Finding Purpose in Medicine Across Borders: Why IWLS?

Why International Wilderness Life Support?

There are more wilderness medicine certifications available today than ever before, which is incredibly exciting for the growth of medicine beyond the hospital walls. But over the years, at conferences and courses around the country, I’ve heard the same question come up again and again:

“Ok, I’m certified in wilderness medicine…now what? How do I actually get involved?”

My own pathway into wilderness medicine began through global health. Over time, I realized that practicing medicine across borders often mirrors many of the same principles we use in wilderness medicine. Resources may be limited. We have to think creatively, adapt quickly, and stay flexible in environments that don’t always look like the systems we are used to at home.

I’ve spent much of my life exploring the outdoors – rafting rivers, hiking trails, skiing mountains, paddle boarding quiet lakes… and I deeply value the confidence and practical skills that wilderness medicine brings to those experiences. It’s fun, empowering, and incredibly rewarding.

But the part of my “outside the hospital” journey that has impacted me most has been the opportunity to work and collaborate in medicine across different countries and cultures. Every time I find myself teaching, learning, or practicing medicine abroad, I feel a deeper connection to the work itself. It reminds me why many of us entered healthcare in the first place: to contribute, to connect, and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Earlier this year, we decided to expand MedTreks’ wilderness medicine offerings to include a stronger international and global health focus, and we launched our first 28-hour CME-accredited International Wilderness Life Support (IWLS) course.

The vision behind IWLS was simple: create a course that provides a strong wilderness medicine foundation while also helping medical professionals better understand what it means to practice medicine across borders.

IWLS participants complete 16 hours of online coursework before arriving for a 12-hour hands-on skills and workshop intensive. True to the MedTreks style, many of these courses take place in incredible destinations around the world, though we also offer select domestic courses and long weekend formats, including programs like our Outdoor Medicine Collective this October in Healdsburg, California.

In addition to the core wilderness medicine curriculum, IWLS includes dedicated training focused on global health and international medicine. We explore what sustainable and ethical global health work actually looks like, including the challenges and controversies that exist within humanitarian medicine. We discuss how to evaluate volunteer opportunities thoughtfully, how to contribute in meaningful and sustainable ways, and how to better understand cultural considerations and barriers to healthcare around the world.

We also focus on practical topics that are often overlooked, including how healthcare professionals can stay healthy and safe while practicing internationally, how to navigate unfamiliar systems of care, and how relatively simple, cost-effective interventions can create enormous impact in resource-limited settings.

Our hope is that IWLS does more than teach wilderness medicine skills. We hope it helps learners discover pathways to use those skills in ways that feel purposeful, impactful, and aligned with their values.

We are also excited to share that IWLS has officially become accredited within the Fellowship Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) through the Wilderness Medical Society. We believe this will be an especially valuable opportunity for those pursuing fellowship training and looking to expand their experience in international and wilderness medicine.

If you are interested in teaching wilderness medicine or IWLS, we would love to welcome you to our upcoming Instructor Course this June. And if you are interested in hosting an IWLS course through your university or institution, we would be happy to connect and share more about the program.

Thank you for reading and for your curiosity about International Wilderness Life Support.

We always love talking about this work and the incredible community growing around it, so please reach out anytime with questions.