Park City physician’s nonprofit to host holistic wilderness medicine course in Salt Lake City

Dr. Claudia Bouvier teaching a first-aid course in Peru. Photo: Dr. Claudia Bouvier

The two-day training, led by emergency medicine physicians and mental health professionals, prepares participants to handle backcountry emergencies — body and mind

PARK CITY, Utah — Mountains to Mountains, a nonprofit founded by Park City-based emergency medicine physician Dr. Claudia Bouvier, will host its first-ever Holistic Wilderness Medicine Course on May 16-17 at the Wave Products Facility in South Salt Lake.

The two-day, hands-on training is designed to equip participants with the skills to manage medical emergencies in remote settings where professional help may be hours away. What sets the course apart from a standard wilderness first aid class is its emphasis on holistic care — addressing not only physical trauma response but also mental health stabilization for both patients and caregivers.

“We hope to spark a conversation about what real wilderness preparedness looks like — not just managing injuries, but supporting the people living through them,” Bouvier said.

The course will be taught by a team of emergency medicine doctors, wilderness medicine experts and licensed mental health professionals.

Mountains to Mountains is a nonprofit that works to bridge mountain communities around the world by sharing medical resources and traditional knowledge. Bouvier, who completed a Global Health fellowship at the University of Utah where she currently serves on faculty, founded the organization to create lasting connections between mountain communities — from Utah to underserved regions abroad. The nonprofit has participated in projects in Kenya, Honduras, Ecuador, Peru and India.

“Our goal isn’t just to educate — it’s to build a community,” Bouvier said. “We bring together people bound by the mountains, united by shared experiences and enriched by different ones.”

Proceeds from the Salt Lake City course will fund the same training for under-resourced mountain communities around the world — meaning participants aren’t just learning lifesaving skills, they’re helping extend those skills to people who need them most.

The course is open to all experience levels and includes a detailed student handbook, course certification, beverages, snacks and giveaways. Spots are limited.

“The mountains don’t care how experienced you are,” Bouvier said. “We welcome everyone — because the best learning happens when experts and beginners are in the room together.”

Spots are limited. To register, visit the Mountains to Mountains events page or contact cbouvier@mountainstomountains.org for details.