How to Get Your First Medical Expedition

We all need a bit of variety in life. There’s no better feeling than replacing that pitter-pattering of junior doctor’s sketchers along the hospital corridor once in a while. Some might want to replace that with silence to recover from the hubbub of activity on the wards.

However, others of the more active and adventurous mindset, like myself, may prefer to replace it with the sound of that low muffled murmur of a community of like-minded individuals waking up together in tents, at the crack of dawn.

But many of us, also like myself initially, have no idea how to break into such a field. I hear you ask: “Do you need qualifications to become an expedition medic? How do I go about finding expedition work? How do I book onto my first expedition as a doctor?! HEEEELPPP!”

Firstly, please calm down.

Secondly, I’m going answer all of those questions to tell you how you can replace the smell of rotting diabetic foot flesh, with crisp fresh mountain air or warm, humid breeze wafting over your sunbathed skin. If that isn’t enticing, I don’t know what is!

What Qualifications Do I Need to Become an Expedition Medic?

Let’s start off with the first question. Now, obviously, you need a medical degree, and therefore cannot be the medic on expeditions as a medical student.

You also need to have a full GMC registration to be working as a doctor outside of your trust (although technically you’re not “working.” You’re “volunteering” but more on that later). Therefore you will need to be FY2 or above.

Can I be an Expedition Medic as an FY2?

I would advise doing expedition work as an F2 with caution. It is very dependent on your confidence level, experience level and current jobs. I certainly would not have felt comfortable leading an expedition as an F2 doctor, but that obviously doesn’t apply to everyone.

But this article isn’t useless if you are an F2, because it’s always good to get your foot in the door now so that when the expeditions are released (sometimes up to a year in advance), you’re able to sign yourself up when the time comes.

Let’s compare these two F2s:

Now clearly, one person is not going to fit completely into person 1, but I think the strong takeaways here are these lines:

If you’re unsure about those, it doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for it. It just means you need to get some more experience under your belt and then get cracking!

Personally, as an F2, I fit more into the profile of person 2. I didn’t reach person 1 level until F3/F4 and that’s ok. Some people just need more time and experience to gain confidence.

Should I Do an Expedition Medicine Course?

Expedition medicine courses and degrees are available and can often be funded via your study budget (if it fits in with your personal development plan). So do you need to have one of those under your belt before applying?

Whilst it's preferable to have some experience on a course, they can also be expensive and are not mandatory. I’ve attended two courses which have been in the UK—one was free and another was £700 for a week. There are also courses abroad which cost thousands. If you can afford these, they may be worth doing, but I’ve never done one so cannot vouch for them!

Get some free or cheap expedition medicine courses under your belt, and sign up for the yearly wilderness medicine conferences or other online conferences related to expedition medicine.