Dr. Wohns has served as doctor for mountaineering expeditions to Mt. Kilimanjaro, K2, and Mt. Everest. He was also medical director on the 1984 Ultima Thule Everest Expedition which performed high altitude brain research.
Dr. Wohns performed an appendectomy on a Balti porter who perforated his appendix while on the K2 expedition. He was also group physician for several Himalayan treks. Dr. Wohns has published papers and given presentations on high altitude medicine.
CARE, Tanzania, Africa
Physician for Mt. Kilimanjaro climb, 1998
Responsible for medical care of climbers on fund-raising successful ascent of the Western Breach route of Mt. Kilimanjaro
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF MOUNTAIN MEDICINE, Geneva, Switzerland
Vice President, 1988-1991
ISMM’s goals are to bring together physicians, scientists and allied professionals interested in mountain medicine, to encourage research on all aspects of mountains, mountain peoples and mountaineers and to spread scientific and practical information about mountain medicine around the world
ULTIMA THULE EVEREST EXPEDITION, Tibet, China
Medical Director and Climber, 1984
Medical research expedition with approach through Tibet and ascent of Northwest Buttress of Mt. Everest. Helped fund expedition with grants from U.S. Army and Dreyfus Foundation. Research included a double-blind controlled randomized study of Dilantin prophylaxis of acute mountain sickness, the first evaluation of visual evoked potentials at high altitude, study of high altitude retinal hemorrhages, and measurements of pulmonary plethysmography. We successfully climbed 800 feet from the summit on the classic Mallory-Irvine route.