Wilderness Medicine Fellowship
The Wilderness and Austere Medicine Fellowship at ISU is a one-year post-graduate fellowship open to applicants who have successfully completed a residency in family medicine, are board certified in family medicine, and eligible for licensing in the state of Idaho.
Wilderness and Austere Medicine is a non-ACGME accredited fellowship. The Wilderness Medical Society certifies endorsed fellowships and this application is in process.
The interview window is November of each year, with fellows generally starting in August each year.
Interested applicants may contact Renee Thompson at reneethompson@isu.edu.
Faculty
A.J. Weinhold, MD, FAAFP, FAWM
Wilderness Fellowship Director
Associate Program Director, ISU-MMH Rexburg Program Director, Wilderness Medicine Fellowship Director, Family Medicine Faculty, Clinical Associate Professor
A.J. initially developed the ISU FMR WMAOC and now the ISU DFM WM Fellowship. She is a ski patroller, medical advisor for the Pebble Creek Ski Patrol, and medical director for the Scout Mountain Ultras.
Luke Nelson, PA-C, DiMM
Lead Faculty
Luke is the owner of Alpine Endurance Medicine, a wilderness medicine and consulting firm, as well as medical director for OARS, and a ski patroller heavily involved in the education of patrollers in Outdoor Emergency Care, Avalanche, and Mountain Travel and Rescue.
Curriculum
Strictly speaking wilderness medicine is practicing medicine in an austere environment – this can range from providing medical care on expeditions or in base camps, to overseeing search and rescue or ski patrol, to interfacing with national parks and forests. Family practitioners are particularly well-suited to wilderness medicine as we begin with a broad base of training; smaller communities where we are engaging in full-spectrum family medicine are also often places with proximity to wilderness interfaces.
The ISU DFM Wilderness Medicine Fellowship takes advantage of our location in the mountains of southeast Idaho to give our fellows a broad range of experiences:
- Completing Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) certification to work as a volunteer patroller with the National Ski Patrol, either on a local alpine or Nordic patrol
- Working with the Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group (CW HOG) to provide medical care for wilderness trips
- Teaching wilderness first aid for community members and undergraduates engaging in backcountry sports
- Providing medical direction and care at local and regional trail endurance events
- Teaching wilderness EMTs working in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest
- Teaching and administering the ISU FMR Wilderness Medicine Area of Concentration
- Completing a Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM)
- Certification in Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS)
- Presenting at regional and international conferences
- Working with medical services in local national parks
- Completing a Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM)
- Optional swiftwater rescue training, international rotations, and working with our adaptive ski program
We teach and practice broad spectrum, rural family medicine:
- Continuity clinic
- ED shifts in our level 2 trauma center, Portneuf Medical Center
- Rural ED shifts in our surrounding referral base
- Optional inpatient medicine, OB, and resident precepting
Salary & Benefits
Excellent employee benefits and a competitive stipend offer a comprehensive package for the fellow while in training.
Salary: $90,000 annually
Benefits
- Health Benefits: Group life, health, dental and vision insurance coverage available at low cost.
- Professional Liability Insurance: Liability and disability coverage is provided for employees of Idaho State University.
- ISU Tuition Reduction: Employees and spouses may enroll in university courses for a nominal fee.
- Vacation: 1 full week per year
Other benefits offered through Idaho State University include:
- Recreation: Well-equipped gym with pool, weight and exercise rooms, indoor tennis and racquetball courts, outdoor equipment rental center, and arts/crafts center. The campus offers inexpensive movies and a variety of arts and entertainment.
Wilderness and Austere Medicine Application
Application Timeline: We begin accepting applications May 1st of each year
Application Deadline: October 15th of each year
Interview Schedule: TBD
Fellows typically start in late July / early August
Applicants must be:
- A third-year resident in an accredited Family Medicine residency, or
- Board-certified or board-eligible in Family Medicine
- Mid-career physicians looking for additional skills or a career change are welcome to apply.
- Licensed or eligible for licensure in Idaho State
- Current ACLS certificate
- We cannot support J-1 visas
Application Materials:
- CV
- Two to three letters of recommendation, including one from your program director if you are currently a resident, and at least one that supports your interest in Wilderness and Austere Medicine
- Personal Statement outlining your interest in Wilderness and Austere Medicine and vision for your future practice
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact thomrene@isu.edu