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#WEM21 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQ’s)

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What is the World Extreme Medicine Conference?

Founded 10 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.

Over the three days, the World Extreme Medicine Conference – online and in Edinburgh – attracts thousands of professionals, bringing together the world’s most respected names in extreme medicine alongside delegates from over 30 countries. It challenges thinking, builds bridges and introduces new ideas about medicine at its most remote and austere.

What makes us different?

We’re free of sponsorship and therefore our conference content does not contain commercially influenced material, pitches or product talks.

Why should I come to #WEM21?

Let’s start with Dr Will Duffin, Content Director of #WEM21, on why this year’s conference is so important…

A little reminder of the extreme benefits to you and your career:

  • Learn from 80+ of the most convention-breaking, discipline-blending, boundary-shattering medics this side of the known universe.
  • Uncover how rudimentary equipment can be used in ways you never expected to tip the balance of life and death.
  • Get your hands dirty learning cutting-edge field-proven techniques both indoors and in outdoor ‘rain or shine’ technical sessions.* (Will be streamed online, but your hands will be clean unless you come to Edinburgh!)
  • Immerse yourself in visceral real-world simulations, including our hugely popular live action ‘mass casualty’ simulation.*
  • Unlock the secrets to becoming a specialist in extreme medicine by connecting with world leaders in extreme medicine and unlock the secrets to becoming a specialist yourself – from war surgeon or humanitarian, to emergency first responder or Arctic expedition medic.
  • Network with career-defining organisations including NASA, the ICRC and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Our online environment will use artificial intelligence to connect you with relevant people and businesses.
  • Suit up for evening events and bracing morning runs with our team of maverick medics* (This year we even have a surprise treat – think modern Vivaldi playing exclusively for you)
    • Earn up to 18 CPD credits to prove your continued dedication to your development.

(*Accessible only if attending in Edinburgh.)

And a whole lot more still to be announced in the coming months.

When is the #WEM21 Conference taking place?

#WEM21 will run for 3 days from 13th – 15th November 2021 and as it’s our 10th anniversary, we’ll be making it extra extreme with speakers and insights you do not want to miss!

Delegate registration opens at 8:30am each day, and the conference closes at 6.30pm on Monday 15th.

Plus, for the first time ever, you can either attend in person at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh or online via our brand new, top of the range software that’s even more advanced than VirtualWEM20 was.

What is the key theme for #WEM21?

Over the 3 days, there are a range of topics based around our overarching theme of ‘A New World Awaits’; a theme we are confident will resonate with anyone practising medicine in extreme conditions.

We are going to both reflect over the challenges we faced, some of the learning that’s come from this, how we’ve grown as a global health community but also plan forwards and think about some of the incredible opportunities that lie ahead. Opportunities for us as health workers with incredibly valuable skills to make our most valuable contribution yet.

What are the differences between attending in person or online?

Whether we see you in Edinburgh or on a screen, we guarantee you an experience like no other.
To help you decide, dive deeper into the plans for info on in-person tickets vs online tickets.

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and circumstance. However, you choose to attend, we can’t wait to share what we have in store for you as we celebrate our 10th anniversary – it promises to be EXTREME!

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Attending in person?

Here’s everything you need to know…

  • The #WEM21 Edinburgh Experience
  • Fully immerse yourself in #WEM21 experience, our 10th year!
  • Attend your chosen speaker sessions; ask your questions and join in with real-time debates
  • Unique opportunity to meet and chat to speakers throughout the 3 days
  • Face-to-face networking; socialise with like-minded professionals and future colleagues
  • Experience the hands-on workshops, talks and organised social events – the Cèilidh is one event not to be missed!
  • Full access to the online platform during and after the conference – all main talks will be recorded and available for 12 months.
  • Explore the historic city of Edinburgh in your free time
  • Limited tickets available – when they’re gone, they really are gone.

What are the costs for attending?

In-person at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh:

  • Full tickets – £699 for 3 days
  • Intermediate tickets – £515 for 3 days
  • Student tickets – £429 for 3 days
  • (Online Conference – 3 days £199)

N.B. Admission to the online platform is included in the Edinburgh ticket price. All prices are inclusive of VAT.

PLUS, as a little extra 10th anniversary ‘early bird’ special…

  • The first 100 people to buy an Edinburgh ticket can choose either a challenge coin or a WEM patch which they can collect at the conference
  • The first 200 people to buy an online ticket will receive a WEM patch, which will be posted directly to them

Can I purchase a single day ticket?

In short, the answer is no.

Historically most tickets purchased are for 3 days, and where a few single day tickets were sold, it left some of our delegates having to purchase single day tickets without the discount.

We’re also streamlining our schedule for 2021, meaning each day is no longer ‘themed’ as it was for previous conferences. Instead, we’re offering a blend of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, Humanitarian, Disaster and Pre-Hospital Medicine, Space Medicine across all three days – all guided by our theme ‘A New World Awaits’. You also get full access to all conference content for 12 months afterwards.

What is the cancellation/refund policy on tickets?

Edinburgh tickets

Conference cancellations made before 2nd August 2021 will incur a £150 administration fee. Cancellations made after 2nd August 2021 will not be refunded.

If within the refund window, we recommend letting us know of any changes that will affect your attendance in Edinburgh as soon as possible, so we have time to find someone to buy your ticket.

Online tickets

Unfortunately, we aren’t able to offer refunds on our online #WEM21 tickets. However, your ticket secures you much more than access to the three-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.

Changing the name on your ticket

Alternatively, if know someone who can take your place and you’d like to change the name on the ticket, please email [email protected] In this instance, you would need to organise repayment with the new ticket holder (unless you’re kindly gifting it to them, of course!)

Where can I find the #WEM21 schedule?

You can find the schedule for each of the 3 days under the Programme section. Each day is packed with fascinating and inspiring content from globally renowned experts in Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, Humanitarian, Disaster and Pre-Hospital Medicine, Space Medicine and much more.

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

Please note: the schedule is based on GMT+1 time zone.

Planning your trip…

How do I get to the conference venue Dynamic Earth?

Full details about our Dynamic Earth venue can be found here.

By Foot: Located at the bottom of Holyrood Road, neighbouring the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyrood House, Dynamic Earth is roughly a 15-minutes’ walk from the city centre (Princes Street).

Dynamic Earth is additionally close to the National Cycle Network. To find the nearest cycling and walking routes click here: www.sustrans.co.uk

By Car: Find us using a GPS: Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh, EH8 8AS.

The Dynamic Earth 24 hour car park is located underneath the building, for which charges do apply.

By Bus: Within Edinburgh, take the local Lothian Buses No. 35 & 6 or hop aboard any Edinburgh City sightseeing bus tour. Further information can be found here > www.lothianbuses.com

From the Airport: Dynamic Earth is 8 miles from Edinburgh Airport. Follow the A8 into the city centre and follow signs for Dynamic Earth.

Can you recommend any hotels in Edinburgh?

Yes! We’ve partnered with Convention Edinburgh to offer a number of hotels at preferential rates. Choose from the hotels listed here, or contact the friendly team at Convention Edinburgh for additional help and advice on the best hotel for your specific needs.

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +44 (0)131 473 3874
Office hours: Monday – Friday 09:00am – 05:00pm (GMT)

What should I wear?

There is no specific dress code for this conference, we simply ask that you wear clothes!

However, for some workshops you will be outside or very hands-on, so bear this in mind when packing. We’d recommend warm and waterproof clothing to protect you against any extreme Scottish weather (you could get a little grubby!)

If you’re planning to come to our social events like the Saturday night Cèilidh, certainly bring your party clothes and dancing shoes!

Planning your weekend…

Are there any paper copies of the schedule available at the conference?

As part of our effort to minimise waste at the conference, we encourage delegates to use the schedule available on our website or via the #WEM21 app. The app has live updates and changes, so you’ll never miss a thing. There will be a few paper copies dotted around the venue for those without smartphones.

How do I book a workshop?

Workshops will be available to book from Friday 22nd October 2021, meaning you will have more time to research and plan your visit via the #WEM21 app and website.

Workshops are booked via the website – so make sure you’ve double (and triple!) checked that your login details work so you don’t miss out! If you have any issues accessing your account, send us an email to [email protected] and we’ll lend a hand.

Are workshops included in my conference ticket?

Most of the workshops are free and included in the cost of your conference ticket. There are a few workshops with costs associated:

Day 1:

  • Bandaging and Strapping in Remote Locations
  • USS Workshop
  • Expedition Dentistry Workshop

Day 2:

  • Wound Dressing Workshop
  • USS Workshop
  • Expedition Dentistry Workshop

Day 3:

  • Wound Dressing Workshop
  • USS Workshop
  • Burns Workshop
  • Caught in the Middle of a Multiple Casualty Terrorist Attack!

N.B. Subject to change.

These workshops will cost an additional £40 to attend, which covers the cost of materials and additional kit.

Do I need to book multiple workshops with the same name?

No, there are a few workshops that are repeated across the conference to allow as many people as possible to book onto the session. Each session features the same content, so you don’t need to attend more than once.

The workshops that are repeated are:

  • Wound Dressing Workshop – Day 2 and 3
  • USS Workshop – Day 1, 2 and 3
  • Expedition Dentistry Workshop – Day 1 and 2

N.B. Subject to change.

What is the Ceilidh, when is it and how do I buy a ticket?

On Sunday 14th November at 8pm, our infamous WEM Ceilidh is back for another year of fun. Pull on your dancing shoes (and kilts) and join us at ‘The Caves’, just up the road from Dynamic Earth.

For those of you that have been before, you know exactly what to expect…. for those that haven’t, don’t miss out! It’s guaranteed to be an EXTREME night in an EXTREME venue! Live music, non-stop dancing and great fun with your fellow delegates and speakers.

This year, we have a very special guest entertaining us too; we’re honoured to also be hosting world-renowned violinist Robert McDuffie who will play for us that night.

Tickets are £25 – this includes entry and a welcome drink. They will be available to purchase on our website, or you can buy them at the conference from the WEM stand in the exhibitor village.

Post-conference…

Do I get a certificate for attending?

Yes! You’ll get your own personalised certificate. These are available for collection at the end of each day at the registration desk. Make sure to pick yours up before you leave – there will be a postage fee for any that need to be sent after the conference.

Online conference attendees will receive their certificate by email 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.

If you’re undecided and want to compare the difference with our online tickets, click here.

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Attending online?

Here’s everything you need to know…

Benefits of attending online:

  • Dive in deep to the digital world of #WEM21 online conference.
  • Seamless live-streamed speaker sessions – full coverage on the main stage and Salisbury room across the 3 days.
  • Virtual networking via our brand-new online platform with artificial intelligence providing beneficial matchmaking – connecting you to the right people and businesses.
  • Access to streamed workshops (where possible) though without that ‘hands-on’ experience.
  • Full access to the online platform during and after the conference – all main talks will be recorded and available for 12 months.
  • Flexible and accessible around work and home commitments
    What are the costs for attending?

Online Conference cost

3 days £199 including VAT

PLUS, as a little extra 10th anniversary special… The first 200 people to buy an online ticket will receive a WEM patch, which will be posted directly to them before the conference.

Why purchase an online 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.

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 attend the conference in person, or online that weekend, you can still buy an online ticket to have access to all conference material for 12 months afterwards.

We will also 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.

How do I register for the WEM Online Platform?

Once you’ve purchased your online ticket, you’ll receive an email confirming your payment, the start and end times for the conference and details welcoming you to our online platform.
It’s a super easy process, but if you need any extra help, we’re around to help.

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 online profile (part of the sign-up process) before the conference begins.

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! (So long as you’re wearing something!)

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 18 hours of CPD for attending all three days.

Where can I find the #WEM21 schedule?

You can find the schedule for each of the 3 days under the Programme section. Each day is packed with fascinating and inspiring content from globally renowned experts in Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, Humanitarian, Disaster and Pre-Hospital Medicine, Space Medicine and much more.

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

Please note: the schedule is based on GMT+1 time zone.

If you’re undecided and want to compare the difference between coming to Edinburgh and experiencing the conference in person, click here.

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#VirtualWEM20

#VirtualWEM20 Guest Speaker and Session Highlights

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Our Virtual World Extreme Medicine Conference was 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 inspired and encouraged delegates with their own personal stories and experiences and shared new innovations, expertise and wisdom in medicine conducted in challenging and often harsh and dangerous environments.

Here were 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 examined 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 gained 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 was not to be missed session if you were 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 joined 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 drew 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 was 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 covered 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 ended 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 told 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 discussed 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. We heard 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 was 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 appealed 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 made 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 his session, Vik shared 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 shed light on these themes and more, and of course he shared 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? #WEM21 A New World Awaits…

Join us this year (13th – 15th Nov) for our 10 year anniversary, where for the first time in WEM history, you can either attend in person at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh or online via our brand new Virtual WEM Environment – we guarantee you an experience like no other! Book your place today!

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JD Polk, NASA Chief Medical Officer

#WEM21 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 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 the conference.

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? #WEM21 A New World Awaits…

Join us this year (13th – 15th Nov) for our 10 year anniversary, where for the first time in WEM history, you can either attend in person at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh or online via our brand new Virtual WEM Environment – we guarantee you an experience like no other! Book your place today!

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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!

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#VirtualWEM20 Day 1 Highlights

#VirtualWEM20 Day 1 Highlights… Expedition and Wilderness Medicine

WEM-SocialWEM20, , , , ,

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!

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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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Sophie Bostock, World Extreme Medicine Conference

#VirtualWEM20 Speaker: Sophie Bostock, a Sleep Evangelist on a mission

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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) over two action-packed days as you encounter the biggest and best extreme medicine content from over 40 speakers.

Book your place today!


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 Virtual World Extreme Medicine Conference this October. 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 Day 1 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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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).

Book your place today!


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

 

 

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Emergensea Girls

Women Exceed Men in Ultra-Endurance – new research project announced at #WEM19

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It’s an exciting time for women in sport, in particular for the women who are increasingly meeting or exceeding male performances in ultra-endurance events, and it was at the 2019 World Extreme Medicine Conference that we heard from two such inspirational women who will be undertaking an exhilarating and potentially ground-breaking research project, whilst taking on one of the most extreme challenges on the planet – rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic

Charlie Fleury and Rosie Alterman aka the ‘Emergensea Girls’, announced at the conference they will be studying the physiology and psychology behind women participating in ultra-endurance sports, whilst taking on the world’s toughest rowing race, the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Rowing Challenge 2020.

The girls will be rowing in excess of 1.5 million oar strokes across the Atlantic from La Gomera in the Canaries to Antigua in a 24ft boat and potentially taking on waves measuring up to 20ft high. In addition to conducting research on themselves and simply staying alive, they are also aiming to smash the current women’s pairs record and reach Antigua in under 50 days, as well as supporting the Devon Air Ambulance Trust, with all of their fundraising proceeds being donated to the charity.

The two A&E doctors at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Extreme Medicine MSc Fellows at Exeter University Medical School are going to use the challenge, to carry out preliminary research that they hope will support the theory that women are better than men at ultra-endurance events.

There are numerous hypotheses as to why women are increasingly outperforming men, ranging from evolutionary roots as child-bearers through to the composition of female muscles. During the race Charlie and Rosie will be conducting original research into women and endurance sports as part of their MSc in Extreme Medicine. They will be using data collected from the rowers participating in the Atlantic crossing events in 2019 and 2020 – looking for trends from this year which they can input into the research planned for next year.

As part of their research, the girls will be examining body composition and muscle fatigue pre and post the rows, as well as monitoring the rowers mental health, using questionnaires that the rowers will complete each day, which will profile mood states and provide the rating of perceived effort (a common method used in sports to measure the individual’s perceived exertion at a point in time).

Charlie, who recently had major surgery on her pelvis, said:

“Rosie and I have shared many challenges in the past – ranging from hiking in snake-infested Costa Rica to camping in -20°C in Norway, to surviving a Friday night shift in Exeter’s Emergency Department. What we lack in rowing experience, we more than make up for in determination! In addition to long-distance triathlons and running marathons Rosie volunteers with the RNLI – so is well aware of the unpredictability of the sea and the respect crossing an ocean demands.

We will be training with James Parkes, strength and conditioning coach at Exeter Chiefs Premiership rugby team, and have a variety of other supporters to help us prepare physically and mentally for the challenge for which we are immensely grateful”

Prof. Mark Hannaford, Co-Founder of the MSc Extreme Medicine programme at Exeter and Founder of World Extreme Medicine and Conference added:

“I’m delighted to see real research advances being made as a result of the establishment of the MSc in Extreme Medicine at the University of Exeter Medical School in a partnership with World Extreme Medicine.

This area of medicine has been poorly researched in the past, especially in the area of female psychological response to extremes, and I’m delighted that progress in this area is being made by two exceptional Clinical Fellows enrolled on the course partnered with the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital in Devon.”

Join us this year where for the first time in WEM history, we’re hosting #VirtualWEM20 a virtual conference on Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October 2020 – so you can be inspired from the comfort of your sofa (or, frankly, from wherever in the world you can get online). Book your place today!

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Blast Damaged Children - new ‘Partnership Initiative’ to help announced at #WEM19

Blast Damaged Children – new ‘Partnership Initiative’ to help announced at #WEM19

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  • One in six children in the world live in a conflict zones and are seven times more likely to die from blast injuries than adults involved in fighting according to UNICEF
  • Hundreds of CT scans from war zones made newly available
  • Improved knowledge sharing – better coordination and joined-up thinking announced

Dr Michael von Bertele, of the Paediatric Blast Injury Partnership, Save the Children and former Director General of the British Army Medical Services, announced an ambitious new Partnership Initiative at the 2019 World Extreme Medicine Conference in Edinburgh, that will incorporate organisations including WHO, ICRC, MSF, Red Cross, Red Crescent, The David Knott Foundation, Humanity and Inclusion, researchers from Radboud (NL) Linköping and Karolinska (Sweden), Stanford University (USA) and a variety of UK academic Institutions including Imperial College.

Speaking on Day 2 of the conference in a dedicated session ‘Improving the Care of Children in Conflict’, he described how this vital new Partnership Initiative plans to tackle the challenges of treating children who have been maimed and injured by explosive weapons and by explosive remnants (such as mines and IOD’s) of war in conflict environments around the world.

As an example, in Syria in recent years, 82% of child deaths were caused by landmines, unexploded ordinance, air strikes, and other explosives, and prompted medics working in the region to plead for help in treating injured children. That help must take account of how children differ from adults, and must address their physical, psychological and social needs at different stages of development. Without highly specialised knowledge, sub-optimal care leaves many children with terrible disabilities, and often intractable pain for life.

As a result, last year the Paediatric Blast Injury Partnership launched the first ever Field Manual for treating blast injured children. This vital tool – which has now been translated into Arabic and is constantly being updated, has become an invaluable resource for medics in war and conflict zones, enabling them to provide the best possible care with limited resources and equipment.

Michael von Bertele is now heading a major new initiative to bring together the many organisations around the world who work in conflict zones and treat children, to try to identify where there are gaps in knowledge and capability, and to stimulate the research that will improve that care. There is currently very little systematic research in this field, and very little sharing of data, experience and knowledge.

New CT scan “bank”
Another example of where the Partnership is breaking new ground is in a detailed study of several hundred CT scans of injured children collected by military medical services in Iraq and Afghanistan. They will be used to describe and understand exactly how those children were injured and whether their treatment was right. This valuable collection has not previously been available for use in this way.

Dr. Michael Von Bertele said:

“We know there’s a huge capability and knowledge gap in the understanding and treatment of conflict related injuries of all types in children at different ages. In particular we need to involve local workers and medics in identifying those gaps – and provide support and training to them – not just to western aid organisations.

There is also a real lack of information about how many children have actually been injured, how they have been treated, and what has happened to them. Very few get any follow up to see what their needs are as they grow up. A child suffering from malnutrition has a good chance of recovering if fed. A child who has lost a limb or been badly burned in an explosive event may require many revisions of an amputation or scarring as he or she grows, but in most countries, will never receive that care and will live with a lifelong disability, often on the margins of society.

So many children are being treated in an ad hoc way – and their needs are not just physical, hundreds of thousands of children also suffer from the psychological consequences of being exposed to such violence in their communities as a result of war.

We are looking at taking a very pragmatic approach, trying to identify what we can do to help here and now – not at some vague time in the future. We can draw on the extensive knowledge and experience of military and humanitarian experts in the partnership, and kick start a research collaboration that will generate the knowledge, skills and will to make a real difference to the lives of these children wherever they are in the world. Of course, it would be better if children were not being caught up in these wars but for as long as they are, we plan to make sure they get better care than they do now. That is their right, and our responsibility.

Prof. Mark Hannaford, founder of World Extreme Medicine added

“We are so pleased to be able to provide a platform for Michael to announce this truly critical initiative – and I’m sure it will provoke a great deal of feedback from our audience. It is tragic that increasing numbers of innocent children are getting caught up in the horrors of war these days.
Most medics have been trained to look after adults, so the continuation of last years’ first steps to address dealing with children is a great leap forward.”


Join us this year where for the first time in WEM history, we’re hosting #VirtualWEM20 a virtual conference on Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October 2020 – so you can be inspired from the comfort of your sofa (or, frankly, from wherever in the world you can get online). Book your place today!

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