Advanced level intensive and hands-on training taught by leaders in Wilderness Medicine including Howard Donner, MD, and Sheryl Olson, RN/BSN.
Students will learn practical techniques and practice them in mock scenarios. Successful completion of the course leads to AWEP Certification® and 15.5 additional AMA PRA Category 1 Credits®.
Take your wilderness medical skills to the next level and experience why AWEP is so highly rated by physicians, PAs, NPs, and nurses.
We are currently working on our 2025 AWEP schedule. Our 2024 schedule is listed below.
AWEP Schedule At A Glance
Group 1
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Wednesday, May 28, 2025 | 8:00 am to 5:15 pm |
Thursday, May 29, 2025 | 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm |
Friday, May 30, 2025 | 1:30 pm to 5:15 pm |
Saturday, May 31, 2024 | 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm |
Group 2
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Wednesday, May 28, 2025 | 8:00 am to 5:15 pm |
Thursday, May 29, 2025 | 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm |
Friday, May 30, 2025 | 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm |
Saturday, May 31, 2025 | 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm |
Sunday, June 1, 2025 | 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm |
Note: The AWEP schedule is designed to dovetail with the schedule of the main conference presentations.
AWEP Details & Schedule
Course tuition: $545
Includes: 15.5 additional AMA PRA Category 1 Credits® all supplies, syllabus, patch, and certificate
The AWEP Certification® Course is valid for 4 years and is the highest wilderness medicine certification we offer. AWEP is scheduled so that students will be able to attend all plenary sessions at the National Conference on Wilderness Medicine. Note: To register for AWEP, you must be registered for the main conference.
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
*Note: This is the detailed schedule for AWEP | Group 1. The detailed schedule for Group 2 will be slightly different, and can be seen "at a glance" in the section above on this webpage.
8:00 - 8:30 am
BREAKFAST
8:30 - 9:00 am
INTRODUCTION TO COURSE
9:00 – 10:30 am
RESCUE IN THE BACKCOUNTRY: IMPROVISED MEDICAL & TRAUMA CARE – PART 1 (1.5 CME HRS)
- Improvised evacuation techniques
- Improvised litter construction, packaging, and carries
10:30 – 10:45 am
BREAK
10:45 - 12:15 pm
RESCUE IN THE BACKCOUNTRY: IMPROVISED MEDICAL & TRAUMA CARE – PART 2 (1.5 CME HRS)
- Shoulder assessment, reduction, and splinting
- Femur fracture and improvised femoral traction with discussion of current trends and necessity of application
- Assessment and reduction of other joint dislocations (elbow, finger, patella, ankle)
12:15 am - 1:15 pm
LUNCH
1:15 - 2:45 pm
LIFTING & MOVING PATIENTS IN THE WILDERNESS OR AUSTERE ENVIRONMENT (1.5 CME HR)
- Patient movement and transfers
- Clearing cervical spine injuries in the field
- Improvising effective cervical collars
- Pelvic fracture; assessment and management
- Hip dislocation; assessment and relocation technique
- Patient management during a long evacuation
2:45 – 3:00 pm
BREAK
3:00 – 4:30 pm
SCENE MANAGEMENT WITH INITIAL PATIENT ASSESSMENT AND STABILIZATION (1.5 CME HRS)
- Scene safety
- Field triage, examination, and assessment
- Treatment priorities
- Stabilization of injured or ill patients
- Communication considerations
4:30 – 5:15 pm
CONCEPTS OF AIRWAY AND FLUID RESUSCITATION IN THE WILDERNESS (.75 CME HR)
- Airway emergencies in an austere environment
- Vascular access, including intraosseous (IO) techniques and fluid replacement systems
- Dehydration and hyponatremia
Thursday, May 29, 2025
2:00 - 3:30 pm
IMPROVISED TRAUMA & ORTHO CARE (1.5 CME HR)
- Wilderness assessment methods for sprains versus fractures
- Assessment and stabilization of upper and lower extremity fractures
- Improvised splinting techniques
- Use and application of tourniquets for managing arterial bleeds
3:30 – 3:45 pm
BREAK
3:45 – 5:15 pm
WILDERNESS RESCUE WITH INTRODUCTION TO COMMERCIAL RESCUE TECHNOLOGY (1.5 CME HOURS)
- Introduction to ropes and knots for rescue and medical care
- Improvising a safety harness to aid in the rescue of a victim
- Introduction to commercial rescue equipment, including liters, spine boards, and vacuum liter
Friday, May 30, 2025
1:30 – 2:00 pm
BACKCOUNTRY SOFT TISSUE AND WOUND MANAGEMENT (0.5 CME HR)
- Healing by primary versus secondary intention
- High risk versus low risk wounds
- Wound management; cleaning, closure options, dressings
- Infection control
- Evacuation considerations
2:00 – 2:30 pm
COMMUNICATION AND AEROMEDICAL (0.5 CME HR)
- Radio usage and frequencies
- Introduction to helicopter safety protocols
- Patient preparation for air evacuation
2:30– 2:45 pm
BREAK
2:45 – 3:45 pm
HOLES AND JAMS (1.0 CME HR)
3:45– 5:15 pm
PRACTICE STATIONS ROTATIONS (1.5 CME HOURS)
- Bleeding
- Vacuum liter demo
- Airway, IO, tourniquets
- Hypothermia wrap (Cocoon wrap)
- Femur Traction splint
- Shoulder wrap, pelvic binders
Saturday, May 31, 2025
3:00 – 4:00 pm
SCENARIO TRAINING WITH DRY RUN (1.0 CME HRS)
- Scenario dress rehearsal
- Real-time critique
4:00 – 5:15 pm
PATIENT SCENARIOS AND DEBRIEF (1.25 CME HRS)
- Participants will be responsible for assessing, stabilizing, and managing multiple victims with simulated injuries or illnesses using commonly available backcountry equipment
5:15 – 5:30 pm
ONLINE EXAM INSTRUCTIONS, SUMMATION, AND FAREWELL
UPCOMING CME DESTINATIONS BY DATE
Jan 25 - Feb 1, 2025
Jan 27 - Feb 4, 2025
Classic Patagonia - Torres Del Paine
Jan 29 - Feb 9, 2025
Japan Ski & Snowboard Adventure
Feb 2 - 8, 2025
Mar 15 - 22, 2025
Apr 2 - 19, 2025
Apr 20 - 30, 2025
April 23 - May 10, 2025
Apr 25 - May 5, 2025
The National Conference on Wilderness Medicine: Santa Fe, NM
May 28 - June 1, 2025
Skills Course Rafting & Mt. Shasta
June 8 - 13, 2025
The National Conference on Wilderness Medicine: Snowbird, UT
July 26 - July 30, 2025
Deluxe African Safari: Zimbabwe
Aug 16 - 26, 2025
Aug 31 - Sept 10, 2025
Sept 1 - 6, 2025
Sept 12 - 22, 2025
Sept 18 - 26, 2025
Sept 21 - Oct 5, 2025
Sept 28 - Oct 9, 2025
Oct 5 - 15, 2025
Fly Fishing for All Levels - Northern California
Oct 12 - 17, 2025
Oct 25 - Nov 7, 2025
Apr 20 - 30, 2026