This week, Aebhric O’Kelly talks with Dr Daniel Grace, who shares his journey into expedition medicine, discussing his unconventional path from general practice to working in the outdoors. He emphasises the importance of academic frameworks in expedition medicine, the human factors influencing pre-hospital care, and his experiences with mountain rescue and tropical medicine initiatives. Dr Grace also reflects on memorable expeditions and offers advice for aspiring expedition medics.

Takeaways

Dr Grace has been a GP since 2017, seeking unconventional medical paths.

His interest in expedition medicine was sparked by a wilderness medicine course.

There is a lack of a recognised framework for expedition medicine in the UK.

Human factors play a crucial role in the success of pre-hospital care.

Mountain rescue provides an opportunity to develop technical skills in a local setting.

Training for mountain rescue includes various medical competencies and practical exams.

Tropical medicine knowledge is beneficial for expedition work and telemedicine roles.

The Virtual Doctors charity connects UK doctors with clinicians in Zambia for telemedical advice.

Dr Grace's favourite expedition was working in the Yukon during extreme winter conditions.

He advises new medics to always say yes to opportunities, as they can lead to unexpected paths.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Expedition Medicine and Dr Daniel Grace

02:13 The Journey into Expedition Medicine

05:50 The Need for Academic Framework in Expedition Medicine

10:02 Human Factors in Pre-Hospital Care

12:10 Experiences in Mountain Rescue

18:02 Training and Development in Mountain Rescue

21:00 Tropical Medicine and Telemedicine Initiatives

27:04 Memorable Expeditions and Future Aspirations

30:02 Advice for Aspiring Expedition Medics