Medical Learners Interest Group
Objectives
- To engage medical learners in the field and community of wilderness medicine, through lectures, webinars, and social events.
- To connect medical learners with opportunities for training in wilderness medicine within Canada or available to Canadian learners.
- To connect medical learners with researchers and research opportunities in wilderness medicine.
- To connect medical learners with professionals working in wilderness medicine for career exploration,mentorship, and networking purposes.

Rayna Sharma
Medical Student, University of Calgary (Class of 2027)
Emma Windfeld
Medical Student, University of Calgary (Class of 2026)Emma is a medical student at the University of Calgary with a passion for northern and remote medicine.
She holds a Master’s degree in Agroecology and a BA in the social determinants of health. Before medicine, Emma’s career with Parks Canada took her from Jasper’s Rockies to the remote islands, rivers, and tundra of the western Arctic. Prior to that, her research in climate change and global health found her working in South Africa and Uganda.
In her spare time, you can find Emma running, cross country skiing, bikepacking, or learning (very slowly) how to backcountry ski.

Executive Team
Laura Meleady
Medical Student
Memorial University of Newfoundland (Class of 2026)
Hayden John
Medical Student
Queen's University (Class of 2028)
Sean Harrop
Medical Student
University of Alberta (Class of 2028)
Sophie Thomas
FRCPC Emergency Medicine Resident
University of British Columbia (Interior Site, Kelowna)
Benjamin Van Bastelaere
Medical Student
University of Manitoba (Class of 2027)
Institution-Affiliated Interest Groups
Below is a list of University-affiliated Wilderness Medicine Interest Groups across Canada! Use this list to find a WMIG at your school. Contact programdirector@cawm.ca to get in touch with any of these groups that do not have contact information listed.- University of Ottawa Rural Medicine Interest Group (uoruralmed@gmail.com)
- University of Ottawa Emergency Medicine Interest Group (uottawaemig@gmail.com)
- NOSM University Rural Medicine Interest Group (ig.ruralmedicine@nosm.ca)
- Queen's University Wilderness Medicine Interest Group (wildernessmedig@gmail.com)
- McGill Wilderness Medicine Interest Group (msswildernessmedicine@
gmail.com) - Université Laval Wilderness Medicine Interest Group (medxp.ulaval@gmail.com)
- McMaster Rural Medicine Interest Group
- University of Toronto Wilderness Medicine Interest Group
- Western University Wilderness Medicine Interest Group
- MUN Rural Medicine Interest Group
- University of Alberta Wilderness Medicine Interest Group
- University of British Columbia Wilderness Medicine Interest Group
- University of Manitoba Wilderness Medicine Interest Group
- University of Calgary Rural Medicine Interest Group
Get In Touch
Email learners@cawm.ca
Or join our Facebook Page for updates, content, and community!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cawmlearners/