Office of Wilderness & Survival Medicine
The Wilderness Medicine Program at MCG focuses on training residents and students how to handle medical emergencies in remote settings where emergency services are not readily available.
Injuries can happen anywhere, and we should all be prepared to treat patients outside of the conveniences of a hospital. The Office of Wilderness Medicine is directed by the Center of Operational Medicine (COM). The COM supports the initiative by providing people/management, resources, and equipment for many of the wilderness training activities.
Medical Director of Wilderness & Survival Medicine
Taylor Haston, DO, DiMM, MPH, MS
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Fellowship Director, Wilderness Medicine
Dr. Taylor Haston is from Charlotte, NC, completed medical school at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, then completed her emergency medicine residency training at MCG. She went on to complete a Wilderness Medicine Fellowship at MCG and is now an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, as well as Director for the Wilderness Medicine Fellowship. She earned her Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM) and certifications in Level 1 Swiftwater Rescue, Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diving. She is in the process of completing her FAWM (Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine) through the Wilderness Medical Society. Dr. Haston has extensive experience in International Medicine in multiple countries and has traveled internationally as faculty, not only with the Wilderness Medicine Section, but also with the International Medicine Section and the Ultrasound Section at MCG. She is an Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) instructor and serves as a Chair on the Education Module Subcommittee within the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) Education Committee. She also is active with the Appalachian Center for Wilderness Medicine (ACWM) and serves as the Chair of the Advisory Council.
News and Courses
Southeast MedWar (Medical Wilderness Adventure Race)
Fort Gordon, GA
The Southeast Medical Wilderness Adventure Race (MedWar) is a unique adventure race complete with questions and interactive, hands-on scenarios, designed to test your academic and practical knowledge of wilderness medicine. Teams consist of any four people with an interest in wilderness medicine, often a combination of healthcare professionals, emergency personnel, students of all varieties, and outdoor enthusiasts.
The 12th Annual Southeast MedWAR Race was held Saturday, April 16 , 2016 at Fort Gordon, GA. Southeast MedWAR was the original MedWAR race. The race was a great success. Congratulations to MCG Emergency Medicine Department's team for coming in 1st place!
Annual Wilderness First Aid Course a Huge Success!
The Wilderness First Aid Course consists of 16 hours of basic assessment and first aid training in remote settings, blending didactics, hands-on skills, and wilderness scenarios. Enrollment is open to the general public. For more information about future courses, please contact Valerie Johnson at com@augusta.edu.
Center of Operational Medicine
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta University
706-721-3548 (T)
706-721-7718 (F)