey of help.

Andy will be starting the conversation around mental health on Day 2 of our World Extreme Medicine Conference. He’ll be talking candidly about mental health, its importance in today’s culture and how he believes the bravest thing he has ever done is admitting to his own vulnerability, in order to find a way through three very different challenges during his lifetime.

During his session in the biosphere entitled ’Exploring the limits of your reason why’, Andy will be giving us a unique ‘behind the scenes’ insight into life and death situations and to the potential downward spirals due to 21st Century pressures, as well as the potential harm that current pressures present. Andy will share how talking about a traumatic incident, a flashback and burnout have helped him find hope and a different ‘why’.

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