Diploma in Mountain Medicine

The Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM) sets a global benchmark for advanced mountain medicine training, catering to physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs), nurses, and paramedics. Encompassing over 200 hours of didactic and hands-on instruction in mountain rescue, the course delves deep into wilderness pathologies and sharpens skills through simulated patient care scenarios in extreme terrains. Graduates emerge equipped to adapt medical practices to mountain settings and assume leadership roles within rescue teams worldwide.

Internationally recognized, the DiMM certification denotes rigorous training and testing, adhering to accreditation standards established by the medical commissions of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA), the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR), and the International Society for Mountain Medicine (ISMM) since 1997.

This ground-breaking program is the first of its kind in the eastern United States and is a collaboration bringing together instructors and resources from the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Wilderness and Austere Medicine Fellowship program in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and the Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School in Bar Harbor, Maine. The Northeast DiMM program includes the required foundational courses along with modules in Expedition / Wilderness and Rescue Specialties and Terrestrial Mountain Rescue. Our faculty includes physicians, nurses, paramedics, and professional climbers with years of experience in medicine and the mountains. The program consists of four sessions and can be completed over three years.

  • Summer Mountain Skills and Rescue: (7 days +/-) taught in beautiful Acadia National Park
  • Winter Mountain Skills and Rescue: (7 days +/-) instructed in the Presidential Range of New Hampshire
  • A Level 1 Avalanche course: (3 days)
  • A WMAI Wilderness Advanced Life Support course: (4 days) offered at least twice a year in Maine or New Hampshire, plus 36 hours of additional online wilderness medical education

Participants have three years to complete the full program to achieve their Diploma in Mountain Medicine.

How to apply

Each section below will be limited to 12 participants.

  • Wilderness Advance Life Support
  • Summer Mountaineering/Rescue
  • Winter Mountaineering/Rescue
  • AIARE 1
  • Online preparation

Application eligibility

Applicants to our program must be board-certified or board-eligible physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physician assistants, or licensed paramedics.

Application format

To apply, please email the following information to Emergency Medicine Program Specialist, Rachel E. Gordon at rachel.e.gordon@hitchcock.org:

  • CV
  • Personal statement: Describe why you are interested in the Dartmouth Hitchcock DiMM Program and how you will potentially use the knowledge and skills.
  • Share your experience in emergency, pre-hospital and/or wilderness medicine.
  • Describe your experience in rock or ice climbing, snow travel, rope systems, technical rescue, and avalanche.
  • Describe any additional pertinent backcountry travel and/or technical rescue experience.
  • List any physical or medical limitations you have that will prevent your full participation in this program.
  • Include 2 letters of recommendation.

Candidates will be contacted via email regarding interview decisions and next steps.

Meet our faculty

Course organizers

Course lecturers