Episode 4 - dr. peter hackett, high altitude medicine pioneer

THIS IS EPISODE 4 WITH DR. PETER HACKETT. IF YOU’VE EVER WONDERED HOW TO PLAN AND ACCLIMATIZE ON AN ADVENTURE AT ALTITUDE, YOU CAN THANK DR. HACKETT FOR STARTING THE CONVERSATION.

FOR THOSE DOCTORS AND EVEN SOME OF THE HIGH ALTITUDE GUIDES OUT THERE, DR. HACKETT’S NAME IS WELL RECOGNIZED AS THE EXPERT WHEN IT COMES TO HIGH ALTITUDE MEDICINE. AS A CLIMBER, EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN AND RESEARCHER HE HAS REFINED HIS EXPERTISE OVER THE DECADES.

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Media for Episode 3

Radio Communications from the Pheriche clinic roof

Dr. Peter Hackett in 1980, near the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic he helped to build in Pheriche village, Khumbu region, Nepal

A Sherpa first aid course in 1980. Pertemba Sherpa is the one in the foreground, (quite a famous dude…)

about the episode:

This is episode 4 with Dr. Peter Hackett. If you’ve ever wondered how to plan and acclimatize on an adventure at altitude, you can thank Dr. Hackett for starting the conversation.

For those doctors and even some of the high altitude guides out there, Dr. Hackett’s name is well recognized as THE expert when it comes to high altitude medicine. As a climber, emergency physician and researcher he has refined his expertise over the decades.

What is less well known is how a passion for adventure and a willingness to chase an opportunity on a shoestring budget led to over six formative years with the people and mountains of Nepal, which set the stage for the indelible mark he has left on mountain medicine today. Sure there will be some talk about medicine, but I encourage you all to have a listen to the end. This is a story about the courage to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way, and a testament to the positive impact that can come not only to you but to others by saying yes to adventure.

WHAT YOU WILL HEAR:

05:50 – We start with an entertaining story, early experiments paragliding on Denali

10:40 – Peter’s introduction to the mountain environment

12:20 – Coping with violence and trauma in the early years of medical training at San Francisco General Hospital

13:00 – Stepping away from the hospital and the early days on fire and rescue team in Yosemite

19:45 – First encounters with mountain sickness in Nepal

20:30 – Early involvement with Himalayan Rescue Association

22:30 – Monitoring Buddhist Monks’ health in northern India

24:20 – First trip to the Karakoram and K2

27:00 – Interesting patient cases from the early days at the HRA

28:35 – Some insights into cultural acceptance of death amongst the Sherpa

30:45 – Sick trekkers at altitude and the inspiration for acclimatization guidelines

36:40 – Confronting trekking agencies about altitude safety

40:55 – Early research on a shoestring budget

44:50 – His breakthrough paper on mountain illness published in 1976

55:50 – Some interesting life experiences that widened his perspective beyond medicine

59:20 – Comments about how we may be ‘overtrained’ relative to the healthcare needs of the Third World

61:40 – What gave Peter the courage to step out of a traditional career in medicine

68:40 – An early interest in psychiatry and a surprise connection to Nepal

74:15 – The importance of having the courage to take advantage of an opportunity

80:00 -The importance of adventure for personal health and health of the planet

81:50 – Some closing advice for the next generation.

December 2017