Wilderness Medicine in the Alps
Monday June 30th to Saturday July 12th, 2025
This is a perfect course for medical students and health students. We will offer certification in Advanced Wilderness Life support (AWLS. Other certifications are available. from the University Utah School of Medicine. This program is designed to prepare medical and health students on the prevention and treatment of injuries as well as medical problems that might occur in the backcountry where no medical help is available.
DATES: For the 2025-2026 academic year, this course will be a 2-week elective from Monday, June 30th at 5 pm to Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 10 am in Chamonix-Mt. Blanc France.
CREDIT:: This course will give you two weeks of credit and is pass or fail. Check with your school also to see how to obtain credit if needed.
How to Enroll in the Course
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH MEDICAL STUDENTS
You will sign up using Tools and then fill out the form and pay the fees at the bottom of the page. If you don’t want cr4dit, just fill out the form and pay the fees. You will need to register with CISI at the University. We will send you instructions.
OTHER USA MEDICAL STUDENTS.
You can sign up for elective credit through your own institution and designate Richard Ingebretsen, MD, PhD as your preceptor. You will receive credit directly from your university.. Or you can sign up through VSLO to obtain credit that way. Either way you will then fill our the form below and and pay the fees..
NON-USA MEDICAL STUDENTS Medical students outside of the USA are welcome to attend. You will register using the form at the bottom of the page. We cannot provide medical school credit to you, but you can get credit through your own school if you need it. We have found that some foreign medical students will be there for the first week only. The cost remains the same. See above paragraph for pricing details.
All medical students will have to pay the fees by filling out the form at the bottom of this page.
OTHER HEALTH STUDENTS
You will simply sign up by filling out the from at the bottom of the page. We will email you with more detail when you do. You will follow the same curriculum.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The fee covers housing (if you chose that option) and the cost of the course. It does NOT cover food, tram, rafting or hiking costs.
An incredible Ibex seen on one of our hikes
INSURANCE
This course does not provide insurance for medical or traumatic issues. You must have your own health insurance. We also recommend that you have travel and evacuation insurance.
Course Information
Log onto www.wildmedu.org Navigate to textbooks and open Wilderness Medicine in the Alps for a detailed description of the course.
Location: Nestled in a lush valley in the French Alps, the idyllic mountain resort of Chamonix provides an unmatched base for outdoor adventure. The Mont Blanc massif rises impressively over the charming village inspiring avid mountaineers and casual hikers alike. The downtown is also a fine place to stroll for shopping or dining as there are many fine restaurants just a short walk away. Discovered in 1741, this mountain village has become a destination for alpine recreation. The course is being hosted at the Mercure Chamonix Centre Hotel ideally located in the center of the town.
Housing: Housing will be provided for alll students who sign up pay for ir as part of their fees.
Director and Coordinator: Richard Ingebretsen
Phone: 801-554-2129
Email: richard.ingebretsen@m.cc.utah.edu
Program Assistant: Merri Luczak
Email: merri.luczak@hsc.utah.edu
Timeline: Monday, June 30th to Saturday, July 12th, 2025 in Chamonix-Mt. Blanc
Instruction
The first week of the course: You will study AWLS - Advanced Wilderness Life Support and Backpacking Medicine. Much of the learning will come in the classroom. You will be with other medical professionals and medical and other health students.
The second week of the course: Much of the second week is participating in outdoor activities and learning the medicine of different sports. You will climb, hike, go on a river trip, and study the medicine associated with each of these sports.
Teaching Undergraduate students: There will be undergraduate students present in the course. At one point, you will be invited to teach them some aspects of wilderness medicine. Required Textbook/Reading
Associate in Wilderness Medicine
Many of our students study and earn the prestigious Associate in Wilderness Medicine. Look at www.wildmedu.org for more details.
Certifications You May Earn
AWLS certificate
Backpacking Medicine certiificate
Wilderness Travel and Tropical Medicine certificate
Search and Rescue certificate
Course Goals - As a result of completing Wilderness Medicine:
Save lives in the wilderness through hands-on practical instruction
Learn to prevent and treat the most common wilderness injuries and illnesses
Know the common practical medicines for use in the wilderness
Search for and rescue injured patients
Understand common methods for evacuation
Provide basic suggestions for preparedness
Demonstrate how to pack an effective first-aid kit
Learn proper techniques for water disinfection
Learn the back-country assessment of an injured or sick patient
Learn the treatment of dislocations, sprains, strains, and breaks
Learn how to treat medical problems and prevent infectious disease
Study and learn the treatment of bites and stings
Learn the treatment of skin-related injuries including sunburn and poison ivy
Study the prevention and treatment of lightning-related injuries
Learn to treat hot and cold-related injuries including dehydration and frostbite
Understand the treatment of altitude-related illnesses
Know the prevention and treatment of foot-related problems
Know the basic causes of infectious diseases in various parts of the world
Assessments
To pass the course, students must pass the certification exams, become competent in practical skills, and participate in small group discussions.
Grading System Students will receive a final letter grade of PASS (P) or FAIL (F) for this course.
HOW TO PAY FOR THE COURSE
All students will need to fill out this form and pay the fees. You have the option of paying $2400 USD which will include housing and instruction but does not cover food, tram, rafting or hiking fees. You also have the option to just pay $650 USD that will pay for instruction costs only. You may pay a deposit of $100 only up to March 31, 2025. Click that option below when you pay.
We have found that some foreign medical students will be there for the first week only. The cost remains the same. Also, some medical students do not want to do all of the hikes and river tips, so we do not include this in the cost.
There is no refund after you have met the May 15th deadline
Questions? Email me: Richard Ingebretsen, MD, PhD
If you need a syllabus for your school, you can download it by clicking on the syllabus link.
You can see these courses on VSAS.
