Doctor, Explorer, Pilot… NASA Consultant?! (Ft. Dr. Howard Donner)
Finding Adventure and Balance: Lessons in Wilderness Medicine, Flying, and Reinventing Yourself – My Conversation with Dr. Howard Donner
Welcome back to The Interesting MD! If you’re new here, I’m Dr. Rob Beck, internal medicine physician and passionate hobbyist, on a mission to explore what doctors do outside the clinic, and how these passions can help us find balance and beat burnout.
On Wilderness Medicine: What It Is—and What It Isn’t
Recently, I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Howard Donner, a physician whose name carries serious weight in the world of wilderness medicine. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly “wilderness medicine” is, you’re in good company—because even the experts agree it’s hard to pin down. As Dr. Donner put it, wilderness medicine isn’t a single job description or specialty. It's a vast, evolving field covering everything from high-altitude research and snakebite toxicology, to expedition medicine, search and rescue, and disaster response. Interested in treating hypothermia? That’s wilderness medicine. Want to work for Médecins Sans Frontières? Also wilderness medicine. Love the idea of studying antivenom? You guessed it.
The real secret, according to Dr. Donner, is to be specific. Imagine exactly what you want to do—whether that’s mountain rescue, expedition doctoring, or even working with NASA (yes, that’s on his resume, too)—then find someone doing it and get involved. That’s how you carve your own path and become an expert in your chosen niche.
My Own Journey Into Wilderness Medicine
I first met Dr. Donner last year at a wilderness medicine conference where he was teaching the Advanced Wilderness Expedition Provider course. For me, as an internist whose exposure to trauma mostly comes from textbooks, the outdoors felt intimidating. Honestly, my head rarely rises more than six feet above sea level! What prompted me to take the leap was a roadside emergency—where I realized my training hadn’t prepared me to handle multi-trauma in austere environments. I wanted to learn, not with the goal of becoming an Everest researcher, but simply to be more useful in an emergency outside the hospital.
The course gave me practical, hands-on tools (like how to reduce shoulder dislocations… even if I wimped out on the rugby pitch a few blocks from the hospital!). More importantly, it made me realize medicine isn’t just about the technical skills; it’s about thinking on your feet, adapting, and finding satisfaction outside traditional practice.
Getting Started: Advice for Medical Professionals
So, how do you get started in wilderness medicine if you’re a doctor, nurse, PA, or student who’s feeling stuck within the four walls of the hospital? Dr. Donner recommends joining your local search and rescue organization, where you can volunteer, get your hands dirty, and build real experience. For those ready to dive deeper, check out national conferences—search for “wilderness medicine” plus your desired location (Big Sky, Santa Fe, Truckee—you’ll find dozens of courses). And yes, Dr. Donner says the best place to reach him is by phone, not email!
The Value of Reinvention and Embracing Failure
One of the best lessons from my chat with Dr. Donner wasn’t just about adventure—it was about attitude. He’s someone who’s never been afraid to put himself out there, ask for opportunities (including his cold-call to NASA!), and pivot into new careers. He views life as a series of chapters, with permission to end one and start another.
For those of us who are used to being perfect (hello, fellow doctors!), the idea of failure is tough. The truth is, Dr. Donner has failed countless times—and reinvented himself just as often. If a project doesn’t succeed? No big deal. As physicians, our fallback plan is always having our medical degree; we don’t lose our identity just because we didn’t summit Everest or make a blockbuster film.
Doctor, Pilot, Filmmaker—Living Life Outside the Clinic
Dr. Donner's resume is a case study in curiosity. He’s been a river guide, a ski instructor, a mountain rescuer, a NASA consultant, and a pilot—sometimes flying patients, sometimes charter flights, sometimes teaching in mountain airports. He even dusted off his film degree from college and collaborated on PBS NOVA documentaries about Everest. His story is evidence that you don’t need to fit a mold. You don’t have to drive fancy cars or own two houses to chase adventure; sometimes you drive an old Suzuki and rent, because what matters is the experience.
Final Thoughts: Finding Balance and Preventing Burnout
Burnout is real. But if medicine is getting you down, don’t be afraid to try something entirely new. Whether it’s wilderness medicine, flying, filmmaking, gardening, or marathon running—start small. Volunteer, take a course, join a local club. If you fail, you’re still a doctor. And if you succeed, you just might find a new mountain to climb.
If you’re reading this and wondering “what’s next?”—send me a message, join us for a wilderness medicine conference, or just start picturing your next adventure.
Stay interesting,
Dr. Rob Beck
Host, The Interesting MD
Want to learn more?
Check out wilderness-medicine.com, your local Search and Rescue group, or search for wilderness medicine conferences nationwide. And remember—whether it’s podcasting, mountain rescue, or flying taildraggers in Truckee, there’s always something new to discover.