World Extreme Medicine Podcast

In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, we explore one of the most talked-about studies in pre-hospital trauma care: “Beyond IO and IV - Trauma Lines in Pre-Hospital Haemorrhagic Shock.”Host Eoin Walker is joined by Paolo Pallavicini, final-year medical student and research fellow with London’s Air Ambulance and the Centre for Trauma Sciences, to unpack a groundbreaking study analysing over 8,000 trauma patients.They discuss:Why standard IV and IO access can be inadequate in exsanguinating traumaHow trauma lines can double pre-hospital blood delivery ratesSuccess, complication, and survival outcomes from the studyThe future of central venous access in pre-hospital carePaolo also offers key insights into the realities of working in a chaotic roadside environment, the importance of governance and training, and how clinical risk-benefit decisions are made when every second counts.Read the paper here.Find out more about London Air Ambulance Service.

From conflict zones to refugee camps, from neonatal units to global health leadership—nurses are at the heart of humanitarian medicine.In this episode, host Eoin Walker is joined by Elsa Afonso and Marcus Wootton from the Royal College of Nursing’s International Academy. Together they bring decades of frontline and strategic experience with organisations including MSF, UNICEF, and academic institutions worldwide.We explore:What drives nurses into humanitarian workLessons learned from conflict zones, HIV & AIDS programs, and neonatal careThe power of education and capacity-building in fragile health systemsLeadership, advocacy, and cultural adaptability in global healthThe future of nursing in humanitarian responseA powerful conversation about resilience, leadership, and the global role of nurses.Important links:RCN International AcademyPhoenix Nursing MyanmarRCN Report: Care Amongst the Chaos – The Voices of Nurses Working in Conflict (PDF)

At just 28 years old, Rachel Smith is preparing to make history. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before her third birthday, she has never let her condition define her limits. Already having summited the highest peaks in South America, Africa, and Australia, Rachel now sets her sights on Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s highest peak at 4,892m.In this conversation with host Eoin Walker, Rachel shares her remarkable journey:Growing up as the first child in Northern Ireland to use an insulin pumpHow evolving technology has supported her ambitions in medicine and mountaineeringThe unique physiological challenges of managing diabetes at high altitude and in extreme coldThe balance between risk, resilience, and pushing human potentialHer partnership with Breakthrough T1D and the importance of raising awarenessThis is a story of grit, adaptability, and proving that chronic conditions don’t have to hold you back from extraordinary goals.Learn about Rachel and follow her journey here.Find out more about Breakthrough T1D.

In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, host Eoin Walker speaks with Leif Rognås (consultant anaesthetist and clinical lead with the Danish Air Ambulance) and Karina Damsgaard (psychologist specialising in emergency medicine and resilience in high-performance teams).Together, they unpack the concept of Compassionate Debriefing, an approach designed to replace traditional “honest debriefs” with something more supportive, psychologically safe, and effective for learning.The discussion explores:Why traditional debrief models can fall short in complex, high-stakes environmentsHow compassionate debriefing fosters resilience, retention, and psychological safetyPractical steps for shifting from critique to care in post-mission reflectionsWhat further research is needed to embed this approach into HEMS and beyondA must-listen for clinicians, leaders, and anyone interested in the future of healthcare culture, wellbeing, and team performance.You can read Karina's paper 'Common Mental Health Symptoms in Personnel Working in Helicopter Emergency Medical Services: A Systematic Review' here.

In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, host Eoin Walker is joined by Hannah Lock, an emergency medicine doctor, expedition specialist, and seasoned mountaineer with experience across six continents. Together, they go beyond the basics of acute mountain sickness (AMS) to explore the lesser-known high-altitude illnesses and how they’re managed in the field.From HAPE and HACE to retinal haemorrhages, chronic mountain sickness, high-altitude cough, frostbite, and the impact of altitude on muscle mass and sleep, this deep dive unpacks the realities clinicians and expedition leaders face at altitude.Hannah also shares insights on managing risk in clients with comorbidities, new technologies shaping safety in the mountains, and practical strategies for hydration, acclimatisation, and performance at elevation.Learn more about Hannah and her work here.