Wilderness & Environmental Medicine

The Wilderness & Environmental Medicine Program is a collaboration between NewYork-Presbyterian Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Cornell Outdoor Education. Our goal is to apply the highest academic standards to education and research involving medical care in austere conditions.

Overview

Through medical student electives, CME courses, and research collaborations, the Program seeks to advance medical care beyond the walls of our institutions. The knowledge and skills of medical care in austere environments are relevant to physicians treating patients in wilderness and disaster settings, as well as to physicians planning to work in global health or regional humanitarian medical response teams.

Winter Rescue Small

Curriculum

The medical student elective in wilderness and environmental medicine is designed for fourth-year medical students. This two-week elective involves both classroom-based and field-based learning, covering a breadth of topics such as accidental hypothermia and frostbite, heat illness and heat stroke, high-altitude medicine, animal and insect bites, poisonous plants, injuries and illnesses during expeditions, diving and submersion injuries, search and rescue, field water purification and basic survival in wilderness or disaster settings. The classroom component is based in New York City, at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. The field component is taught in collaboration with Cornell Outdoor Education and takes place in wilderness settings or natural parks, such as New York State’s Adirondack Mountains. Students hike and camp while participating in realistic, simulated rescue-scenarios, under the close and supportive teaching of faculty preceptors. Beyond practical medical skills, students also develop a sense of teamwork, leadership, and self-reliance, all while appreciating the beauty of nature.

Housing & Outfitting

Students are responsible for obtaining their own housing accommodations during the classroom component in New York City (approximately 1 week). Course fees provide for group equipment and gear in the field, such as tents, tarps, and stoves. Students provide their own personal camping gear such as backpacks, sleeping bags and pads. A number of these personal use items may be available to rent through Cornell Outdoor Education.

How to Apply

The next elective is tentatively planned for October 2025, and information on applying will become available on this website in anticipation of that time.

Program Contact Information

For additional program and application information or questions, please contact:

Christopher Hennessy, M.D. 

Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine 
Weill Cornell Medicine
Email: cmh9016@med.cornell.edu

Mailing Address
New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Weill Cornell Medical Center
Department of Emergency Medicine
525 E. 68th St., Box 179
New York, NY 10065

Office of the Chair
Emergency Medicine
525 E. 68th St., M-130
New York, NY 10065
(212) 746-0780

Residency Office
530 E. 70th St., M-127
New York, NY 10021
(212) 746-0892
may2004@med.cornell.edu

Research Office
525 E. 68th St., M-130
New York, NY 10065
EMResearch@med.cornell.edu

Leading Emergency Care