Lewisburg, WV (WOAY) A $25-thousand dollar grant is helping West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine students prepare for medical emergencies in the great outdoors.
The EnCova Foundation of West Virginia awarded the grant to the WVSOM Foundation to help fund this year’s two-week wilderness medicine elective.
The course runs August 24 through September 4, primarily at Greenbrier Youth Camp in Anthony, with additional training in the New River Gorge area and at Kanawha Falls.
Third- and fourth-year medical students and resident physicians will train in emergency care, disaster response, search and rescue, rope access and patient stabilization.
The course also covers topics including lightning injuries, snakebites and waterborne illness.
The rotation will culminate in an all-day “Grand Scenario” on September 3 at Greenbrier Youth Camp.
WVSOM says the training is designed to prepare physicians to provide care in rural and underserved communities where geographic isolation and limited resources can create unique medical challenges.
Nine resident physicians and eight WVSOM students are expected to participate.
