WILDERNESS MEDICINE
An elective for residents and medical students in Columbia, SC
introduction
Over the past several decades, the number of people participating in outdoor and adventure activities has grown exponentially. Interest in hiking, camping, canoeing, scuba and other activities has steadily increased and US National Parks are enjoying record attendance every year. It is logical that wilderness related emergencies parallel the increased interaction with the outdoors. The goal of this course is to provide physicians, medical students, and other health care professionals with the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary to deal with a wide range of wilderness, travel, and environmental emergencies.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The course involves several components including classroom instruction, outdoor laboratory sessions and several more involved excursions including a final wilderness practicum and backpacking trip. Courses are taught by attending physicians on the campus of Prisma Health Richland in Columbia, SC. The classroom curriculum has been designed to provide an in-depth exposure to the theory of Wilderness and Travel Medicine. The outdoor laboratory sessions provide an opportunity for participants to apply this theory in a practical setting. The excursions immerse participants in the outdoors where education and practice meet. The course culminates with the wilderness practicum and camping trip in the Mountains of WV. By the end of the course the participants will have an understanding of the epidemiology, physiology and clinical practice of Wilderness, Environmental, and Travel Medicine.
excursions
Wilderness practicum in the New River Gorge, WV
Practice the fundamentals of search and rescue, survival, and wilderness emergency care while enjoying plenty of time for hiking, fishing, biking, climbing, and relaxation.
One-day experience at the U.S. National Whitewater Center
Experience a wide range of outdoor activities including climbing, rafting, low and high ropes courses, paddle boarding, and much more.
Live venomous animal seminar at Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Learn about local and exotic snakes from the experts.
outdoor labs
- Land Navigation, Harbison State Forest - practice orienteering skills for search and rescue
- Shelter building, Sesquicentennial State Park - develop the skills to stay alive while staying put
- Wilderness Scenarios, Earlwood Park - you and your team evaluate, treat, and extricate victims
Featured Lectures
- Heat & Cold Illness
- Effects of Altitude
- Infectious Disease related to Travel & Wildernss Environments
- Marine and Land Evenomations
- Arctic Scenarios
- Hunting & Fishing Injuries
- Lightning & Burns
- White Water Rescue
- Poisonous Plants
- Helipcopter Operations
FACULTY
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Zach Hunter, MD, FAWM WM Director Residency: Prisma Health, class of 2021 |
Dr. Hunter graduated from Marshall University School of Medicine and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Prisma health in 2021. He completed his FAWM in 2021 and his PEM fellowship in 2023. He joined our faculty in 2023 and has been director of WM since 2024. |
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Brendan Lutz, MD WM Co-Director Residency: Prisma Health, class of 2025 |
Dr. Lutz graduated from USC SOM in Columbia and completed emergency medicine residency at Prisma health in 2025. He then completed his fellowship in wilderness medicine at the University of Utah. Dr. Lutz joined our facutly in 2026. He enjoys climbing and backpacking, international travel, and is an avid skier. |
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Marc Kushinka, MD, FAWM WM Co-Director Residency: Prisma Health, Class of 2019
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Dr. Kushinka graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in 2016 and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Prisma Health Richland in 2019. Marc began work on his FAWM during residency and completed the fellowship in 2020. He lives and works in Columbia, practicing emergency medicine in the Prisma system. He is an avid runner and enjoys hiking and backpacking. Dr. Kushinka joined the leadership of the WM course in 2022 as Co-Director. |
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Allison Harvey, MD WM faculty Year of appointment: 1999 |
Dr. Harvey is a native Floridian who received both her bachelor and medical degrees from the University of Florida. She matriculated into the emergency medicine residency at Prisma Health and graduated from our program in 1997. During her senior year of training she was chief resident, and she joined our staff as faculty after graduation. She has been involved with the Wilderness Medicine Rotation since it's foundation in the late 1990's. She was the rotation director from 2006 until 2012. |
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Stanley Hassinger, MD WM faculty Residency: Palmetto Health, Class of 2014 Medical School: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Class of 2011 |
Dr. Hassinger received his bachelor degree from North Carolina State University. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill in 2011 and matriculated into the emergency medicine residency at Palmetto Health. He graduated from our program in 2014. During his senior year of training he was a chief resident. He joined Carolina Care after graduation. |
additional information
Due to the unique nature of this elective, students need to be in good physical condition. Participants will need to supply their own medium weight hiking boots, weatherproof tent, sleeping bag, food, and backpack appropriate for a multi-day hiking trip if going on the optional backpacking trip. Please note there is an additional charge of $300 for the course.
REGISTRATION
We accept medical students and residents on this rotation. If you are interested in participating, please contact Sherry Allen at 830-434-3790 or e-mail at [email protected].
NEXT ROTATION
The course is held once annually in the Fall, typically mid September to mid October.