Abstract
We offered a wilderness medicine selective seminar to first-year medical students at the University of Arizona. Twenty students took the selective, which was designed as an introduction and to stimulate interest in acquiring more in-depth knowledge of the field. Separate sessions were held on specific subject areas: high altitude; wilderness injuries; field water disinfection and diarrheal illnesses; toxic and survival plants; envenomation; underwater medicine; and heat and cold stress. A mountain climb was offered as an optional field experience. Student evaluation indicated the goals of the selective were achieved more than adequately by content and methods. We view the selective as a successful attempt to introduce wilderness medicine to medical students. However, a teaching approach for advanced students could include a more comprehensive approach.