From humble, grassroots beginnings to supporting multiple programs and operations throughout the West Coast, Backcountry Medical Guides has remained dedicated to delivering accessible, high quality medical training for remote environments.
2010: Backcountry Medical Guides began in 2010 from the cabin of a small boat in the Santa Cruz Harbor. Founder and paramedic John Taussig used ‘Breezy’ for the long commute from Santa Cruz, CA across the Monterey Bay to report to ambulance duty and host some of the first programs in the Monterey area. Along with family and a handful of paramedic friends, John developed and organized the first basic, advanced, and CME offerings in between his full time job as a flight medic in Big Sur.
Between 2012 and 2013, Programs began to incorporate backpacking trips, mountain bike tours, and inter-island sailboat trips, as the ‘classroom’ began to leave the confines of the class-room. This laid down the ethos and approach that serves as the backbone of the company today: To couple sport-specific wilderness, maritime, and remote medical training with deeply experiential curriculums and itineraries.
In 2014 and 2015 BMG became a certified CA EMS Continuing Education Provider, a Certified Monterey Bay Green Business, and incorporated advanced level training (AWLS) for physicians, nurses, and other advanced practitioners to bring their practice into the backcountry. 2014 was also the year that Breezy was sold and Lucia, the new program boat and office, was purchased.
S/V Breezy, the original office, on-site for a Wilderness First Aid class in Monterey, CA.
Lucia at anchor off of Sucia Island, WA
From 2015-2017, BMG grew organically within Central CA, adding multiple program sites and partners in Big Sur, Santa Cruz, Lake Tahoe, and the Bay Area. Programs also ventured internationally to include Belize, St. Maarten, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, and Alaska. In 2016, John left on an Alaskan fundraising adventure, and a 10,000 mile journey in Lucia. He continued to work and travel, creating a physician-led Medical Advisory Board and a Board Of Directors, formalizing the business structure as a 501(c)(3) non profit in 2017.
From 2018-2020, BMG expanded its sport-specific education options to include Trail Running and Ski/Snowboard models. In addition, BMG expoanded its maritime medicine operation, eventually forming a new division known as Maritime Medical Guides.
With the 2020 and 2021 pandemic shut-downs, BMG had the opportunity to focus inward and develop a new online learning platform and programming, including an extensive library of web-based video lessons.
John “sails” to Alaska from Washington after a 900-plus mile slog through the Inside Passage, raising $30,000 for Multiple Myeloma.
A flotilla is born—San Juan Islands Wilderness First Responder.
In 2021-22, Maritime Medical Guides formalizes it’s West Coast program sites and partnerships to include superlative locations and iconic vessels in CA and WA. John remains busy speaking at the Wilderness Medical Society’s Maritime Medical Conference, Seattle Boat Show, Cruiser’s Academy, and Latitude 38’s podcast. MMG gains independent accreditation from the US Coast Guard, US Sailing, and World Sailing Organizations.
Today, both BMG and MMG are making significant contributions in the health and safety of the maritime community- training hundreds of students per year in multi-day programs and growing an important digital presence. Reflecting back to the challenges of establishing and running a small non-profit, John claims with a smile, “We’re just getting warmed up. This is the fun part we’ve been waiting for.”