THERE ARE A LIMITED NUMBER OF SEATS FOR THIS EVENT. PLEASE REGISTER EARLY TO SECURE! 

Conference Description/Intended Audience

Advance your knowledge and practical skills in the prevention, recognition, and management of medical emergencies encountered in cold, remote, and alpine environments. This conference brings together experts in expedition medicine, emergency medicine, wilderness medicine, mountain rescue, and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to deliver an engaging, evidence-based educational experience for healthcare professionals caring for patients in austere settings.

This comprehensive program will explore the principles of expedition medicine, emphasizing medical planning, risk assessment, and clinical decision-making in resource-limited environments. Participants will learn how point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can enhance patient assessment in the field and review practical applications for wilderness and expedition medicine. Additional sessions will focus on selecting appropriate winter clothing and equipment to prevent cold-related illness, recognizing and managing frostbite, and implementing evidence-based strategies for the prevention and treatment of high-altitude illness.

Faculty will also examine the science of avalanches, including environmental factors, terrain assessment, and strategies to reduce risk and improve responder safety. Throughout the day, presenters will highlight practical approaches to patient stabilization, evacuation, and medical care in challenging wilderness environments.

Attendees will have the opportunity to further enhance their skills through optional hands-on workshops featuring wilderness POCUS techniques and ski patrol litter carries. These interactive sessions provide practical experience applying ultrasound in austere environments and safely transporting injured patients over snow-covered terrain.

Designed for physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, paramedics, EMS professionals, residents, outdoor educators, and wilderness medicine enthusiasts, this CME conference offers an exceptional opportunity to learn from experienced leaders in the field. Participants will leave with evidence-based knowledge, enhanced clinical confidence, and practical skills that can be immediately applied to patient care, wilderness expeditions, rescue operations, and outdoor emergency medicine.

Conference Goals

🏔️ Climb Higher in Clinical Knowledge
Master evidence-based care for winter wilderness and mountain medicine emergencies.
🔥 Sharpen Your Survival Skills
Develop practical, real-world strategies for cold-weather patient care and rescue scenarios.
🌲 Find Your Expedition Team
Network with experts, colleagues, and future collaborators who share your passion for wilderness medicine.

Conference Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  1. Describe the principles of expedition and wilderness medicine, including preparation, risk assessment, and medical decision-making in remote and resource-limited environments.
  2. Demonstrate appropriate applications of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in austere settings to assist with the evaluation and management of common wilderness medical conditions.
  3. Identify appropriate winter clothing and equipment strategies to prevent cold-related illness and optimize safety during outdoor expeditions.
  4. Recognize the clinical presentation, classification, and evidence-based management of frostbite, including indications for field treatment, rewarming, and evacuation.
  5. Differentiate the spectrum of high-altitude illnesses and implement appropriate prevention, recognition, and treatment strategies for patients in mountainous environments.
  6. Explain the principles of avalanche science, including terrain assessment, environmental risk factors, and strategies to reduce avalanche-related injuries and fatalities.
  7. Apply practical wilderness medicine skills, including ultrasound techniques and patient transport methods, to improve patient care and safety in remote environments. (Skills session participants)

Elements of Competence

The CME activity has been designed to change learner competence and focus on the American Board of Medical Specialties areas of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice.

Educational Methods

  • Live lectures with Q & A sessions and an optional skills session will facilitate the dissemination of information.

Conference Director

Scott Mueller, DO, FACEPScott Mueller, DO, FACEP
Associate, Emergency Medicine
Director, Student Affairs
Guthrie Corning, NY

Scott R. Mueller, DO, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician with Guthrie and serves as the Director of Student Affairs for the Guthrie Emergency Medicine Residency Program. In this role, he is dedicated to mentoring medical students and residents while fostering excellence in clinical education and professional development.

Dr. Mueller earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences before completing his Emergency Medicine residency at Trinity Health Livonia Hospital (formerly St. Mary Mercy Hospital). He is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and provides comprehensive emergency care at Guthrie Corning Hospital and Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital.

Passionate about medical education and lifelong learning, Dr. Mueller enjoys sharing practical, evidence-based approaches to emergency care with learners and colleagues. Outside of the emergency department, he is an avid endurance athlete and outdoor enthusiast who enjoys competing in triathlons, mountain biking, hiking, and spending time with his family. His appreciation for the outdoors complements his interest in the unique challenges of emergency care in austere and wilderness environments.

Guest Conference Speakers

Joel Amidon, MDJoel Amidon, MD
Associate, Family Medicine
Prisma Health, Greenville, SC

I obtained my Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals through NOLS in 2017 with a recertification in 2025.  I have been teaching as a faculty for the Wilderness Medicine M4 elective for the USC-SOM Greenville annually since 2019.  I have spoke at two wilderness medicine conferences in Boone NC in 2023 and 2026.  I have been teaching POCUS on the national level since 2023.  I am an avid outdoor enthusiast with a focus on distance hiking and am currently section hiking the AT and have completed > 1500 miles and are well into MA.

John Douds, MDJohn Douds, MD
PGY-2 Emergency Medicine Resident
Penn State College of Medicine

John Douds, MD, is a PGY-2 Emergency Medicine resident at Penn State College of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and is completing his residency training at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where he cares for patients across the full spectrum of acute illness and injury.

Dr. Douds has a strong interest in emergency medicine education and the evaluation and management of critically ill and injured patients. As a resident physician, he is committed to evidence-based practice, collaborative patient care, and lifelong learning. He enjoys sharing practical clinical insights and contributing to educational programs that enhance the knowledge and skills of fellow healthcare professionals.

Nathaniel “Nat” Mann, MD, DiMM, FAWMNathaniel “Nat” Mann, MD, DiMM, FAWM
Associate, Emergency Medicine
Prisma Health, Greenville, SC

Dr. Mann graduated from Southern Virginia University and spent a year after school working in a free clinic and in a local emergency department where he fell in love with emergency medicine. That interest followed him through medical school, and after graduation from MCV in Richmond, Virginia, he completed his EM residency in Cincinnati. Over the next four years, he developed his interests in education and authorship, international work, wilderness medicine, prehospital and tactical medicine, and search and rescue. Following his passions and the call of the wild, he completed a fellowship in wilderness medicine through Harvard and the Massachusetts General Hospital. As a fellow he did research on cognitive changes at altitude while living in the Nepali Himalaya and traveled around the world and North America providing care in austere environments.

Chadd Nesbitt, MD, PhDChadd Nesbitt, MD, PhD
Division Chief, Department of Emergency Medicine
Penn State Health

Dr. Chadd E. Nesbit is an emergency medicine physician, educator, and healthcare leader at Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine. He serves in a leadership role with Penn State Health Life Lion Emergency Services, where he helps oversee one of the region's premier air and ground critical care transport programs, focusing on advancing clinical excellence, operational performance, and high-quality emergency medical services.

In addition to his administrative leadership, Dr. Nesbit is actively involved in academic emergency medicine through the Department of Emergency Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine. His professional interests include emergency medical services (EMS), critical care transport, prehospital medicine, systems-based emergency care, and physician education. He is committed to developing innovative approaches to emergency care delivery while mentoring the next generation of emergency medicine physicians and EMS professionals.

As a frequent speaker and educator, Dr. Nesbit shares practical, evidence-based strategies that improve patient outcomes across the continuum of emergency and prehospital care. His passion for collaboration, education, and operational excellence has made him a respected leader in emergency medicine and critical care transport.
 

Mark Pittman, MD, FACEP, FAWMMark Pittman, MD, FACEP, FAWM
Associate, Emergency Medicine
Prisma Health, Greenville, SC

Dr. Mark Pittman, MD, FACEP, FAWM, is a board-certified emergency physician, Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, and attending physician at Prisma Health Upstate. He earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and completed his emergency medicine residency at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center, where he served as Chief Resident of Academics. He is a graduate of the American College of Emergency Physicians Teaching Fellowship and a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine.

Dr. Pittman has spent more than a decade teaching wilderness medicine to medical students, residents, and practicing clinicians. He has developed wilderness medicine curricula at both Georgetown University and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville and continues to lecture for both programs. He has been an instructor for WLS:MP and is on faculty for the Prisma Health - Upstate Wilderness Medicine Fellowship. His academic interests include wilderness medicine education, physician resilience, and innovative approaches to medical education. Outside of medicine, he enjoys hiking, backpacking, and orienteering.

Andrew “Scott” McCollough, DOAndrew “Scott” McCollough, DO
Associate, Emergency Medicine
Guthrie Corning Hospital, NY

Andrew "Scott" McCollough, DO, is an Associate in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Guthrie Corning Hospital in Corning, New York. He provides comprehensive, patient-centered care for patients experiencing acute illness and injury, with clinical interests that include emergency stabilization, trauma care, and prehospital medicine.

In addition to his work in the emergency department, Dr. McCollough serves as a member of the Greek Peak Ski Patrol, where he combines his expertise in emergency medicine with his passion for the outdoors. As a ski patroller, he provides on-mountain emergency medical care, injury assessment, rescue, and transport while promoting skier safety and preparedness in a challenging alpine environment. Greek Peak Ski Patrol is a highly trained team of volunteer and professional responders dedicated to providing emergency care and ensuring the safety of guests on the mountain.

Dr. McCollough enjoys sharing his experience in emergency and wilderness medicine and is committed to advancing evidence-based practices that improve patient outcomes both in the hospital and in remote environments.
 

Jackie Jian, DOJackie Jian, DO
Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine
Guthrie Corning Hospital, NY & Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, PA

Jackie Jian, DO, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Guthrie Corning Hospital and Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital and serves as the Director of Ultrasound for the Guthrie Emergency Medicine Residency Program. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at SBH Health System in the Bronx, followed by a fellowship in Emergency Ultrasound at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. He is board certified in Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Jian has a special interest in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and its application to the rapid diagnosis and management of critically ill and injured patients. He is passionate about medical education and enjoys teaching residents and colleagues how bedside ultrasound enhances clinical decision-making in both emergency and resource-limited settings.

Conference Fees

  • $100 – Physicians/Advanced Practice Providers
  • $75 – Nurses/EMS Personnel/Administrators/Other Health Care Professionals
  • No Cost - Fellows/Residents/Students

OPTIONAL Hands-on Skills Sessions 

  • $25 – Hands-on POCUS Workshop (Limit to 10 people) – Dr. Joel Amidon & Dr. Jackie Jian
  • $25 - Ski Patrol Litter Carries (Limit to 10 people) – Dr. Scott McCullough

Guthrie Providers: This conference is eligible for reimbursement from your 2026-2027 allocated CME/Meeting fund.

REGISTER ONLINE

Hotel Information 

RESERVATIONS BY ATTENDEES MUST BE MADE ON OR BEOFRE DECEMBER 13, 2026 – NO EXCEPTIONS 
Greek Peak Mountain Resort
2000 NYS Rt. 392
Cortland, NY 13045

Reservations can be made at a discounted rate, click here.

Conference Cancellation and Refund

The full conference fee is refundable, less $25 processing fee, if your cancellation is received, in writing by Wednesday, December 30, 2026. (The processing fee is nonrefundable regardless of the reason for cancellation). Refunds will not be granted after this time for non-attendance. 

The Guthrie Clinic Office of CME reserves the right to cancel an activity due to unforeseen circumstances (i.e., lack of registrations, unexpected events). Any registrants will be notified, and refunds will be processed. In the event the activity has been postponed, the registrant will have the option to receive a full refund, or they can use their registration for the respective conference. In addition, The Guthrie Clinic Office of CME is not responsible for related costs or expenses to participants, including cancellation fees assessed by hotels, airlines, or travel agencies.

Disclaimers

Minimum and maximum numbers for attendance at this event have been established and we reserve the right to substitute speakers/topics or cancel if necessary. By attending this event, you grant The Guthrie Clinic Office of CME the right to record, film, photograph, or capture your likeness in any media and to distribute, broadcast, use, or otherwise disseminate, in perpetuity, such media without any further approval from or any payment to you.

The Guthrie Clinic CME Vision

"To empower health professionals with the resources and expertise to deliver exceptional preventive and comprehensive care, optimizing health outcomes for the communities we serve."

Accreditation Statement

“The Guthrie Clinic is accredited by the Pennsylvania Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.”

Designation Statement

“The Guthrie Clinic designates this live activity for a maximum of (8.0) AMA PRA Category I Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.”

Faculty Disclosure

The Guthrie Clinic adheres to the ACCME® Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.

“Faculty and all others who have the ability to control the content of continuing medical education activities sponsored by The Guthrie Clinic are expected to disclose to the audience whether they do or do not have any real or apparent conflict(s) of interest or other relationships related to the content of their presentation(s).” The presenting faculty/planning committee for this educational activity have no relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Trish SternHave a question? Contact our staff!

Trish Stern, Director, System CME 
E-mail: Trish.Stern@guthrie.org
Phone: 570-887-5762