DiscoverWorld Extreme Medicine PodcastFrom the Battlefield to the Humanitarian Mission with Ryan Ahlgren
From the Battlefield to the Humanitarian Mission with Ryan Ahlgren

From the Battlefield to the Humanitarian Mission with Ryan Ahlgren

Update: 2025-05-06
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In this powerful episode, Eoin sits down with Ryan Ahlgren — a wilderness and humanitarian medicine practitioner whose career spans some of the most challenging environments on the planet.

From frontline trauma care during the ISIL occupation in Iraq, to medevac operations in Ukraine, to six-week stints deep in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, Ryan shares what it's really like to provide medical care in the face of heat, hardship, and uncertainty.

He also discusses his recent role in Antarctica and how diverse experiences have shaped his approach to both emergency and primary care.

This episode explores:

  • The realities of conflict and humanitarian medicine

  • Lessons in leadership, flexibility, and risk

  • The importance of ultrasound and sonography in remote settings

  • Aspirations for the future – including medicine in space

Whether you're a clinician, adventurer, or just fascinated by global health, this one’s for you.

You can connect with Ryan on LinkedIn here.

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From the Battlefield to the Humanitarian Mission with Ryan Ahlgren

From the Battlefield to the Humanitarian Mission with Ryan Ahlgren

World Extreme Medicine