Medicine at 50 Below

Our Founder’s Perspective on Rural and Remote Medicine

A closer look at the experiences that helped shape Wilderness Medical Staffing and our mission.

About the Book

Medicine at 50 Below shares the real-world experiences that shaped Wilderness Medical Staffing. Through Mary Ellen Doty’s years practicing in remote Alaska, readers gain a clearer understanding of the clinical realities, staffing challenges, and sense of purpose that continue to influence how Wilderness Medical Staffing supports rural and remote communities today.

The book explores:

What frontier practice reveals about rural staffing needs
Why provider fit matters in isolated communities
How meaningful work and autonomy shape provider experience
How those lessons informed the founding of Wilderness Medical Staffing

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Why This Story Resonates with Providers and Healthcare Leaders

Rural healthcare is different.

Facilities in rural and remote communities often face persistent staffing shortages, geographic isolation, and operating realities that require a different approach to care delivery.

Providers are searching for meaning.

Many providers are looking for work that offers a stronger sense of purpose, greater autonomy, and a closer connection to the communities they serve.

Another Way to Practice Medicine.

As Medicine at 50 Below shows, rural and remote medicine can offer a more connected, meaningful way to practice; one that continues to shape the mission behind Wilderness Medical Staffing.

Who Should Read This Book

For Healthcare Clinicians

Exploring locum tenens or rural medicine
Experiencing burnout or career dissatisfaction
Looking for meaningful, purpose-driven work

For Healthcare Leaders

Navigating staffing challenges in rural settings
Seeking new approaches to provider recruitment
Interested in sustainable staffing models

Praise for the Book

Read what reviewers are saying on Amazon!

“Whether you are in medicine or not, this book is an inspiration as it explores the self-doubt, failures, successes, disappointments, and joys that we humans encounter in our lives. A definite must-read!”

Ann Bollmann

“What an amazing book- written from the heart. I was unable to put this book down… It truly is a must-read – I was enthralled from beginning to end and connected with the author about life and medicine in rural Alaska.”