Wilderness Emergency Medical Services Institute (WEMSI) began in Pittsburgh, USA in the 1980s to provide training to improve long-term pre-hospital care in remote areas. In 1997 the US WEMSI medical director, Keith Conover was invited to speak in Ireland, by Joe O’Gorman. This led to Jel Coward setting up the first course in Wales in 1998. Since then, we’ve trained over 2,000 students and evolved into WEMSI-International running courses in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

In 2026 WEMSI-International became WEMSI-International (UK) and WEMSI-International (Ireland)

WEMSI-International (UK) runs courses in Scotland and Wales. We are a not-for-profit, volunteer-led organisation driven by a shared passion for education and the outdoors. Our faculty brings together a wide range of real-world expertise—doctors, paramedics, mountain guides, rescue specialists, expedition medics, military veterans and humanitarian aid workers. We are all dedicated to improving wilderness medicine.