Medicine at the Edge: What Extreme Wilderness Care Teaches Us About Burnout, Purpose, and Real Healing
Wed Feb 04 2026
In this powerful episode of Field Notes—hosted by Nurse Practitioner Heather Moon—we're joined by Mary Ellen Doty, NP, a pioneer in wilderness medicine and founder of Wilderness Medical Staffing.
Mary Ellen shares gripping stories from serving as the sole medical provider in some of the most remote and unforgiving environments on earth, including Bush Alaska, where medicine is practiced not by protocol alone—but with presence, creativity, and deep respect for the human story.
Learn more about Mary Ellen here: https://maryellendoty.com/ Her journey reveals a stark contrast between relationship-centered care in extreme settings and the burnout-driven pace of modern corporate medicine, offering timely lessons on resilience, meaning, and what it truly takes to heal both patients and practitioners.
Drawing from decades of experience and her upcoming book Medicine at 50 Below, this conversation is a moving reminder that when medicine slows down, humanity shows up—and everyone benefits.
Key Takeaways:
True healing requires presence and time, not rushed, transactional care
Burnout in healthcare is driven more by loss of meaning than lack of money
Rotational and boundary-based work models can restore balance for clinicians
Harsh environments reveal the importance of community, adaptability, and systems thinking
Practicing medicine with purpose benefits patients, providers, and entire communities
This episode is a powerful reminder that the future of medicine isn't about doing more—it's about caring deeper.
If you've ever felt burned out, disillusioned, or called to a more human way of healing, this conversation will stay with you.
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In this powerful episode of Field Notes—hosted by Nurse Practitioner Heather Moon—we're joined by Mary Ellen Doty, NP, a pioneer in wilderness medicine and founder of Wilderness Medical Staffing. Mary Ellen shares gripping stories from serving as the sole medical provider in some of the most remote and unforgiving environments on earth, including Bush Alaska, where medicine is practiced not by protocol alone—but with presence, creativity, and deep respect for the human story. Learn more about Mary Ellen here: https://maryellendoty.com/ Her journey reveals a stark contrast between relationship-centered care in extreme settings and the burnout-driven pace of modern corporate medicine, offering timely lessons on resilience, meaning, and what it truly takes to heal both patients and practitioners. Drawing from decades of experience and her upcoming book Medicine at 50 Below, this conversation is a moving reminder that when medicine slows down, humanity shows up—and everyone benefits. Key Takeaways: True healing requires presence and time, not rushed, transactional care Burnout in healthcare is driven more by loss of meaning than lack of money Rotational and boundary-based work models can restore balance for clinicians Harsh environments reveal the importance of community, adaptability, and systems thinking Practicing medicine with purpose benefits patients, providers, and entire communities This episode is a powerful reminder that the future of medicine isn't about doing more—it's about caring deeper. If you've ever felt burned out, disillusioned, or called to a more human way of healing, this conversation will stay with you.