Join the Adventure
From mountains to lakes, ski slopes to waterfalls, and everything in between, the High Country has always drawn us to explore, experience, and be immersed in the beauty of nature. Our rolling mountains welcome people from far and wide and provide endless opportunities for adventure. Unfortunately, more opportunities for adventure can translate to higher incidences of injuries, illnesses, and traumas.
“As physicians and local leaders, we have chosen to serve our community through improving access to medical care for everyone, not just in the office, but as far-reaching as in the wild,” says Dr. David Brendle, Associate Program Director of the Boone Rural Family Medicine Residency Program. The conference is open to all – including physicians, residents, PAs, NPs, nurses, students, and more.
Docs gone wild
At the heart of the High Country Wilderness Medicine Conference are David Brendle, DO, and Brett Magner, MD, family medicine physicians and faculty members with UNC Health Appalachian’s MAHEC Boone Rural Family Medicine Residency Program. Both share a deep appreciation for the outdoors and the unique challenges it presents.
“Spending time outside through trail running, mountain biking, hiking, and skiing has always fed my soul,” says Dr. Brendle. “After becoming a physician, I felt a responsibility to gain training specific to providing medical care in austere environments.” Over the years, he has actively pursued wilderness medicine education through the Wilderness Medical Society.
Dr. Brendle founded the High Country Wilderness Medicine Conference in 2023 to support and equip individuals across the region with practical tools, resources, and training for providing care in remote and resource-limited settings.
“Given the Boone Rural Family Medicine Residency Program’s location here in the High Country, we felt it was important to offer wilderness medicine-focused education to our resident physicians,” Brendle explains. “Community outreach is also a core part of our program, and this conference brings those two priorities together.”
Dr. David Brendle at the Everest Base Camp.
Faculty Disclosure Statement
All faculty are required to sign and disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest related to the content of their presentation.
If no conflicts:
The faculty and staff involved with this live activity have signed disclosure statements indicating they have no conflicts of interest or relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest with respect to this course content.
If conflicts:
The faculty member(s) listed below have indicated they have relevant financial relationships or potential conflicts of interest related to the material presented and they also do not intend to discuss commercial products/services.
List faculty name, relationship, company
i.e.: Teri Howell, Employee, WMS
ACCME Statements
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Wilderness Medical Society and (name of non-accredited provider). The Wilderness Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Wilderness Medical Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
All education content presented in this activity has been reviewed and validated as appropriate in keeping with sound scientific principles.