20.6 Steth to Summit: Insights from Everest expeditions
Tracks
Botanical 2 room
| Saturday, October 25, 2025 |
| 11:40 AM - 12:10 PM |
| Botanical 1 room |
Details
Format: Non-academic verbal presentation (30-minute)
Speaker
Dr Abhyu Ghimire
Medical Officer
The Mountain Medical Institute
Steth to Summit: Insights from Everest expeditions
11:40 AM - 12:10 PMAbstract Overview
This presentation offers personal reflections and practical insights from working as both an expedition doctor and climbing sherpa on several Everest expeditions. Drawing from nearly a decade in high-altitude clinics and on the mountain, it explores what it feels like to work — and climb — in one of the world’s most extreme environments.
The talk will touch on common medical issues encountered during expeditions, from altitude illness and gastrointestinal problems to trauma and sleep disturbances. It also shares which medications have proven consistently useful on the mountain, and how treatment decisions are shaped by the realities of remote, resource-limited settings.
Beyond the clinical, the session reflects on the emotional landscape of expeditions: the weight of responsibility, the uncertainty of decision-making at altitude, and the quiet moments that shape both patients and practitioners. With a focus on adaptability, trust, and grounded decision-making, this session is intended for anyone curious about the intersection of rural medicine, mountaineering, and human endurance.
The talk will touch on common medical issues encountered during expeditions, from altitude illness and gastrointestinal problems to trauma and sleep disturbances. It also shares which medications have proven consistently useful on the mountain, and how treatment decisions are shaped by the realities of remote, resource-limited settings.
Beyond the clinical, the session reflects on the emotional landscape of expeditions: the weight of responsibility, the uncertainty of decision-making at altitude, and the quiet moments that shape both patients and practitioners. With a focus on adaptability, trust, and grounded decision-making, this session is intended for anyone curious about the intersection of rural medicine, mountaineering, and human endurance.
Biography
Dr Abhyu G is a medical doctor who has spent nearly a decade working in the Everest region, mainly at high-altitude clinics in Namche-3440m and Dingboche-4410m.
Practising in these remote, mountainous settings often requires adapting to limited resources and resorting to unorthodox measures at the lack of proper medical infrastructure.
Apart from his clinical work, he has joined several Everest expeditions as both an expedition doctor and climbing sherpa. This dual role offers a unique perspective on the intersection of rural medicine, mountaineering, and team dynamics.
