DEREK LISTON, CHIEF MEDIC

BIOGRAPHY

Derek likes nothing better than doing something adventurous in remote parts of the world. He is an American trained Emergency Physician and a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Over the past 15 years, he has provided field medical support to numerous organizations including the U.S. Army, Subaru Primal Quest, and British Exploring Society.

We always bring a doctor on all our events – when you’re in the wilderness it’s better to be prepared! Derek is there to keep everyone safe from a medical perspective; he’s got a full kit and able to help with any problems. He’s also a dab hand with a camera.

ADVICE FOR THOSE CONSIDERING AN IGO:

Go for it! See where it takes you – literally and metaphorically. You don’t have to be a super athlete. Our participants are regular people who want to see what they can do. We’ll get you through the challenge and I guarantee you’ll be looking for the next one!

BEST EXPEDITION MOMENT:

My favorite expedition moments are when I see participants cross that line from hesitant and reserved to dropping their guard and being part of the team. Some participants arrive with the experience and confidence to knock out the challenge from day 1. But my favorite participants are those that are nervous about the challenge and nervous about how they will look to their fellow participants. At some point, their fears fade away, they embrace the support of the entire team, and their euphoria at the finish is palpable and epic.

WHERE WOULD YOUR DREAM IGO BE:

Probably from Samarkand (in Uzbekistan) to Dushanbe (in Tajikistan) in Central Asia. They are both ancient cities on the Silk Road trading route from China to the Mediterranean. They are both melting pots of culture, and I have never been to that part of the world. A close second would be to design a challenge in the high Mongolian-Manchurian steppe.