Base Medical Certified Instructors
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Lauren has been a professional guide since 2013, leading groups of diverse backgrounds to destinations such as Yosemite, Mount Rainier National Park, New England, the North Cascades, and Mount Kilimanjaro. An extremely capable leader, Lauren has worked several years at the director level in the travel industry, training and managing guide teams and overseeing brand growth from a local to national level. She is currently the Director of Strategic Planning and a senior guide with Good Trip Adventures. Outside of work, Lauren sits on the board as secretary of the United States Australian Football League, volunteers as an EMT with Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, and is a mom.
Portland, OR - Good Trip Adventures
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I am a 24 year Military and 7 year National Park Ranger veteran, Alpine Climbing, Whitewater, Fly Fishing and Mountain Biking Guide and Instructor. I have serve with Tacoma Mountain Rescue and National Park Search and Rescue. I live to be outside. I don't want a lifetime experience of one peak, I want a lifetime of climbing experience.
Tacoma, WA- The Mountaineers
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Creative Director by day, mountaineer, rock climber, skier, backpacker, and Wilderness First Aid Instructor by night (my nights are quite full).
Portland, OR - The Mazamas
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Patrick is a Paramedic and wildland firefighter based out of southern Colorado. His prior experience includes being a Wildland Firefighter/EMT, a Search and Rescue Volunteer, rope rescue technician, as well as an experienced in urban EMS and the emergency room. Patrick is also highly experienced in backpacking, and land navigation having completed the AT and the Colorado trail and numerous multi night trips in Cayonlands, Arizona, Colorado, and California.
Colorado Springs, CO
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I am have been teaching wilderness medicine for over 25 years - the last eight years with Base Medical. I am a WEMT trained instructor and am a registered dietitian. My passion for teaching is driven by the joy of engaging with students and co-instructors, as well as getting creative with moulage techniques and teaching in remote environments.
When I’m not teaching, I work as a evidence-based medical research analyst and volunteer as a dietitian, helping individuals optimize their nutrition for health and outdoor activities. I am an avid enthusiast of human-powered, outdoor pursuits, particularly anything on two wheels - with bike touring as my favorie activity. I love to travel and play in the backcountry.
Newberg, OR
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Katy’s vision for health education and community wellness solidified while working in an urban nurse-run community health center. She learned that there is an art to translating medical knowledge to a plan that connects with the resources and lived experiences of community members. While working on her master’s in intercultural studies, she focused on tools and methodologies to share knowledge across cultures and disciplines. She brings decades of experience in direct patient care (from primary care to emergency medicine), community health programming and education.
With Base Medical, Katy’s goal is to offer trainings for organizations training people in outdoor recreation. Wilderness medicine supports outdoor recreation in prevention and skills to respond when people experience illness or injury. Her goal with each course is to create space for shared learning, where students’ prior knowledge and experience is connected to course content. Using collaborative strategies, the students will practice clinical decision making for the Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder certifications.
Vancouver, WA
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A New Jersey native, Will spent his summers backpacking at camp in Colorado and fishing at his grandparent's in Western North Carolina. His time spent in the outdoors instilled a growing passion for environmental conservation. After playing lacrosse and earning a BA in Political Science at Kean University, he followed his love for the outdoors into teaching outdoor education. He has led outdoor education trips for Sanborn Camps in CO, Wilderness Adventures in HI, WY, MT, Naturalist at Large in CA, and the Outdoor Academy in NC. After graduating from a fly fishing guide school at Cutthroat Angler in Silverthorne, CO, he went to work for Crested Butte Angler. While exploring the small mountain streams and lakes during his time off, he decided to turn his passion for the outdoors into a career. He returned to school at NYU for his graduate degree in Environmental Conservation Education. During his time at NYU he worked at the Orvis 5th Avenue store in the fishing department, where he taught fly fishing 101 and fly tying 101. He also volunteered for Trout Unlimited, teaching and developing lesson plans for their youth education program, "Trout in the Classroom." His passion for fly fishing, conservation, and teaching inspired him to create Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions as his Master's thesis. His goal is to encourage appreciation for nature through participation in backpacking and fly fishing while inspiring future generations of sporting conservationists. When he's not working, he enjoys adventures with his wife Kim and three kids, River, Bailey, and Blake. He is a Wilderness First Responder, Registered Maine Guide, Montana Outfitter, and Colorado Outfitter.
Egremont, MA - Lillard Fly Fishing
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I am an emergency room nurse and wilderness first responder living in Acton, ME. I became a WFR two summers ago out in Fort Collins Colorado. I have been passionate being outdoors my whole life but got into recreating in the outdoors in college and have been recreating as much as possible since. I enjoy hiking, backpacking, and camping in all seasons, as well as rock climbing, canoeing, fishing, and so much more.
I am very passionate mental health and how nature and the natural world can support it. I am currently preparing to take my Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Boards, and hope to integrate nature into my future practice as an PMHNP as much as possible. In addition to my day job I love teaching wilderness medicine courses and creating connections around and teaching about emergency medical care in remote settings.
Acton, ME
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I am a life-long learner. Taught Organizational Behavior and Management at Linfield University. Worked in environmental compliance and semiconductor operations/construction for big companies. Spent time in the Navy specializing in engineering, navigation and teaching. A native South Carolinian, lived in Maryland, Virginia and Rhode Island before moving out to Oregon.
Currently hold a Wilderness First Responder certification (Nov 2025) and Mazamas First Aid committee coordinator. My passion is ensuring that the PNW outdoor community has access to quality, timely, accessible and affordable First Aid training. Personal philosophy: Trust yourself. Trust your gear. Trust your team. Courage>Community>Responsibility. If a member of your rope team is struggling, own the problem and help solve the problem.
Other interests include family, snowshoeing, kayaking, cycling, singing, circuit training and trekking around Europe. Skills that I enjoy honing and may be useful on our climb together: weather prediction/ observation, navigation.
Hillsboro, Oregon
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A Seattle native, Ian grew up skiing at Snoqualmie and Crystal. Family members volunteered on ski patrol, which sparked his passion for wilderness first aid. Ian is an active member of the Mountaineers and serves on the Seattle branch navigation committee. He has also been known to climb and spend some time on glaciers (or basically enjoy all that the mountains of the PNW have to offer). He has been a Wilderness First Responder since 2018 and enjoys helping with First Aid Scenarios. He is also certified as a Basic Life Support Instructor with the American Red Cross. Professionally, Ian works as a Chief Financial Officer of a small corporation and does consulting work on the side. When you won’t find Ian busy with work, you’ll likely find him running everywhere and anywhere, with over 170 combined full/half/ultra marathons to his name.
Seattle, WA
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I'm a dad of twin girls who love being outside. We rip on Mt Bikes, hike and spend a lot of time with a fishing rod over the side of our canoes when we're camping. We've been known to tackle some medium sport or trad routes and I like whisky and IPA....Especially when I get to meet the brewer. I pay my mortgage by working at the fire department and I'm a retired Air Force guy with 4 combat deployments under my belt.
Portland, OR - The Mazamas
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Kenneth Cheng is an experienced climber, backcountry skier and diver of over 25 years. As a Nurse and wilderness EMT, Ken has combined his passions for the outdoors and medical experience into teaching at Base Medical. He is a member of the Wilderness Medical Society and candidate Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine.
Ken is a licensed Registered Nurse board certified by the Baromedical Nurses Association and the National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Society as a hyperbaric technologist. In addition, Ken has worked as a Wilderness EMT with ski patrol, BLS ambulance and volunteer firefighter in Washington State. Prior to the medical field Ken also served in the U.S. Navy as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal mobile unit clearance diver and as a U.S. Marine Corps ANGLICO naval gunfire liaison officer.
Tacoma, WA
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R.J. is an instructor for Base Medical and has taught EMTs, WFR, CPR, and Stop the Bleed for over a decade. Having over two decades is healthcare R.J. has worked in EMS, Mental Health, Wilderness Therapy, and Outdoor education. R.J. holds a Bachelors degree in Recreation from Pacific Lutheran University and is a US Coast Guard 100 Ton Master of Inland Vessels (Captain.)
R.J.currently works in emergency services in the Skagit Valley.
Orcas Island, WA
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Dr. Durkin is a board-certified emergency and sports medicine physician and is Base Medical’s Chief Medical Officer. He has over three decades of response, patient care, and teaching experience that drive his passion for excellence in Base Medical’s curriculum.
His experienced prior to medical school include work as a camp staffer, SAR responder, paramedic, BLS/ACLS/first aid instructor, and working on a program management team for DARPA. He completed a residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center, the busiest trauma center in Philadelphia, and a sports medicine fellowship at the University of Florida (Go Gators!). Since residency, he has practiced emergency medicine at both large and small hospitals in the southwest and has been extensively involved with EMS, SAR, and sports medicine coverage, including medical direction for SAR teams in NM and CO, as well as the USFS. His current medical practice focuses on sports medicine in the four corners region. He currently serves SAR program coordinator for Colorado Highland Helicopters. He is also the author of The Pocket Guide to Event, Outdoor, and Sports Medicine. When not working, he is often found skiing around southwest Colorado.
Durango, CO
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I was introduced to the world of climbing and mountaineering in 2016 by the Mazamas in Portland, OR. Since then, I have climbed many of the peaks of the Pacific Northwest, become a Wilderness First Responder (WFR), and taught wilderness first aid and climbing skills to new mountaineers. Professionally, I am an engineer and teacher and I am passionate about sharing the skills for safe and ethical wilderness recreation with other.
Portland, OR - The Mazamas
And many more!
We have 60 instructors located throughout the country. Our instructors work independently from Base Medical to deliver accessible, affordable, high-quality wilderness medicine training to the outdoor community. Join our mission!