Journal Club - Session #5 Altitude Sickness
2026-02-25 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Edmonton) | Online
Journal Club is designed to be a casual yet engaging event where we practice reviewing and critically appraising articles on hot topics in Wilderness Medicine.

The goal is twofold
1.⁠ ⁠To expose medical students to the field of wilderness medicine.
2.⁠ ⁠To help students practice the skills they’ll use in residency, where journal clubs are a regular part of training.
Format
Introduce your article – Start with the title, authors, and publication details.
Summarize the article – Briefly review the background/introduction, study design and methods, main results, and the authors’ conclusions.
Critically appraise – Highlight the strengths and limitations of the study. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklists are a great resource to structure your appraisal, but feel free to adapt them to your style. You can integrate it into your summary above or appraise the article after your summary – whatever you see fit. Link to the CASP checklists here:https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/
Lead the discussion – Wrap up with your own thoughts on the article’s relevance to Wilderness Medicine and invite group discussion.
Supervisor Requirement
Presenters are responsible for finding their own supervisor to help select and approve the article or guideline. This person does not need to be an MD—we encourage interdisciplinary collaboration whenever possible (e.g., PhD’s, paramedics, physiotherapists, nurses, researchers, or other allied health professionals). Supervisors provide guidance on article choice and support the presenter in preparing their critical appraisal.
Additional Information
While we encourage you to follow the above structure, Journal Club is meant to be interactive and low-pressure. The focus is on learning together, sharing ideas, and exploring topics we’re passionate about. Feel free to make it your own, keep it engaging, and don’t be afraid to go off-script if discussion flows naturally.
Sessions will not be recorded so that everyone feels comfortable contributing openly.
Articles presented at each Journal Club are available HERE.
We encourage in-person “watch parties” with your local wilderness medicine club—half the fun is the camaraderie.
So grab a snack, a drink, and join in on a fun way to learn more about wilderness medicine!

Case Study Night
2026-03-05 18:00 - 19:00
Episode 1 – Cardiac Arrest: Drowning or Hypothermia, does it really matter?

When: Thursday March 5, 2026 @ 18:00 MT
Speaker: Len James BPE, BEd, ACP
Who: Available for everyone!
Since 1979, Len has contributed to a wide range of pre-hospital professions. He is presently employed part-time as an Advanced Care Paramedic with the Nipissing District Paramedic Service. Throughout his career, Len has undertaken various leadership roles in paramedic education and special operations. He continues to participate in major music festivals and multi-day athletic events.
Len was raised on a hunting and fishing lodge in northern Ontario, fostering a deep connection to the Canadian Shield. He holds bachelor’s degrees in both Physical Education and Teacher Education, with a specialization in outdoor education. His professional experience includes positions at Outward Bound Canada (OBC), working with adjudicated youth, and leading high school outdoor programs.
Since the mid-1980s, Len has been actively involved in teaching wilderness medical programs, delivering courses in ten countries across the globe—from northern regions to central and South America. Notably, he conducted the first wilderness medical program in mainland China. Len currently serves as the Director of Medical Curriculum and Program Development at Raven RSM.

Case: Cardiac Arrest: Drowning or Hypothermia does it really matter?
This is a review of a cardiac arrest by drowning/hypothermia. The case review will focus on the rescue and resuscitation by both park staff and paramedics. It will discuss the current understanding of drowning/hypothermia and care guidelines. The primary goal is to review the first responder care and draw insights on how to better manage these patients in the field.
**Content Advisory: This session contains discussion of a death by suicide. We encourage viewers to use discretion and prioritize their wellbeing when choosing to attend**

Special Seminar Series
2026-03-18 18:00 - 19:00
Episode 7 – Mindset Awareness for Risk Decision Making

When: Wednesday March 18, 2026 @ 18:00 MT
Speaker: Ken Wylie IFMGA, BPE
Who: Members Only
Ken has lived and worked his entire career in HPC (High Potential Consequence) situations and environments. Certified internationally with the International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA) (R), Ken’s work as a mountain guide and adventure educator has taken him into some incredibly hazardous environments where he has experienced the highs and lows with his clients and students as a guide and educator. From climbing the highest peaks in the western hemisphere, first ascents on rock and ice, to surviving a deadly avalanche that
claimed the lives of seven souls in 2003.
Ken has owed it all as part of the learning process of adventure. Through this experience, he realized that how we show up to engage with the challenges we face, is the key element to finding our true selves. Through his business, Archetypal, Ken’s calling is to help others understand how they are showing up to critical decision-making processes and how to elevate actions and outcomes to a higher place through awareness of mindset in order to survive ourselves.

This talk addresses a needed paradigm extension in how we manage hazards in High-Potential-Consequence (HPC) situations and environments. The extrinsic processes available to us for managing hazards are all underpinned by the fact that we are human, and we make choices from the inside out. By fostering greater awareness of the intrinsic elements and their effects, we can elevate the quality of our mindset and the following actions we take.
