The National Conference on Wilderness Medicine
Big Sky Ski Resort, Montana
February 21 - 25, 2026
Conference Schedule
All presentations will take place in the Ballroom at Big Sky Resort and will also be streamed online. Watch in-person, from your room at Big Sky Resort, at home, or anywhere.
All times listed below are in Mountain Time (MT).
The schedule listed below is from the 2025 conference. We will update the 2026 schedule when available.
Saturday, February 22, 2025
"Entire faculty was incredible! The most fun conference I have been to... I didn't want it to end."
Catherine Worthy, FNP
2:00 - 6:30 PM (MT) Registration in Huntley Lodge Conference Center
4:00 PM Wilderness Medicine – Setting the Stage
Eric A. Weiss, MD
4:15 PM Top 5 Wilderness Medicine Case Studies
Eric A. Weiss, MD
4:50 PM Expedition, Foreign Travel & Backcountry Medical Kits
Howard Donner, MD
5:40 PM Arthropod Envenomation: Spiders, Scorpions, Bees & Ants
Timothy B. Erickson, MD
6:30 PM Adjourn
Sunday, February 23, 2025
"Extraordinary conference... most enjoyable learning experience I have ever encountered."
Joseph Easly, MD
7:30 AM Medical-Legal Issues in Wilderness, International & Disaster Medicine
Valerie Dobiesz, MD
8:15 AM Snake Envenomation
Timothy B. Erickson, MD
9:00 AM Bear & Other Wild Animal Attacks
Timothy B. Erickson, MD
9:45 AM Adjourn - ENJOY SKIING BIG SKY OR ATTEND AN OPTIONAL WORKSHOP
4:00 PM Frostbite & Non-Freezing Cold Injury
Peter Hackett, MD
4:45 PM Surviving the Unexpected Night Out
Gary Kibbee
5:30 PM Preparing for International Travel: Update on Immunizations, Malaria Prevention, & Safety
Michael J. VanRooyen, MD
6:15 PM Traveler’s Diarrhea, Giardia & Other Waterborne Infections
Eric A. Weiss, MD
7:00 PM Adjourn
Monday, February 24, 2025
"Absolutely the most enjoyable and interesting CME conference I have ever attended! Probably the best group of lecturers I have ever experienced."
Daniel Nordin, MD (Internal Medicine)
7:30 AM (MT) Altitude Illness: Prevention & Treatment
Peter Hackett, MD
8:20 AM Diving Medicine & Safety
Karen Van Hoesen, MD
9:05 AM Challenging Cases in Global Health & Medical Volunteering:
Lessons Learned From the Field
Michael J. VanRooyen, MD
9:45 AM Adjourn - ENJOY SKIING BIG SKY OR ATTEND AN OPTIONAL WORKSHOP
4:00 PM Environmental Heat Illness
Eric A. Weiss, MD
4:50 PM Backcountry Water Disinfection & Purification
Howard Donner, MD
5:35 PM Space Exploration & The Final Frontier of Wilderness Medicine
Join NASA Astronaut, Dr. Jim Bagian, as he journeys into space and learn about the future of NASA and the mission to Mars.
6:30 PM Questions & Answers
6:45 PM Adjourn
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
"The conference is just teaming with great speakers... magnificently exciting talks... just a perfect balance of business and fun."
Carol Ferris, MD (Emergency Medicine)
7:30 AM (MT) Blister Prevention & Treatment
Kyle Allred, PA
8:15 AM Venomous Sea Creatures & Shark Attacks
Karen Van Hoesen, MD
9:05 AM “Is There a Doctor On-Board?” – Medical Care at 30,000 FT.
Howard Donner, MD
9:45 AM Adjourn - ENJOY SKIING BIG SKY OR ATTEND AN OPTIONAL WORKSHOP
4:00 PM Embracing Nature's Wisdom: 10 Health Optimization Techniques
Kyle Allred, PA
4:45 PM Lightning Prevention & Injury Management
Sheryl Olson, RN, BSN
5:30 PM Ocean Survival & Medicine at Sea
James Bagian, MD
6:30 PM Adjourn
8:15 PM Exciting Evening Presentation: “Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche”
This is a must-see documentary about the Deadly Alpine Meadows avalanche and the amazing rescue effort that followed. Moderated by Lanny Johnson, FNP/PA, who is featured in the documentary and was instrumental in the epic rescue.
9:30 PM Adjourn
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
"Love this seminar! Great speakers! This is my fourth time...I always learn something new...I find the information invaluable and infinitely entertaining! Thank you!"
Denise Baskind, MD (EM) Dallas, TX
7:30 AM (MT) Flood & River Rescue, Whitewater Medicine & Safety
Kyle Allred, PA
8:20 AM Hypothermia Facts & Fiction
Eric A. Weiss, MD
9:10 AM New Technology for Backcountry Rescue, Location & Communication
Howard Donner, MD
9:55 AM Mountain Search & Rescue
Lanny Johnson, FNP/PA
10:55 AM Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC):
Transitioning Battlefield Lessons to Wilderness & Urban Medicine
Gary Kibbee
11:45 AM Questions & Answers
12:00 PM Adjourn
UPCOMING CME DESTINATIONS BY DATE
National Conference on Wilderness Medicine: Santa Fe, NM
May 28 - June 1, 2025
Skills Course Rafting & Mt. Shasta
June 8 - 13, 2025
National Conference on Wilderness Medicine: Snowbird Resort, UT
July 26 - July 30, 2025
Deluxe African Safari: Zimbabwe
Aug 16 - 26, 2025
Aug 31 - Sept 10, 2025
Sept 1 - 6, 2025
Sept 10 -20, 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
Japan Ski & Snowboard Adventure
Jan 25 -31, 2026
Classic Patagonia - Torres Del Paine
Jan 29 - Feb 9, 2026
Jan 31 - Feb 7, 2026
National Conference on Wilderness Medicine: Big Sky Ski Resort, MT
Feb 21 - 25, 2026
March 15 - 22, 2026
Apr 20 - 30, 2026
Apr 23 - May 2, 2026
April 26 - May 10, 2026
Skills Course Rafting & Mt. Shasta
June 7 - 12, 2026
Deluxe African Safari: Zimbabwe
Aug 29 - Sept 8, 2026
Aug 30 - Sept 9, 2026
Sept 17 - 24, 2026
Sept 19 - 29, 2026
Sept 21 - Oct 5, 2026
Sept 26 - Oct 10, 2026
Fly Fishing for All Levels - Northern California
Oct 11 - 16, 2026
Oct 11 - 24, 2026
Oct 26 - Nov 8, 2026