Volume 28, Number 4 - Wilderness Medical Society

WiLdErNESS MAttErS Arthur A. (tony) islas Md, MPH, CAQ – Sports Medicine, FAWM, President WMS
As you read this, the hot, bright
days of summer are fading to the
golden hues of autumn. We at the
Wilderness Medical Society have
had a great summer. Our Snowmass
conference was phenomenal and
the pre-conference Disaster and
Humanitarian Response course was
an outstanding success. Thanks to
all who helped make the program
happen and special thanks to
conference Co-Chairs Chris
Tedeschi and Chris McStay.
There were some changes in the WMS leadership that occurred this year at Snowmass.
Here is a re-cap. Eric Johnson, who has stayed on an extra year at the request of the board,
has now officially rolled off. Eric is a legendary figure and a great friend. He will be missed
on the board and we thank him for his dedication to the Society. We introduced two new
board members to the Society. The WMS would like to welcome Marion McDevitt, DO
and Greg Stiller, MD to the board, and we know that they will both be invaluable assets
to the Society…they already are! Congratulations to Brad Bennett who has been elected
to the Secretary position within the Society and, as such, is now also the Director of the
Academy of Wilderness Medicine that oversees the Fellow and Masters Fellow programs.
Jay Lemery is now our President-Elect. Jay is the current Treasurer and also the Chair of
the Meeting Committee. Congratulations to Jay who will be a phenomenal president.
Lastly, it was great to see all the students at Snowmass! Our future looks bright, if they are
any indication, and, though it is sad to say goodbye to our previous student representative
Cathy Chamberlin, MS4, I am excited to introduce our new student representative Ali
Arastu, MS2. Congratulations to Ali and all the best to Cathy.
Our summer meeting marks the beginning of our fiscal and planning year as a society, and
this year it is easy to feel that we are growing and evolving. Our publications, educational
materials, committees and conferences are all at such a high level that it would be easy to
just sit back on our laurels…but we are not. We have a very busy year ahead of us.
The Desert/SAR Directors Meeting will take place November 3-7th in Tucson, Arizona.
Then we’re on to Park City, Utah, February 3-8, 2012.
Our Everest CME Experience runs April through May of 2012.
We will be in Whistler BC, Canada July 13-17, 2012, for the 6th World Congress of
Wilderness Medicine.
November 3-7, 2011
Desert and Travel Medicine
Conference, Tucson, Arizona
February 4-8, 2012
Wilderness and Mountain
Medicine, Park City, Utah
April-May 2012
WMS Everest CME
Experience-South Side
July 13-17, 2012
6th World Congress of
Wilderness Medicine,
Whistler, BC, Canada
wms.org/conferences/default.asp
There is so much going on – if you are interested and are not yet involved in a WMS
committee now is the time. I encourage you to get involved, take on a task and make WMS
– your society – it will be better for that. I hope to see you at any or all of our meetings/
events this year. Until then, enjoy the autumn.
In Peace,
Tony Islas
WMS President
4 WILDERNESS MEDICINE // Fall 2011