World Extreme Medicine Podcast

World Extreme Medicine
World Extreme Medicine Podcast

We’re committed to ensuring extreme medicine education can reach all medical, healthcare and supporting professionals working in austere environments. With regular updates, our team brings you the latest from across the broad spectrum of extreme medicine disciplines, including expedition, space, remote, pre-hospital and humanitarian medicine as well as a range of topics across performance and non-technical skills. Enhance your ability to tackle challenges with new skills you can take home or out into the field. Push the boundaries of your medical career!

  1. The Heart of Remote Healthcare with Claire Arundell

    11 FEB

    The Heart of Remote Healthcare with Claire Arundell

    In this episode we explore the evolution of remote and rural healthcare in Australia with Claire Arundell, a Rural Generalist Anaesthetist from country Victoria and Chair of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) Council. Claire shares her journey from completing her medical degree at Monash University to becoming an ACRRM medical educator, course facilitator, and passionate advocate for the next generation of rural generalists. Working across primary care and hospital settings in some of the most remote parts of Australia, including external territories like Norfolk Island, Claire combines advanced medical expertise with a deep connection to the communities she serves. Beyond her clinical and leadership roles, Claire’s story is as adventurous as it is inspiring. She and her partner live in a camper-van, driving slowly around Australia, where she spends her spare time hiking, scuba diving, and even pretending to surf. Her passion for rural health advocacy is matched by her dedication to showing future health professionals the incredible opportunities in rural medicine. This episode is part of our series showcasing the brilliant talent and impactful work of ACRRM members, who are driving excellence, innovation, and equity in rural and remote medicine. Learn more about ACRRM here.

    48 min

  2. 28 JAN

    From Antarctica to Tonga: Faye Lee on Conservation Medicine in Namibia

    Note: We apologise for any varying audio quality in this episode. As Faye joined us from Tonga with breaching whales in the background (how cool is that?!), there are some moments where the sound fluctuates. We believe the incredible content and unique perspective from (literally) the other side of the world was worth preserving, even if the audio isn't perfect. Thanks for understanding - sometimes catching our guests between adventures means working with what we've got! Join Sarah Spelsberg as she interviews emergency physician and global adventurer Faye Lee about the World Extreme Medicine Conservation Medicine Course in Namibia. From darting lions for health checks to working in resource-limited clinics, Faye shares her incredible experiences at N/a’an ku sê. Discover how this unique course combines wildlife conservation, community healthcare, and the management of human-wildlife conflicts in one of Africa's most fascinating countries. Learn about snake bite management, wildlife rehabilitation, and how local communities work together to protect both people and animals. Faye also shares inspiring insights about giving back to communities worldwide and seizing unconventional opportunities in medicine. Want to experience this yourself? The WEM Conservation Medicine Course offers hands-on experience with wildlife medicine, remote clinic work, and conservation efforts. Join us in Namibia for an unforgettable week that will change your perspective on medicine and conservation forever. Learn more about the Conservation Medicine Course here.

    54 min
  3. From Desert to Delivery: Life as Australia's outback Doctor with Marian Dover

    14 JAN

    From Desert to Delivery: Life as Australia's outback Doctor with Marian Dover

    In this inaugural episode of our partnership with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), we journey into the heart of Australia's remote healthcare system with Marian Dover, ACRRM's 2024 Rural Registrar of the Year.    From performing emergency caesarean sections to building deep community bonds, discover how rural generalists are revolutionising healthcare in some of the most isolated parts of the world. Marian shares intimate stories of trust, resilience, and the unique rewards of practicing medicine where the nearest hospital is 827 kilometres away.    Join us as we explore ACRRM's vision of excellence in rural and remote medicine through the eyes of one of its most promising doctors.   Learn more about ACRRM here: https://www.acrrm.org.au/

    32 min

  4. 31/12/2024

    The Secret Medicine Cabinet: How Chimpanzees Use Plants to Heal with Elodie Freymann

    Join primatologist Elodie Freymann as she reveals fascinating discoveries about how wild chimpanzees self-medicate using forest plant Alstonia boonei. Through nine months of field research, Elodie observed chimps selecting specific barks, leaves, and other plant materials to treat wounds and infections - practices that often overlap with traditional human medicine. She discusses groundbreaking findings in zoopharmacognosy (animal self-medication), the importance of preserving these forest "medicine cabinets," and what chimp healing behaviours can teach us about new medicinal compounds. From pro-social care among chimps to the intersection of traditional healing knowledge, this episode explores the remarkable intelligence of our closest animal relatives and their sophisticated relationship with medicinal plants. To find out more about Elodie's work click here. You can also read her full research paper here.

    33 min

  5. 17/12/2024

    NASA's Earth Action Program: Space Technology Monitoring Global Health

    Join Sarah Spelsberg as she speaks with NASA experts John Haynes and Helena Chapman about how NASA's unique vantage point from space helps monitor and address global health challenges. Discover how satellite data is being used to track everything from air pollution and urban heat islands to disease outbreaks and extreme weather events. Learn about NASA's free resources for healthcare professionals and scientists, and hear about opportunities for involvement through internships and collaborations. Find out more: https://earth.gov Please note: there is some 'clicking' sounds at the start of this session that we were unable to remove - we have edited as much as possible and the sound should be less apparent from about the 10 minute mark.

    1h 3m

  6. 03/12/2024

    Wild Surgery: From Brain Surgery on Bears to Anaesthetising Tarantulas with Romain Pizzi

    Join Sarah Spelsberg as she interviews pioneering wildlife veterinary surgeon Romain Pizzi, who has performed groundbreaking surgeries in nearly 50 countries across six continents. From conducting the world's first keyhole appendectomy on a wild orangutan to performing brain surgery on a bear in the jungles of Laos, Romain shares incredible stories of improvising surgical equipment and pushing the boundaries of veterinary medicine in the most challenging environments. In this episode, discover how Romain uses everything from mattress pumps to teaspoons to save endangered species, and hear firsthand accounts of operating in conflict zones, dealing with waking tigers, and developing innovative surgical techniques for animals ranging from massive elephants to tiny tarantulas. This conversation offers a unique glimpse into the world of extreme veterinary medicine, where ingenuity and dedication combine to protect some of the world's most remarkable creatures. You can find out more about Romain, his work and get his book by visiting his website.

    1h 6m

  7. 19/11/2024

    Will Millard: 30 Days Lost in Earth's Most Remote Jungle

    Explorer and BBC presenter Will Millard takes us deep into the jungles of Papua New Guinea, sharing his extraordinary experiences living with the Korowai tribe. From debunking myths about 50-meter-high tree houses to nearly starving during the rainy season, Will reveals the raw reality of jungle survival and indigenous life. He discusses how a near-death experience in 2012 transformed his approach to exploration, and shares intimate insights into the Korowai's spiritual beliefs and their complex relationship with the outside world. This episode offers a rare glimpse into one of the world's most remote cultures and the profound personal growth that comes from pushing beyond your comfort zone. You can find out more about Will, his expeditions & check out his newest publications here.

    45 min

  8. 05/11/2024

    Say Yes to Adventure: Faye Lee's Journey Through Extreme Medicine

    Join Sarah Spelsberg as she interviews emergency physician Faye Lee, who has created an extraordinary medical career spanning from Antarctic research stations to expedition ships. From performing emergency surgeries in remote locations to providing care on Indian reservations, Faye shares how embracing unconventional opportunities led her to practice medicine in some of the world's most extreme environments. Learn how her "work hard, play hard" philosophy and willingness to say "yes" to unexpected challenges has shaped a fulfilling career combining adventure with meaningful medical practice. This episode offers invaluable insights for healthcare professionals seeking to break free from traditional career paths.

    1h 7m
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About

We’re committed to ensuring extreme medicine education can reach all medical, healthcare and supporting professionals working in austere environments. With regular updates, our team brings you the latest from across the broad spectrum of extreme medicine disciplines, including expedition, space, remote, pre-hospital and humanitarian medicine as well as a range of topics across performance and non-technical skills. Enhance your ability to tackle challenges with new skills you can take home or out into the field. Push the boundaries of your medical career!

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