Search

Samanta Chu

Originally form Brazil, Sam is an outdoor guide and technical director of the São Paulo State Mountaineering Federation, through which she teaches rock climbing/mountaineering courses and climbing technique workshops in order to promote safe climbing and mountaineering. Sam has lived in Canada for 4 years where she took a guide training program, worked as a sea kayak guide on the Pacific Northwest, and also engaged in winter sports and activities. Having returned home she is now working on the development of WMA and the delivery of more WMA courses in Brazil. She shares her time between guiding school groups in the outdoors, promoting WMA courses in Brazil, and pursuing her passion for the outdoors whenever possible. 

---

Samson Cho

Dr. Samson, is the Chief Surgeon and Chief of Department of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine & Arthroscopic Surgery at Shanghai St. Michael Hospital.  He involves in writing about professional medicine for medical textbooks and scientific journals, and also actively organizes different international medical training workshops and conferences keeping up with up-to-date technologies.  Dr. Samson is a medical consultant at various sports teams, outdoor clubs and cycling teams. He is now the Medical Consultant for “Shanghai Cycling Sports Association”, Chief Medical Officer for “Shanghai Cycling Race” and “Shanghai Triathlon Race”. He provided medical service in Olympic Game, Formula 1 Grand Prix, FINA World Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship, ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, IAAF Golden athletics League and circus “Saltimbanco”. Dr. Samson is very passionate in sports, the sports he had been well trained included rock climbing, mountaineering, scuba diving, cycling, orienteering, canyoning, volleyball, soccer, athletic, cross-country. He represented Hong Kong and got Silver and Bronze medal at 1996 Asian & Pacific Orienteering Championships. He is a qualified rock climbing instructor, advanced personal fitness trainer and rescue diver.  

---

Shilpa Reddy

Once upon a time, a young girl growing up in North Carolina started climbing trees and dreaming of working in medicine when she grew up. Thirty years later, that girl has traded trees for rocks and has traveled the globe rock climbing, in addition to spending twelve years working for Outward Bound and NOLS. As those years drew to a close, she pursued a nursing degree and is excited to combine her experiences as an outdoor educator with her medical training to teach for WMA. Shilpa currently lives in Vancouver, BC where she works as a RN. When she isn't working at the hospital, she is most likely rock climbing in Squamish or dreaming of rock climbing somewhere sunny and wild.

---

Stefanie Falz

Stefanie is an emergency physician at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook. After medical school in Edmonton, she completed her residency training in the Pacific Northwest, where she skied and climbed the volcanoes of Washington and Oregon. Since moving back to Canada, she has worked in rural and remote communities in BC and Nunavut. When not working, she can be found backcountry skiing, climbing, and mountain biking. Her passion for mountain environments has taken her from Baffin Island to Patagonia and she has served as team doctor on a Mount Logan expedition.

---

Jill Coleby

Dr. Coleby is a Family Medicine resident training at the General Hospital in Ottawa. Prior to medical school she served with the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve as a Medic. Jill has a  passion for remote and backcountry medicine. When not at work, Jill can be found canoeing, camping in Ontario’s beautiful backcountry, or enjoying downtime in her gardens. 

---

Tobias Shepherd

Toby loves being outside and in the woods, pure and simple. A lifetime of paddling led Toby to become active in Outdoor Education and wilderness instruction in 2006. He began leading wilderness canoe and backpacking expeditions for Outward Bound in 2007 as a Lead Instructor and Course Coordinator year round. Toby has also worked with Outward Bound as a dog sledding guide, getting to be on trail with dogs for the past four winters has only increased his connection to the wilderness. Extended periods of time on trail heightened Toby's interest in wilderness medicine and he started instructing for WMA in 2008 following the completion of his WEMT training with WMA. Toby is continually inspired through interactions and learning with students. These days, when he’s not in the back-country or teaching a WMA course, you will likely find Toby paddling studying sustainability, an important topic that could use more of everyone's attention.

---

Tyler Lawrence

Tyler grew up in rural Ontario where the rule was "if the sun is out, then you're out(side)" While going through the Air Cadet program he received his Survival Instructor Qualification at age 15 which further solidified his connection to the outdoors. He became a Medic with the Canadian Forces, providing medical support that ranged from mini-expeditions to a Disaster Assistance Relief Team deployment for earthquake relief in Nepal. He completed his Aeromedical Evacuation course and worked as a Flight Medic with the RCAF, training and completing missions all over North America and Europe. He currently is employed with the RCAF as a Firefighter and continues to teach bushcraft and survival on his parent's 100-acre farm. In his off time he can be found doing one of four things; on his next adventure with his wife, working out, hunting or fly fishing.

---

Zach Vanderwall

Zach’s first Wilderness Medical Associates course was in Red Lodge, MT for a WEMT Upgrade in 2004. Those five days of training quickly put his previous three years of volunteer EMT work in perspective and prompted his decision to become a WMA instructor. He called Seattle home for 19 years, and the geography of the Pacific Northwest allowed him to hone his outdoor skills in the surrounding mountains, rock, and rivers. Zach’s pursuit of adventure has led him to various hot spots beyond the Northwest; including Cascade volcanoes, Bugaboo rock, and Mountains in Peru. He spent 10 years working at a camp and hosting college programs, which exposed him to guiding and instructing in an Experiential Education format. For 11 years, Zach has been an EMT utilizing his skills in rural settings, SWAT situations, movie sets, and even occasionally, as a father of thee boys! He enjoys living in western Montana with his wife and kids, where he divides his time between building houses and traveling to different venues as an instructor.

---

Zhao Wei

Zhao Wei was graduated from Department of Clinical Medicine of WUHAN Technology University, who is on-job postgraduate of Guangzhou Zhongshan Medical University. He is the director of training department in Shenzhen Emergency Center, Emergency Medicine director, International directive instructor of AHA, ITLS instructor and WMAI Assistant Instructor.

---

John Jacobs

John Jacobs is a Senior Faculty Instructor with WMA, with over 1,000 instructional days and 250+ courses under his belt. John has an equally extensive history in the outdoor education industry, with 20+ years working as an Instructor and Program Director for Outward Bound, and currently operating Adventure Risk Management, which concentrates in outdoor risk management consultation and specialized training; and Wilderness Outings, providing outdoor skills courses throughout Southern California. John's outdoor experience ranges from long distance hiking of the Pacific Crest Trail to many disciplines of climbing, from big mountains in Alaska, to big walls in Yosemite.

---