Socialising mainly with other doctors, amidst the professional malaise that pervades much of the NHS, we can lose focus in our lives. Expeditions force your own life into sharper focus by presenting a contrast with the rest of the world. Expedition medicine offers the rewards of overcoming unexpected challenges in the face of bizarre adversities and of learning to assert necessary authority as part of a team not as the unwitting leader. Andrew Hart Joining an expedition Large organisations such as Raleigh International recruit doctors and nurses for expeditions throughout the year. The Expedition Advisory Centre of the Royal Geographical Society regularly produces a list of vacancies on expeditions which includes opportunities for doctors and nurses.
Universities often have expedition societies that can be approached.
Commercial trekking and adventure travel companies can also be approached with the offer of acting as medical officer on their trips. Expeditions offer unique opportunities to visit remote areas of the world and undertake challenging and adventurous activities. In the absence of facilities for investigations medical officers are forced to rely on their own skills of history taking and examination. In the absence of a specialist colleague to turn to for advice medical officers have to rely on their own clinical judgment, and, with limited equipment, the skills of improvisation may have to be quickly mastered. The role of the medical officer on an expedition is a challenging and greatly rewarding one.