Plash shares insight on wilderness medicine education

The wilderness medicine elective provides hands-on learning opportunities for students in resource-limited natural environments.  

Walker Plash, M.D.

Walker Plash, M.D., an ardent outdoorsman and associate professor of emergency medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine, recently shared his expertise in the latest edition of Wilderness Medicine Magazine.

Plash serves as associate director of the Department of Emergency Medicine’s Wilderness Medicine Program and co-director of the wilderness medicine elective for senior medical students. A Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, Plash is an expert in plant and animal toxins, particularly copperhead envenomation. An avid camper, backpacker and paddler, he also has a special interest in injuries related to canoeing and kayaking.

In the online publication of the Wilderness Medical Society, Plash co-authored an article titled “Starting a Wilderness Medicine Student Elective: A Step-by-Step Guide.” The piece covers topics such as curriculum design, core content, teaching and evaluation methods, funding and recruitment.

Students carry a fallen 'hiker' during a 

simulation in the wilderness. 

One of the article’s key recommendations is to “add your unique flavor” when developing a wilderness medicine program, highlighting the natural features, experiences and faculty expertise that set each institution apart. At the University of South Alabama, that means leveraging the distinctive environment of the Gulf Coast and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. 

Through hands-on wilderness learning opportunities, the program aims to equip future doctors with the skills they need to respond to natural disasters, search-and-rescue operations, and humanitarian crises.

Learn more about the Wilderness Medicine Program.