Keynote Lecture: From Climate to Health: What we know and How We Can Take Action
Dr. Sheri Weiser - (PANEL: Dr. Weiser, Dr. Millstein, & Dr. Kouklis)
This talk will focus on the mechanisms by which climate change affects health and widens health disparities among disproportionately impacted populations. Using examples from the speaker's research, we will explore mechanisms including food and water insecurity, migration and displacement, vector-host migration, infrastructure erosion, and intimate partner violence. We will also discuss examples of solutions that have environmental and health co-benefits, and help people adapt to the negative impacts of climate change.
Health System Resiliency & Heat Related Illnesses
Dr. Gayle Kouklis
Explore the implications of climate change, warming temperatures, and impacts on health, while reviewing austere management of heat illness and how those skills can be translated to hospital medicine, including a discussion of tools for heat resilience and a bit about climate migration in the face of heat.
Climate Drivers of Migration
Zina Semenovskaya, MD, FAWM, ISTM
Climate change significantly influences migration patterns by driving extreme weather events, such as fires and floods, which cause immediate displacement. Meanwhile, long-term environmental changes, including rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, desertification, and reduced agricultural productivity change the makeup of entire communities, as families and individuals are driven to relocate. These climate induced-migrations often exacerbate existing socioeconomic vulnerabilities, further devastating struggling communities, while straining the resources in receiving areas and causing social and political unrest. We will discuss the causes and consequences of climate induced migration, what changes can and must be implemented, and how we can work together towards a more sustainable future.
Climate Displacement Dangers
Dr. Andrew Lewandowski, DO FAAP
This session will explore some of the physical and mental health dangers that are encountered by environmental refugees. Content will be taught through a story-telling lens to better immerse session participants in what it feels like to be displaced by climate change-related disasters.
Migrant Health Risks in the Marine Environment
Anna Lussier, MD-PhD Student
My current work focuses on the intersection of global health and the marine environment, with a focus on the recent and worsening dangers to migrants and refugees. My lecture will discuss my ongoing research on the numerous health and environmental risks faced by those traveling across the southern border, implications for future policy, potential interventions, and the impacts on EMS response, health systems and border communities.
The climate crisis and health -- the role of the California health community in advocacy and creating change.
Dr. Amanda Millstein
This talk will focus on the primary health impacts of climate change in California, its impacts, as well as advocacy opportunities at local, regional and state levels and the ways in which the California health community can come together to create change.
We are hosting our first ever Medwars! More details to follow.
Burn First Aid – a Paradigm Shift and Blister Care – To Pop or Not to Pop.
Mary Bing, MD, MPH
In this workshop we cover new burn care evidence. We will discuss the concept of twenty minutes of cool running water for burn first aid and whether there is any benefit to unroofing blisters secondary to burns and friction.
Pediatric Emergencies in the Wilderness
Daniel Gragert, DO, MPH
This will be a workshop focused on real-life issues with regards to helping children enjoy the most remote of settings safely. It will cover multiple practical situations with a conversations on salient points for both parents and medical professionals.
Suturing and Wound Care in the Wilderness
Ben Hunt, MD, FACS
We will go over various techniques for managing wounds in resource-poor environments, where you may be the most qualified person available to care for the patient.
We'll cover hemorrhage control, wound debridement, suturing, delayed primary closure, managing contaminated and infected wounds, and management of chronic wound complications such as fistulas, keloids, and contractures.
Extreme Exposure - Impacts of Heat and Cold Exposure
Dr. Gayle Kouklis
This session will touch on presentation and management of environmental exposure with a focus on changing climate and how the distribution of these exposures and injuries is similarly changing.
Bites, Stings, and Dangerous Things
Jordan Rode, MD
Join us for a dive into the world of snakes, ticks, spiders and other creatures! We'll look at the various patterns of identification, disease processes and current treatment options for many of the planet's dangerous inhabitants. You won't want to miss it!
Avalanches and Climate Change: Risk Assessment and Medical Management in a Changing Climate.
Dr. Terry Ahern
Explore the complex relationship between avalanches, climate change and increasing numbers of backcountry users. Learn basic risk mitigation strategies and review medical management of avalanche victims.
Fever in the Returning Traveler
Zina Semenovskaya, MD, FAWM, ISTM
Small group case discussion reviewing the principles and approaches to evaluating, diagnosing and treating patients presenting with a fever secondary to travel-related illness.
Tenets of Search and Rescue, Navigation and Surviving the Unexpected in the Wilderness
Dr. Kyle Hill
We will cover the basics of how to survive the unexpected in the wilderness, covering a broad number of topics related to navigation, SAR and the art of being prepared.
Is there a doctor in the camp? Working as a camp doctor in a remote setting
Dr. Amanda Millstein
This workshop will cover some basics of what it's like to volunteer as a camp doctor in Yosemite from the perspective of a pediatrician-- focusing on commonly seen illnesses and situations as well as some of the more interesting things that come up. Please join!
Cultivating Discussion Around Migrant Populations and Access to Healthcare: Perspectives from a Front-Line Doctor
Dr. Ali Hunt
We will dive into the realities and experiences of front-line work with migrant populations, how to provide adequate care in our current healthcare system and how to get involved!
Care Management in Disaster: A Primary Care Provider's Perspective
Candice Coursey, BA, MS, NP
Our goal will be to discuss unique situational impacts to medical decision making from various disasters in the changing world. We will review the START protocol and legalities with exceptions important to managing patients in these realities.
Approach to the Injured Patient in the Wilderness: Musculoskeletal Injury Management
Tony (Arthur) Islas, MD & Mike Chaves, MD
We will go over the on site evaluation of lower and upper extremity injuries including fracture and dislocations / relocations. We will also discuss appropriate treatment for neck injuries in the wilderness setting.
Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS)
Tatiana Havryliuk, MD, FAWM
Why I replaced my stethoscope with POCUS, and you should too!
In this two hour lecture and hands on workshop, I will provide scenarios from my own experience working in remote areas and hypothetical cases where point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) was essential. We will discuss different applications of POCUS, what questions it can help answer, and what one should consider when traveling with a POCUS device in austere environments.