About

Hi, I’m Daniel — a South Wales-based GP with a passion for adventure, medicine, and helping people thrive in the great outdoors.
My background blends expedition and wilderness medicine, travel health, medical education, and pre-hospital emergency care. I’ve picked up a few diplomas along the way, including the International Diploma in Expedition and Wilderness Medicine and the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. I’m also proud to be a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Member of the Faculty of Travel Medicine.
In 2024, I was honoured to be named the O’Hea Explorer of the Year by the Scientific Exploration Society for leading the Livingstone Revisited 2024 Expedition — a project close to my heart that combined history, adventure, and healthcare in remote parts of Zambia.
Over the years, I’ve provided medical support for all kinds of events and expeditions — from Kenya’s tea plantations and China’s Great Wall to the deserts of Jordan and the icy extremes of the Canadian Arctic. I’ve worked behind the scenes on TV shows filmed in remote Pacific islands, and I’ve helped young explorers push their limits in the Scottish Highlands and the Canadian Yukon.
I also love teaching and regularly teach on and lead wilderness medicine courses around the world, covering everything from risk assessments and human factors to planning safe, successful adventures. I am also an Advanced Life Support instructor and I volunteer as an enhanced care BASICS doctor with Medserve Wales. I’m also a proud probationary member of Brecon Mountain Rescue Team.
Alongside these roles, I am the volunteer Medical Director for the Virtual Doctors – a UK charity using telemedicine to support rural clinicians in Zambia and Malawi. It’s incredibly rewarding work that makes a real difference to communities through empowering rural healthcare.
At the heart of everything I do is a belief that adventure changes lives — it teaches resilience, builds confidence, and connects us with purpose. Whether you're planning an expedition, running a challenging event, looking for expert travel advice, or just need reliable top cover, I’d love to help.
Let’s work together to make your next project safe, inspiring, and unforgettable
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Get in touch: dan@thewildernessmedic.com
Testimonials
Dan is a highly skilled doctor in many areas from general practice to remote and expedition medicine. I have worked with Dan several times over the years on different expeditions and large events, where his knowledge of any incidents at hand is immense.
He is approachable and hilarious. Excellent cement block for any team. I look forward to working with him again in the future!
Tony Cavanagh, Paramedic
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Dan is committed and experienced within the field of wilderness medicine, and has excellent management and leadership skills. After years working together and teaching in remote locations side by side I’ve witnessed his ability, aptitude and “can do” and attitude.
I’d highly recommend Dan as a team member for any future projects.
Dr Josh Alison, Medical Director Unique Expeditions
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Dr Dan was friendly and chilled and I felt confident in his experience and decision making. Very professional.
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Mel, Dream Challenges Expedition Leader
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I've known Dan for several years and have worked alongside him on numerous occasions. He is an incredibly knowledgeable wilderness medic, motivated, friendly and extremely good at what he does.
I'd happily take Dan anywhere on an expedition knowing not only myself, but clients and production crew would be very well looked after
Andy Dorsett, Freelance Survival Consultant
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​Daniel appeared knowledgeable, supportive, reactive to situations and friendly. He made me feel encouraged and supported.
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Extremely professional with the right amount of humour and social skills to support the team. You showed extreme amounts of patience with those who were under prepared for the challenge. A great addition to the team in both a medical and social capacity. Thanks for your support
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I would be very happy if you were supporting any future trips that I will undertake
Dream Challenges China Trek Participants
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‘I had a really good time despite the heat and storm - which was well beyond anyone's control. It was tough but a great crowd of trekkers with good supportive doctors that were calm and patient.’
Dream Challenges Jordan Trek Participant
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"Thank you- it has been an absolute pleasure working with you as part of the Medical Team. I trust your clinical judgement and you displayed excellent clinical leadership and decision making."
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Clare Fitchett
Critical Care Paramedic and Deputy Chief Leader
British Exploring Landmark Expedition Scotland
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"I have had the immense pleasure of working with Daniel on number of Challenge events. Daniel has been employed as the Doctor and his role covered not only the medical side of looking after the participant’s but also managing and coordinating the medical team on the event.
He is a dedicated professional and is also a great team player. I would recommend Daniel to any one who needs excellent medical cover and superb organisational skills."
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Steve Scullion
Across the Divide
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I worked with Dan in the Yukon. During our trip wildfires were a significant risk. Dan's role in the management of these risks was crucial to the success of the expedition. Throughout the trip I worked with Dan in many different setting, and always found him an excellent teammate, medic and a genuinely great person to work with. I hope to work with Dan again on a future expedition.
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Matt Burke
Science Leader
British Exploring Canadian Yukon Expedition
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"With TrailMed, I have now worked with Daniel on several large events in the last couple of years, including the gruelling 9 day "Ride Across Britain" from Land's End to John O'Groats. We have worked together in many diverse and often remote environments and treated a large range of pre-hospital presentations. Daniel has proved himself to be a thoroughly competent and knowledgeable pre-hospital colleague, always keen to get stuck in and help, and one of our "go to" clinicians when the going gets tough.
If you need a doctor with a love of the great outdoors and a comprehensive clinical skillset, then Daniel is definitely that person. I look forward to working together on the next big adventure and hope that it is soon!"
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Patrick Musto
Medical Director
Trailmed
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"I have known Dr Grace since our first expedition together in 2019. We were working with the British Exploring Society in complementary roles; he as Chief Medic, and I as Chief Scientist. The conditions were basic, but that didn’t deter Dan from deploying sharp wit, a likeable personality and exceptional professionalism. Dan made a number of medical calls throughout the expedition, each with sound judgement under difficult circumstances."
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Dr Leigh Bowman
Consultant Epidemiologist
AMI Expeditionary Healthcare
Teaching Feedback
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I just wanted to thank you again for your wonderful talk with GOWME! It was truly captivating and it’s been a pleasure working with you to schedule this. I think I speak for the entire GOWME community when I say thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences.
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Global Organization for Wilderness Medical Education
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I just wanted to say thank you so much again for leading such a fantastic case discussions session with us on Monday. A number of participants have said how much they enjoyed it - particularly how realistic the scenarios were, and how relaxed and well led the session was.
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University of Cambridge Wilderness Medicine Society
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I hope you are having a great day. We just wanted to thank you so much for giving a great talk about mental health during wilderness expeditions. I know that we all gained great knowledge about how to take care of ourselves and others.
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University of Florida Wilderness Medicine Society
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Dr Grace gave a fantastic talk to the Cardiff WEMS society in September 2020 with interactive wilderness medicine case studies. The students found it very thorough and informative and learnt a lot about treating patients in austere environments. Thank you so much Daniel, your enthusiasm and knowledge was very evident!
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Cardiff Medical School Wilderness Medicine Society
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Excellent slides, relaxed presentation style, really good mix of humour and content. You were an approachable and engaging teacher. Teaching clearly comes very naturally to you.
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Expedition Medicine Course Delegates