From the end of January through the end of February of this year, Cheryl Lowry, MD, MPH, an ABPM Director certified in Aerospace Medicine and Occupational and Environmental Medicine, traveled to Antarctica to provide medical care to scientists and other personnel. Read more for a glimpse into her trip to Antarctica (with pictures!) and her take on practicing Preventive Medicine in harsh climates and remote areas.

What was the purpose of your trip to Antarctica?

I deployed to provide medical care to the McMurdo Station scientists and support staff.  We also provide support for the military (aircrew and support staff) who transport personnel and cargo between New Zealand and Antarctica, and to other stations on the continent.  I worked at the McMurdo “General Hospital”, which is actually a small clinic that houses our medical staff year-round.

How long did it take to get there? With whom did you travel? 

It took several days…traveling to Antarctica is a process.  I was able to travel on commercial air from Houston to Auckland, [New Zealand], then on to Christchurch, which takes about 18 hours.  The next day you go to the Clothing Distribution Center, where they issue you Extreme Cold Weather (ECW) clothing.  You try it on and inspect it for function; wearing the ECW clothing is mandatory, since proper gear is such an important part of surviving on the continent.  We also conducted screening for COVID-19 symptoms prior to departure, one of the many actions taken to prevent the virus from spreading to Antarctica.  With close-quarters living, working and dining conditions and limited medical care available on the continent, prevention is key.

Normally, the shuttle picks you up from your hotel the next day and takes you to the Antarctic Passenger Terminal (APT).  My group was delayed 3-4 days in Christchurch due to harsh weather at McMurdo.  At the APT they weigh you, your ECW and your baggage. There they also have mandatory briefings about protecting yourself, protecting the environment, and having a successful deployment.  When the aircraft – typically an LC-130 or C-17 – is ready, you take a bus out to the plane.   The LC-130 takes about 8-9 hours to make the trip from Christchurch to McMurdo Station.  (I took the LC-130; the C-17 makes the trip in about 5 hours)

I traveled by myself to Christchurch.  At ECW issue I met the rest of the group that would be traveling with me including the winter medical crew, Colin McCready and Melanie Troftgruben.

What was your favorite part of the trip?

I’ve been three times and I think each time the best part has always been meeting the people and hearing their stories.  I enjoy asking people why they chose to come to Antarctica.  Everyone has a story, something that motivated them to deploy.  The station population tries to create “normal” life by exercising, playing in bands, doing crafts, volunteering, celebrating life events and holidays, dancing, going to the library, eating meals together, and communicating with friends and family back home.

What was your least favorite part of the trip?

The long flight from the US to [New Zealand].

What was most surprising about the trip and/or Antarctica itself?

This season I saw the ocean at McMurdo for the first time.  Every other year I’ve been there earlier in the deployment/summer season, before the near-shore ice melts.

Are there any specific exciting/funny/interesting stories to share?

Because it was late in the season, I saw the US Coast Guard ice breaker Polar Star and some cargo ships docked at McMurdo.  I’ve never seen the ships being unloaded/reloaded.  From a logistics perspective it was interesting to see.  It was also risky from an occupational health perspective; dock operations involve a lot of people, lots of equipment, like anywhere else.  They are especially careful with the environment, protecting the water and ground from pollutants.  The climate is a constant challenge: ice, wind and cold weather/cold water add to workers’ risk.  It was interesting to observe the safeguards they had in place to protect everyone involved.

If you had the opportunity, would you go again?

Yes, definitely.  I like the harshness of the continent, the spirit of the people who voluntarily go there, and the challenge of providing good medical care with limited resources.

Anything else you’d like to share with the ABPM community – about your trip, or anything else?

I would just encourage people to take the time to pursue professional and personal activities that provide meaning.  Physician burnout – and now healthcare worker burnout in general – has become a problem for many of us.  Even when we love what we do, it’s rejuvenating for us to occasionally step outside our daily routines and experience something different.  Take a class, volunteer, pursue a hobby, deploy…don’t lose sight of finding a sense of purpose in the work that you love.

One more thing I would add is that this deployment was a great practice integration of our Preventive Medicine specialties – a chance to practice [Public Health and General Preventive Medicine], Aerospace Med and [Occupational and Environmental Medicine].