Ryan Paterson, MD; DTM&H; DiMM
Ryan Paterson attended the University of Vermont School of Medicine and completed his Emergency Medicine Residency and Fellowship in Wilderness/Altitude/Expedition Medicine at Denver Health Medical Center/University of Colorado, USA. He also holds advanced certifications in Tropical Medicine from the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H) and in Mountain Medicine (DiMM). He is a practicing, board-certified Emergency Physician for Kaiser Permanente at St Joseph’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado, USA and associate professor at the University of Colorado in the Department of Emergency Medicine section of Wilderness, Environmental and Expedition Medicine.
In leisure, Ryan loves to spend time outdoors with his spouse and two children. He is an avid traveler, climber and a former distance athlete.
Dr. Paterson is founder and director of Emergency Medical Providers (EMP) a leader in the provision of remote medical support and expedition medical direction.
Ryan is co-founder and former director for the Wilderness Medical Society Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM) course and current co-director for the DiMM of the Andes.
Ryan also has significant experience in large-race/event medical management. He serves as medical director for GlobalLimits and has medically directed multiple GlobalLimits events. He is the current United States delegate to the International Society of Mountain Medicine (ISMM).
Ryan founded the FLuME foundation and serves as medical director for Kolkata City Mission (KCM) working thru both organizations to establish sustainable development solutions in education, health, women’s empowerment, micro-enterprise and public-health for informal communities in and around Kolkata, India.
Combining all of his training and passion, Dr Paterson has worked in Disaster Relief efforts in both post-earthquake Nepal and with the UN in Iraq.
Additionally, Dr. Paterson is an altitude researcher, expedition physician, mountain emergency medicine educator and guide.
Jennifer Starling, MD; DTM&H; DiMM
Dr. Jennifer Starling attended medical school at McGill University and completed her Emergency Medicine residency at Alameda County Medical Center - Highland Hospital. As a fellow in Wilderness Medicine at Denver Health/University of Colorado, she completed a tropical medicine degree at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, studied dive medicine in Honduras, and treated high altitude illness in Nepal. Most recently she has served as race medical for multi-stage ultra-marathons in the American Southwest, Cambodia and Bhutan. She also co-instructs a wilderness medicine course for mountain guides in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca. Her academic interests include wilderness medicine education and curriculum design, travel medicine, remote race medicine and high altitude medicine.
Erin Drasler, MD; DiMM
Dr. Erin Drasler completed medical school at the University of Minnesota and residency as well as Wilderness Medicine Fellowship at Denver Health Medical Center/University of Colorado. She practices Emergency Medicine at Colorado Permanente Medical Group in Denver, CO. She is currently completing her Diploma in Mountain Medicine. She serves as medical director for Colorado Outward Bound and teaches multiple wilderness medicine courses through the University of Colorado. As an avid rock climber and ultrarunner, she enjoys both participating in and caring for patients involving wilderness adventures.
Leah Groves, MD; DiMM
Dr. Leah Groves attended medical school at Duke University and completed her Emergency Medicine residency at Denver Health Medical Center. She was on the faculty at George Washington University Medical Center and currently is a practicing emergency medicine physician with the Colorado Permanente Medical Group in Denver. She has been involved with medical student and resident wilderness training and elective courses in both Washington DC and Denver. She is certified as an Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) instructor. She is interested in wilderness education and getting others excited about the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, running, skiing and being outside with her husband and dog.
Katie Saxon, MD; DiMM
Dr. Katie Saxon attended medical school at Loyola University in Chicago and completed residency in emergency medicine at University of Michigan. She taught expedition and environmental education courses prior to attending medical school, and worked as a backpacking, climbing, and whitewater rafting guide. She co-founded Austere Environment Medicine, a regional collaboration of wilderness medicine in Michigan, and co-led the first Wilderness Medicine elective at University of Michigan for 4th year medical students. She completed a fellowship in Wilderness Medicine at University of Colorado and the Diploma in Mountain Medicine. She has taught multiple AWLS and WFR courses and currently helps teach the University of Colorado wilderness medicine student electives. Her academic interest includes wilderness medicine education and she enjoys skiing, hiking, running, and spending time outside with family.