Some of the Faculty

Jel Coward

Jel is a primary care physician working in family practice and the emergency department in rural British Columbia. He has an interest in pre-hospital emergency care and the outdoors. Until five years ago he lived and worked in rural North Wales and was a member of the Aberdovey Search and Rescue Team. He was involved with street EMS in the West Midlands of the UK as part of the West Midlands Central Accident Resuscitation Emergency (CARE) Team.

He has long been an outdoorsman enjoying whitewater kayaking, hiking and skiing. Now in BC, Jel is a member of the Pemberton Search and Rescue Team and is a ski patrol doctor at Whistler-Blackcomb. The next plan is to bring the WEMSI curriculum to BC - watch this space!

Jack Grandey

A former flight paramedic and co-founder of the Wilderness EMS Institute, Jack Grandey has instructed wilderness medicine classes in the United States and overseas. He has addressed more than 50 regional and international conferences, with presentations on successful implementation strategies, the evaluation of emerging technologies, the achievement of excellence within organizations as well as various clinical subjects.

He is a nationally registered paramedic with additional qualifications in flight, critical care transport, tactical and wilderness care. He is a member of two FEMA disaster medical teams.

Peter Harvey

Peter Harvey is an EMT-B with experience as an expedition medic in Africa and South America. He has worked in various environments from high-altitudes to deserts. Peter's day job is as a Business Consultant for exploration and adventure companies who work around the globe.

Peter has a background in occupational psychology although he does appear normal from first impressions. He has been involved in personal development training and First Aid training since 1993. He is involved in several companies including Rescue Emergency Care, Wilderness Expertise and Medical Expertise. Peter acts as the Operations Director for WEMSI and has been part of the team since 1999.

Jon Jones

Jon holds an MIC with 20 years of climbing and mountaineering experience in Britain, Canada, Spain and the Alps. A keen off-piste snowboarder Jon has spent several long seasons tearing it up in the French Alps and North America. Rock climbing is his real talent but he has recently been seen getting rather good on a mountain bike.

Over the years he has been a key supporter of WEMSI as a candidate, patient and now as part of the faculty team.

Matt Ladbrook

Matt works as a doctor in Harrogate but is a Southerner at heart. His experience includes work in anaesthetics and general practice. Matt has been involved with WEMSI for 2 years after attending the WCP course in 2004.

Matt’s interest in outdoor activities led him to get involved in leading expeditions and that developed his interest in wilderness medicine. He is currently building experience providing on-call physician support to an overseas expedition company. Before training as a doctor, Matt worked in London for the Ministry of Defence.

Matt commissioned into the Territorial Army in 1994 and, while he tries not to take it too seriously, it has been great experience. His current posting is as a doctor in 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines.

Rebecca Lindley

Born and raised in central Canada, Rebecca currently works in a rural emergency department and family practice office in Pemberton, BC. She works with the local outward Bound school, Search & Rescue team and Ski Patrol. Before moving to British Columbia in 2000, she provided on-site and off-line medical support to remote fly-in communities in northern Ontario. Her current big excitement is the anticipation of teaching her three year old to ski on the mountains this year!

Eric Pirie

International, Mountain Guide working full time at Scottish National outdoor training centre, Glenmore Lodge. Has been a member of Cairngorm MRT since 1982 and is also training officer of the mountain rescue committee of Scotland. Since1997 Eric has Acted as Course Director for Wemsi-Europe since 2000.

Stuart Johnston

Stuart, (MIC) is an active mountain instructor, and is co-author of two essential guides: The Hillwalker’s Guide to Mountaineering and The Mountain Skills Training Handbook. Stuart has been involved in WEMSI from 2000.

Joe O’Gorman

Joe is a paramedic in Dublin and an active member of the Irish Mountain rescue scene. It was thanks to Joe that WEMSI came “over the pond” to the Ireland and the UK from its roots in the US.

Joe has a new found passion in Sea Kayaking and still escapes to the hills with his family when he can. Currently Joe co-ordinates the Irish courses for WEMSI courses.

Simon Steer

Simon is so unique words fail to do him justice.

Mark Turner

Mark is a Combat Medical Technician in the Royal Army Medical Corps (V). He is now an instructor with the Battlefield Advanced Trauma Life Support training team and a member of the executive council of the British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS).

Mark is a member of the South Manchester Accident Rescue Team.

When he can find time he enjoys walking with his wife and daughter, helping his local St John Ambulance division and co-ordinates the First Aid at his local third division football club.

Rowland Woollven

Rowland is a freelance sea kayak guide and coach living on the west coast of Scotland. He has led a number of expeditions to southeast Alaska and western British Columbia, and in 2008 paddled three-quarters of the British coastline. He has climbed in most parts of the British Isles, the European and Norwegian Alps as well as the odd visit to the Himalayas.

Hamish Wyllie

Hamish is a Medical engineer from Inverness. He has been an active summer and winter climber for the past 25 years, both in the UK and Europe. Member of Cairngorm MRT for the past 10 years. Qualified as a Wilderness EMT in 2001.

Steph Dwyer

Steph did the WEMSI course a number of years ago and loved it so much that she just had to keep coming back. She is a chemist by day, and has a passion for the outdoors. On weekends you'll find her running around hills, abseiling down holes or upside down on a river. She is an active caver and has caved all over Ireland and Europe; she teaches rope work, rescue rigging and regularly brings novices caving. She is a member of the core team for the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation as a wilderness medic and rescue rigger and is currently the organisation's first aid officer. Her sports include caving, canyoning, kayaking, climbing and hiking.

Naomi Roberts

Originally a veterinary surgeon, Naomi got into Wilderness Medicine when, itchy-footed, she left small animal practice to work as a climbing and mountaineering instructor. She ran her own trekking company for a while, leading expeditions all over the world, and did the WEMT course to be able to better look after her (or hopefully someone else's) clients in out-of-the-way places. Her interest grew, and she now works as a research assistant for a business consultancy advising on health matters for companies operating in wilderness environments. In her spare time she is studying for a post graduate diploma in infectious diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and raising a boisterous toddler.

What people say about the team

Just a quick note to say hi! and many thanks for such a great course and probably one of the best experiences I've ever had!

Your knowledge, commitment, enthusiasm and dedication blew me away and I really appreciated the huge amount of hours you put in to provide us with such a great course.

I've learned loads and feel much better equipped to deal with wilderness medical emergencies.