Expedition Medicine Advisory Group
What is the RGS Expedition Medicine Advisory Group?
As part of the Society’s commitment to supporting those planning field research and expeditions, the Society has a specialist advice unit, the Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Advisory Group (formerly known as the Medical Cell). This group provides a forum for discussion, information and advice to those operating in remote areas.
Established in 1996, the group's initial remit was to provide medical advice to the Society's overseas field research programmes and, through teaching and research, to reduce the hazards of participating in an expedition or travelling in remote areas.
The Expedition Medicine Advisory Group has been involved in research into the health risks associated with expeditions, and has been closely associated with several handbooks on Expedition Medicine, including most recently the 3rd edition of the popular Oxford Handbook of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine (OUP, 2023).
What does the Expedition Medicine Advisory Group do?
To improve the quality of information the Expedition Medicine Advisory Group provides, it is involved in developing a series of best practice guidelines.
Much of this work is done online and anyone with expertise who can help improve the quality of healthcare in remote areas is encouraged to participate. The Society hosts meetings to debate the guidelines, and to bring together enthusiasts in this exciting area of medicine.
Current projects
- Guidance on improving practice around the provision of prescription-only medicines for use on UK-based overseas expeditions.
- The provision of indemnity insurance for expedition medical professionals practicing in wilderness areas (except USA and Canada).
- Working with the General Medical Council to improve guidance for British doctors volunteering overseas around registration requirements.
- Providing input to the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh revised Competency framework for medical provision for Wilderness Medicine (March 2020) and its alignment to BS 8848:2014.
- Establishing a network of social and behavioural scientists working on issues related to well-being and resilience in extreme and expedition environments based around the Expedition Psychology Project and the development of DRiFT – a mobile app for performance and mental health management in the field.
- Supporting the new Global Polar and Altitude Metabolic Research Registry.
Members of the Advisory Group Executive Committee
Professor Chris Imray (chair)
Chris is a Consultant Vascular and Renal Transplant Surgeon at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. Chris’ interest in altitude research began in 1988, when he joined the Birmingham Medical Research and Expeditionary Society. He has managed to combine his clinical and climbing interests by studying cerebral perfusion under hypoxic conditions. He is one of the foremost experts on frostbite and has an interest in acute mountain sickness in adolescents. He is a member of the Alpine Club and a Faculty Member of UIAA Diploma in Mountain Medicine.
Dr Sarah Anderson
Sarah Anderson currently works at Public Health England as Head of the National TB Programme Office leading the implementation of the Collaborative TB Strategy for England, 2015-2020. She undertakes research in Tuberculosis, Infectious Diseases and Public Health. Sarah trained as a doctor in Cambridge and London. Whilst at Cambridge, she led an expedition to Uganda, was President of the Cambridge Expedition Society and has been involved with expeditions ever since.
Dr Jon Dallimore
Dr Jon Dallimore Jon is one of the Directors of the International Diploma in Expedition and Wilderness Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Jon is a medical consultant to four British expedition companies and gives medical briefings to hundreds of World Challenge expedition leaders each year. He is a co-editor of the Oxford Handbook of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, and has been teaching on expedition medicine courses for healthcare professionals since 1991.
Dr Lucy Obolensky
Lucy is a GP and EM doctor specialising in Global and Remote Healthcare. She recently founded Endeavour Medical to provide a forum for education, research and opportunities for all health professionals working in these fields. Lucy is Associate Professor of Global Health and Remote Medicine at the University of Plymouth and works closely with the British Antarctic Survey within this role.
Dr Claire Grogan
Claire is a medical doctor with a passion for expedition and remote medicine. She has provided medical support for expeditions in jungle, desert and mountainous environments across the world. Claire was the lead medic for the BBC documentary 'Highest Classroom on Earth' and has also worked with British Exploring's Project New Horizons in Iceland
James Moore
As the Director of The Exeter Travel Clinic and Travel Health Consultancy, a specialist centre in the provision of expedition medicine training for both healthcare professionals and non-medics, James is a specialist in travel and expedition medicine. He also developed and directs the International Diploma in Expedition and Wilderness Medicine with Jon Dallimore.
Medical professionals
Advice and opportunities for medical professionals wanting to practice expedition and wilderness medicine.
Oxford Handbook of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine
The Oxford Handbook of Expeditions and Wilderness Medicine (3rd ed) is a complete guide to expedition medicine, and gives practical advice for use in remote environments.
British Standard BS 8848
BS 8848:2014 is the British Standard for organising and managing visits, fieldwork, expeditions, and adventurous activities outside the UK.