Front Line Medical Conference is approved for 15 CPD hours by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and the Royal New Zealand College of Urgent Care.
Continuing Professional Development
Front Line Medical Conference: 16th – 21st August 2026
Wanaka Mountain Guides in collaboration with Dr Sam Bartholomew FRNZCUC bring you a bespoke mini-medical conference that utilises the unique opportunity to allow a small group to share learning experiences and ideas in the winter backcountry environment relevant to Front Line Medical work. The conference explores risk management and acute medical care both in the winter environment and work place focusing on the lessons we can learn that translate into improving as senior doctors in Urgent Care, Emergency Medicine and Rural Hospital Medicine.
We address topics like our personal wellbeing, how we fit into a changing and developing medical world, how we wish to see it evolve, our ideas, concerns, and expectations as front line medics, critical decision making, and shared reflection.
We focus on peer review, practical sessions/scenarios focused on risk management and short-form presentations with open discussion avoiding long didactic lectures.
We value the fact we are more than doctors and we create an environment that reflects this! It happens we like mountains and the New Zealand backcountry and this is a great environment to develop a sense of community whilst educating each other. We have no medically related sponsors.
Why mini – 4 people. It is a small team based learning environment, in order to maximise learning and quality conversation the event is limited to 4 people. It is recognised that in order to have effective conversations a group size of 4 is ideal.
Facilitators
Dr Sam Bartholomew
Sam is a member for the Royal NZ College of Urgent Care Physicians. He is currently working at Te Nakau Hospital in Greymouth as a Rural Hospital Generalist. He has experience working in Rural Hospitals since 2019. He has previously worked in an Urgent Facility in Christchurch, in varying General Practices and hospitals. He has worked as an expedition medic to the Sub-antarctic and to the Ross Sea. He has also been the Medical Advisor for the NZ Hang gliding and Paragliding association. He has regularly presented at varying conferences and always uses the chance to create unique learning experiences.
Wanaka Mountain Guides
The Mountain Guides used for this conference are internationally certified by the IFMGA. This the highest level of mountain professional qualification available and is held by around 7000 guides worldwide. Achieving this level of certification is the culmination of a long process of personal and professional development and proves extensive skills in instruction, leadership, decision-making, and safety management. They have many years of experience operating in challenging environments and managing risk. This has valuable lessons that can improve the way Doctors work together, manage risk and deliver health care in challenging environments.
Key Learning Objectives
- Update on current practices utilising presentation, discussion and practical sessions to achieve this. This will be relevant to Emergency Medicine, Rural Hospital Medicine and Urgent Care.
- Develop skills to deal with pre hospital emergency situations and improve critical decision making.
- Consider ones own wellbeing and how to maintain it.
- Consider and develop ways to manage risk.
- Reflect on what we can learn from processes and culture outside of work in order to be better doctors in Emergency Medicine/Rural hospital/Urgent Care settings.
- Develop and improve presentation skills utilising short form presentations techniques – each attendee will present.
Examples of questions for participants to consider during the conference:
- What can we learn by facing challenges out of work in order to be better doctors?
- How do we alter our practice according to different resource environments?
- How can we maximise co-ordination and collaboration ?
- How can information and technology improve how we work ?
- What are essential qualities of an SMO in these areas of medicine
- How does changing practices affect team dynamics and resources
- What are our responsibilities beyond direct patient management?
- What can we learn from each other?
- What defines a good decision?
- Should SMOs lead or follow?
- What is your implicit bias?
- How do we respond as individuals to the challenging experiences we encounter in a dynamic, stressful work environment? How can we support others with these challenges?
Additional Information
All attendees present during the the conference, the aim is for peer education. The format is short presentations to stimulate group discussion. Peer review, presentations and discussions are orientated around the daily topic. On booking you will receive information pack including a preference of the day you wish to present on. This cannot be guaranteed but we will endeavour to ensure everyone attending feels they have the ability to appropriately present on a days topic.
We encourage interactive talks that focus on on stimulating small group discussion. We aim to avoid didactic presentations when possible.
Practical winter backcountry sessions involve snow travel in an alpine environment. Ski touring or backcountry snowboarding (split board) equipment is needed and the ability to ski/snowboard to an intermediate level off-piste. If you are unsure about your level/ability/equipment to participate please get in touch.
All attendees will have attendance recorded for college purposes, receive a certificate of attendance and will be given the opportunity to complete feedback forms.
Examples of backcountry session locations include Cardrona, Treble Cone, End Peak, Black Peak, and Mount Alta. These will vary depending on weather and safety conditions.
All participants must have ski or splitboarding experience and be equipped for backcountry travel.
(subject to change)
Topic: Reflections on Culture and How it Can Make us Better Doctors
15:30 Registration/meet and greet at the accomodation including introduction to the week.
17:30 – 18:30 Evening of films and discussions – What makes us better humans, makes us better doctors (Dr Bartholomew).
This session will explores topics such as mental health, prejudice and identity.
Topic: Risk Management
7:30 – 9:00 Risk Management a presentation and discussion about what we can learn from Risk management in the Winter Backcountry and how we manage risk at work. Presented by a Mountain Guide followed by group discussion (Dr Bartholomew).
10:30 – 12:00 Practical applications of Risk Management in the winter backcountry. Reflections on how principals apply to the workplace.
17:00 – 17:30 Debrief of practical session with focus on key learning experiences of the group (Dr Bartholomew/Mountain Guide).
17:00 – 18:30 Attendee presentation and group discussion.
Risk assessment/management in either Emergency Department, Urgent Care Facility or Rural Medical Facility (30 min presentation and 30 min discussion).
Emergency Algorithm use/updates in either Emergency Department, Urgent Care Facility or Rural Medical Facility (30 min presentation and 30 min discussion).Topic: Mountain Emergencies – Pathways and Algorithms
7:30 – 9:00 Introduction to the Avalife algorithm by a Mountain Guide and Dr Sam Bartholomew. Followed by group discussion about the algorithm, its application and how it compares to algorithms such as the ALS and BLS algorithms.
10:30 – 12:00 Practical application of the Avalife algorithm in the winter backcountry. Reflections on how principals apply and compare to work place emergency algorithms.
17:00 pm – 17:30 Debrief practical session with focus on key learning experiences of the group (Dr Bartholomew/Mountain Guide)
17:30pm – 18:30 Attendee presentation and group discussion.
Emergency Algorithm use/updates in either Emergency Department, Urgent Care Facility or Rural Medical Facility (30 min presentation and 30 min discussion).
Topic: Teamwork (Coordinators/Collaborators)
7:30 – 9:00 Introduction to the key to team work and the challenges in the winter wilderness environment by Guide.
Followed by group discussion/reflection on how these team work aspects apply to the ED/Urgent Care/Rural Medical Facility.
10:30 – 12:00 Emergency Medical Team work in practice in the winter wilderness environment. Reflections on how principals apply to the work place.
17:00 – 17:30 Debrief practical session with focus on key learning experiences of the group (Dr Bartholomew/Mountain Guide).
17:30 – 18:30 Attendee Presentation and Group discussion
Teamwork in either Emergency Department, Urgent Care Facility or Rural Medical Facility
(30 min presentation and 30 min discussion).
Topic: Self Care, Self Reflection
07:30 – 08:30 Attendee presentation and Group discussion
How do we ensure we care for ourselves whilst caring for others (30 min presentation and 30 min discussion).
Day is available for practical sessions that have not occurred due to weather conditions.
16:30 – 17:30 Debrief of the week, lessons learnt and how they can be applied to our daily work environment.
19:00 Conference Dinner location TBC
Departure day
2026 Dates
16th - 21st August
Pricing
Conference only price: $3290 Full board and conference price: $4850 for private room ( 2 places available), $4500 for shared twin room ( 2 places available)
Inclusions & Exclusions
Price includes:
– Conference fee
– All staff and conference sessions.
– Transport and access for conference sessions in the backcountry including one day of helicopter access.
– Final night Conference Dinner.
– Avalanche safety gear hire (shovel, transceiver and probe) if required.
Full board includes:
– 5 nights accommodation either shared twin room or private room at Kea Lodge.
– Breakfast, lunch and dinner from the evening of the 17th to morning of the 22nd.
Price excludes:
– Cancellation and personal insurance.
– Equipment required for safe snow travel for sessions in the backcountry. Ski touring equipment can be hired from MT Outdoors in Three Parks, Wanaka. Contact Us to arrange splitboard hire.
– Transport to and from Wanaka (airport transfers from Queenstown can be arranged by request).
’10/10. Extremely Knowledgeable. Fantastic Group Facilitation Skills. Great Teacher. Passionate about Skiing, Mountains/ Weather/ Snow Pack. Incredibly Patient. Cool, Calm, and Collected.’
— Fiona, Avalanche Skills Course
