This course is run by our society and has been certified by the UIAA / ICAR / ISMM as the world's first specialty course for „Expedition and Wilderness Medicine“. This is significant as some travel agencies require the diploma that can be obtained by completing this course from doctors who wish to join a mountaineering expedition as a treating physician. The course will be held in Zermatt, Switzerland, in the Monte Rosa area. It is a recognized by various medical societies and has been held for the past six years.
The goal of the course is to provide participants with solid theoretical and practical knowledge in the area of high altitude and expedition medicine. The course is targeted towards doctors and health care professionals with an interest in the field of sports medicine. However, interested professionals from related fields are also invited to register. In order to meet the requirements of the course, it is recommended that participants have basic mountaineering skills and are able to climb on a snow- covered glacier. Participants should also have a good fitness level and be willing to spend a night camping on a glacier.
Theoretical topics
Physiological adaptations to high altitudes
Tactics for acclimatisation
Altitude sickness (acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary and cerebral edema)
Hypothermia and local cold injury
Expedition pharmacy
Travel medicine
Expedition medicine: Equipment, tips and tricks, ethics, local partners
Skills training
Mountaineering skills for glacier climbs
Exercise in acclimatization tactics
Setting up of a high altitude camp with tents
Practical use of a portable hyperbaric chamber (PAC®)
Climbing Signalkuppe (4559m) or Dufourspitze (4634m) (weather permitting)
Visit the Capanna Margherita (weather permitting)
The course provides the theoretical and practical basis for the safe introduction to trekking, expeditions and high altitude medicine for doctors and climbers.
Speakers and guides are experienced specialists in emergency and high altitude medicine with extensive personal experience as high-altitude climbers.
The diploma of „Wilderness and Expedition Medicine" UIAA-ICAR-ISMM can be obtained after successful completion of the course. Successful completion of the course includes passing the final exams on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills at the end of the course. Please note that, as a prerequisite to obtaining this diploma, we require the diploma "Mountain Medicine" (which can be obtained through one of the Basic Mountain Medicine Courses of the Society).
Credits 2010: SGC/SSC 8, SGAM-Q-label, recommended by the SGAM, SGIM 12, SGNOR 12, SGSM 12
Course program: Monday: Arrival and theoretical topics. Tuesday: Theoretical topics. Wednesday: Ascent to Monte Rosa hut, and technical skills training. Thursday: Ascent to high camp at 3700m. Friday: Climbing of Signalkuppe / Dufourspitze and visit to Cappana Margherita, descent to Monte Rosa hut. Saturday: Reserve day / descent according to weather conditions. The program is subject to the prevailing weather conditions, short-term changes are therefore possible. The hotel Sarazena is the venue for the first two course days. Half board at the hotel, lectures, mountain guides, transportation during the course, tents and cookers are all included in the course fee.
Costs including half board SFr. 1600.- Students SFr. 1300.- (please present student ID)
