Mountain medicine education in Europe

All educational programs in mountain medicine in Europe are presented with their history, evolution, and current status. A comparison and a summary of those programs, as well as an estimate of the number of doctors trained in mountain medicine, are offered. Special focus is put on new developments and subspecialty programs. All programs listed in the Union Internationale des Associations Alpinistes (UIAA) information papers and all programs known through different publications were contacted and asked to forward information about recent courses, materials from former courses, and program syllabi. This information was reviewed and different specific topics were developed in depth. There are 13 different programs in Europe offering medical education in mountain medicine: 3 in France; 2 each in Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom; and 1 each in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and The Netherlands. The duration of these courses varies from a long weekend to a full 3-week course with theoretical and practical instruction. At this moment, most programs still have different contents and structures, which are being standardized by the UIAA and the International Commission for Alpine Rescue Medical Commission (ICAR MEDCOM). At least 2600 doctors have had a first-contact course in high-altitude medicine, and at least 2000 have participated in a full course of 1 week of more. A large number of doctors in Europe have become acquainted with mountain medicine by participating in different medical education programs. These programs should be optimized and further specialized in the different areas of mountain medicine, including expedition, alpine, and rescue medicine.