Why being technically brilliant just isn’t (good) enough

‘You look flushed Will, are you ok?’ I asked when he walked back into our tea house in Tengboche at 3800m as we were passively acclimatising.

‘I’m great thanks Jo! I’ve been playing football with the Monks’ came his reply.
‘Of course you have’ I said, not even slightly surprised.

I’ve worked with dozens of Doctors over the last 12 years as an Expedition Leader here in the UK and at high altitude overseas, from GPs to anaesthetists and from A&E Docs to heart and lung specialists but the big question for me? Are they any good with people?

Being technically proficient is essential but so is a good sleeping matt side manner, so what or who makes a great Expedition Medic and conversely, what makes me a good Leader to work with?

I’ll be looking at the good, and not so good side of being a medic in the mountains, looking after people who are far outside of their comfort zone and how it has made me more medically capable and confident when guiding a group without the comfort of a Doctor beside me.

Aimed at any medic who is keen to or already working on expeditions with clients and guides and how working together we can all be better at our roles.