Dr. Santosh Baniya,MD
[email protected]Mountain medicine and travel medicine expert, General Practitioner, Emergency physician and Researcher!
Doctor with the complete package for your travel to high altitude and wilderness! Starting from your home, through the journey and until you get back home safely!
I'm available for hire
My Resume
Education
Feb 2002 - Mar 2003
Master in DesignNew York UniversityLorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Animi tempora perferendis vero officia enim impedit voluptatem dignissimos, veniam ratione est alias rerum aperiam, nam aliquam reprehenderit iste dolor.
Feb 2002 - Mar 2003
Bachelor of ArtsUniversity of LondonLorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Animi tempora perferendis vero officia enim impedit voluptatem dignissimos, veniam ratione est alias rerum aperiam, nam aliquam reprehenderit iste dolor.
Feb 2002 - Mar 2003
Artist of CollegeLorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Animi tempora perferendis vero officia enim impedit voluptatem dignissimos, veniam ratione est alias rerum aperiam, nam aliquam reprehenderit iste dolor.
Work Experiences
Feb 2015 - 2019
Lead & UI / UX DesignerAppleLorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Animi tempora perferendis vero officia enim impedit voluptatem dignissimos, veniam ratione est alias rerum aperiam, nam aliquam reprehenderit iste dolor.
Feb 2010 - Mar 2015
Senior & UI / UX DesignerGoogleLorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Animi tempora perferendis vero officia enim impedit voluptatem dignissimos, veniam ratione est alias rerum aperiam, nam aliquam reprehenderit iste dolor.
Feb 2006 - Mar 2010
Junior & UI / UX DesignerMicrosoftLorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Animi tempora perferendis vero officia enim impedit voluptatem dignissimos, veniam ratione est alias rerum aperiam, nam aliquam reprehenderit iste dolor.
Testimonials
Simon Lowe, UK Managing Director, Jagged Globe
Since 2017, Santosh has been the bedrock of medical support to our climbing and trekking teams in Nepal. It has been very important to us that he has been able to give expert advice fluently to our team members, but also to our team leaders in their native language, whether that be in Nepali to our local leaders or in English to the western leaders we send to Nepal. Santosh has shown himself to be an expert in high altitude medicine and this, coupled with his general medical advice, has helped resolve issue quickly and effectively for the benefit of our teams. We are very grateful for all of the medical interventions he has help with and the advice he has shared whenever he has been called upon.
I have known Santosh since his medical school days. He is very resourceful, innovative, eager and always gets the job done. I saw these great qualities displayed when, from the Nepal side, young Santosh helped spearhead the ISMM World Congress in Nov 2018. The Congress was a stunning success in terms of organization, content, adherence to time, and sheer enjoyment for the participants. Many participants continue to reminisce about the phenomenal success of that Congress, and it has been a model for future ISMM congresses to aspire to. The lion's share of the credit goes to none other than Santosh and the team he helped put together in Nepal. I like his blogs and look forward to reading more even as he gains richer field experience by leading treks in the Nepal Himalayas.
I met Dr Santosh Baniya in 2013 when we organised the training course for mountain rescuers and mountain emergency physicians in Nepal. Dr Santosh Baniya is an active practitioner and excellent teacher with great experience and knowledge in mountain medicine. In 2018, Dr Santosh Baniya has organised the ISMM World Congress in mountain medicine in Kathmandu, which has been a great success. Apart from his professionalism, Dr Santosh Baniya is one of the most enthusiastic expedition doctors I know, with incredible social skills and leadership abilities.
We've been delighted to have been lucky enough to work several times with Santosh Baniya on the Mustang and Manaslu trail races in Nepal. He's everything we expected from a competent expedition medic and so much more. He has always gone the extra mile with his dedication to the well-being of the competitors in tough working conditions of cold and high altitude after a long day of hiking. He's the last to eat in the dining room after doing the evening rounds and repacking the medical kit. He's most recently helped advise us and race applicants understand the latest research and risk with regard to COVID-19 issues and altitude. His articulacy is excellent, patience legendary, humor uplifting and is, in summary, a very valuable addition to any high altitude expedition.
The mountain medicine world is small and it is through the International Society of Mountain Medicine (ISMM) that I met Santosh. Initially we worked together via a UK commercial Expedition company which runs treks and expedition to Nepal. Being a Nepali doctor he was incredibly helpful to me when we were working medically with porters, local staff and clients. In 2018 he organised the ISMM Medicine Congress in Kathmandu. It was attended by about 400 international delegates and all attending were overwhelmed by the organisational skills of Santosh and his team.
I was a participant on the Mustang Trail Race which Dr Baniya was the altitude and extreme sports specialist. I received expert care, advice and attention including coping with running at altitude. As a result of this specialist care I completed the race and the whole experience was much more enjoyable knowing the group and I were so well looked after. I would whole heartedly recommend him to any groups looking to receive the very best care and attention.
Dr Santosh Baniya has been very instrumental in providing mountain medicine and first aid training to my mountain and trekking guides for the last couple of years. His remarkable medical advice to our clients and staff members whilst they were on treks and expeditions had always been very effective and helped to avoid numerous mishaps which would have been inevitable otherwise. He not only provides back up medical online support to our trekking groups, he often performs as a trek doctor on our large size charity groups. He is very friendly and approachable to me and to my entire staff members, similarly we all regard him as a thorough professional, excellent human being and a true friend!
I have been working with Dr. Santosh Baniya in the mountains through my company in number of occasions. I have known him since last 6 years and the first time we met was in the mountains where we shared amazing couple of weeks. Since the very first day he has been professional at his conduct and has been instrumental in providing medical support for my company and clients. His expertise has been remarkable for us both physically and via telemedicine support. He is very friendly, honest, and approachable to me and to my entire staff members, similarly we all regard him as a thorough professional, excellent human being and a true friend. It has always been true pleasure to work with Dr. Baniya and he is truly a treasure to have in the remotest of the places.
About Me
Dr. Santosh Baniya, MD
Mountain medicine and travel medicine expert, General Practitioner, Emergency physician and Researcher!
Medic with the complete package for your travel to high altitude and wilderness! Starting from your home, through the journey and until you get back home safely!
- CorrespondenceChauthe-14, Pokhara, Nepal
- Email[email protected]
- Phone +977-9851231372
Growing up in the laps of Annapurna Range, Pokhara, I had always been drawn towards the mountains. But, it was only in my high school I actually realized how much I love the mountains when I moved to the capital city “Kathmandu” for my higher education. Soon, I was trekking and travelling around the mountains with immense joy and passion.
Later, in medical school I joined a community of mountain lovers called Mountain Medicine Society of Nepal (MMSN); where I learnt about the high altitude physiology and mountain medicine and got connected with the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA). Since then, I have been heavily involved in the activities of MMSN and HRA which aims to educate local and foreign travelers about altitude illnesses, train medical students, paramedics and young doctors about mountain medicine and rescue operations, run the rescue posts in the Himalayas, coordinate with stakeholders to create safer mountains and promote the mountain medicine in Nepal. Now, I am an integral part of the society and Himalayan Rescue Association.
Currently, I am working as an emergency physician at Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS) under Ministry of Health and Population after completing my residency. Here, I am also operating the RECOVERY (Randomized evaluation of COVID 19 therapy) trial as a site principle investigator and am one of the editors of the Medical Journal of PAHS.
In addition, I am one of the elected vice presidents of International Society for Mountain Medicine for 2021-2025, secretary of Mountain Medicine Society of Nepal, member of Himalayan Rescue Association and member of International society of Travel Medicine. I am one of the editors for the Journal of Travel medicine since 2022.
As a qualified general practitioner, emergency physician, expedition doctor, travel medicine expert I provide packaged medical and logistics service to travelers in the high altitude destination of Nepal.
Education
2018- 2021
MD, General Practice and Emergency MedicineInstitute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal (Gold Medal)
2015-16
Diploma in Mountain Medicine UIAA/ICAR/ISMM and Mountain Medicine Society of Nepal
2010-2016
MBBSInstitute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
2015
Diploma in Global HealthUniversity of Tampere School of Medicine, Finland and Institute of Medicine, Nepal
2008
High School Capital College and Research Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
Work Experiences
2021- Current
Emergency Physician and LecturerWestern Regional Hospital, Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal
2021-2022
Consultant, Mountain medicine and Travel medicine expertCIWEC Hospital, Lakeside, Pokhara
2016-18
Local Organizing Chairperson XII ISMM World Congress on Mountain Medicine, 2018, Hotel Yak and Yeti. Organized by MMSN, HRA and ISMM
2017-18
Program Co-ordinator, Global Health CourseGlobal Health Unit, National Centre for Health Professions Education, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu
2017
Medical OfficerTravel and Mountain medicine expert at Nepal International Clinic (Travel and mountain medicine center), Kathmandu
2016 (Sept-November)
Medical OfficerVolunteer doctor, Machhermo-Gokyo Aid-post, International Porter Protection Group
Current Affiliations
2021-Current
Emergency Consultant and Lecturer Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal
2021-Current
Editor Medical Journal of Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences
2021-Current
Site Principal InvestigatorRECOVERY (Randomized Evaluation of COVID-19 Therpay) Trial, PAHS site
2018-Current
Medical Consultant Medical consultant for Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA), Nepal
Organizational Experience
2021-2025
Vice PresidentInternational Society for Mountain Medicine (ISMM)
2021-2023
Secretary Mountain Medicine Society of Nepal (MMSN)
2021-Current
Member Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA)
2021-Current
Member International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM)
Current
Member Nepal Medical Association (NMA)
Past Expeditions
Everest Base Camp Film Shooting Expedition
Overview of the trek: TypeTeahouse/lodge based trekkingDifficultyLevel 2Duration14 daysGroup size18 adult clients plus 5 support staffsAge groupAdultsHighest altitude reachedEverest Base Camp (5,364 meters) Despite ascending[...]
Gokyo-Ri Expedition
Overview of the trek: TypeTeahouse/lodge based trekkingDifficultyLevel 3Duration14 daysGroup size25 clients (20 adolescents + 5 teachers) plus support staff (15)Age groupAdolescents (17-19 years) accompanied by[...]
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Overview of the trek: TypeTeahouse/lodge based trekkingDifficultyLevel 2Duration7-8 daysGroup size10 Adults plus 3 support staffsAge groupAdultsHighest altitude reachedAnnapurna Base Camp (5,364 meters) Annapurna base camp[...]
Upper Mustang/Lo Manthang (Trail Running)
Overview of the trek: TypeTeahouse/lodge plus camp based trekkingDifficultyLevel 3Duration14 daysGroup size30 trail runners plus 6 race organizers plus 15 support staffsAge groupAdultsHighest altitude reachedChhoser[...]
Around Manaslu (Trail Running)
Overview of the trek: TypeTeahouse/lodge plus camp based trekkingDifficultyLevel 3Duration14 daysGroup size54 trail runners plus 6 race organizers plus 20 support staffsAge groupAdultsHighest altitude reachedLarkya[...]
Helambu (Cancer Charity) trek
Overview of the trek: TypeCamp based trekkingDifficultyLevel 1Duration7 daysGroup size61 adult clients plus 25 support staffsAge groupAdults and elderly (2 participants >70 years)Highest altitude reachedTarke-gyang[...]Services
Telemedicine
You can request a consultation for your expedition and travel outside your comfort zone via this platform. Services available via telemedicine: Pre-travel consultation for your[...]
Pre-travel consultation
I commit to make your travel to mountains safer, memorable and free from medical problems. Consultation can be booked for: Preparing your itinerary/ascent profile in[...]
Mountain Medicine and First-aid Training
Dr. Baniya has been providing mountain medicine trainings to medical doctors, paramedics, trekking guides and mountain guides and first aid training with basic life support[...]
Expedition Doctor
As an expedition doctor, I provide packaged service to travelers which starts from your home until you get back home. Dr. Baniya has been leading[...]Videos
Presentation
Presentation Description
Dr. Baniya was invited to judge the final abstracts of the conference. In addition, workshop (5 stations) were conducted focusing on basics of mountain medicine to the participants from South East Asia.
Title
Workshop in Mountain and Wilderness Medicine
Date
28/01/2023
Venue
Hotel Park Village, Kathmandu, Nepal
Name of conference
EAMSC, 2023
Type of presentation
Invited Judge and workshop co-ordinator
Presentation Description
This talk was intended to elaborate the scope of Mountain Medicine to General Practitioners and Emergency Physicians of Nepal.
Title
Scope of GPs in the Mountain Medicine
Date
17/12/2022
Venue
Kathmandu, Nepal
Name of conference
GPEMN, CME
Type of presentation
Invited Keynote Speaker
Presentation Description
This talk was delivered to the Physiologists and physicians of South Asia. This talk focused on the alarming situation of "Rapid Ascent in high altitude" that is happening in the high altitude destinations in last decades. The talk also focused in some very important high altitude physiology aspects as well.
Title
Rapid ascent to high altitude destinations in the Himalayas; an alarming phenomenon
Date
13/11/2022
Venue
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Name of conference
8th Biennial Conference of the South Asian Association of Physiologists
Type of presentation
Online presentation
Presentation Description
This talk was delivered to the travel medicine experts and enthusiasts based on Europe. This talk introduced "trekking medicine", "expedition medic" and importance of expedition medic for successful travel to high altitude. The second part of the talk comprised of interesting case reports which were encountered in the Himalayas from my past expeditions and ranged from altitude sickness, trauma, chocking, PTSD attacks and so on.
Title
Clinical Experience; working as a Mountain Medic
Date
17/09/2021
Venue
Berlin, Germany
Name of conference
Annual meeting of German Professional society of Travel Medicine, 15-17 April, 2022, Berlin
Type of presentation
Online live presentation
Presentation Description
This presentation was an in-depth session on the altitude illnesses and "focused updates" on the High Altitude Pulmonary Edema were shared with the very enthusiastic chest physicians in South Asia.
Title
High Altitude Sickness
Date
11/04/2022
Venue
Haryana, India
Name of conference
76th NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF TB AND CHEST DISEASES
Type of presentation
Pre-recorded online presentation
Presentation Description
Dr. Baniya was one of the chairs for this scientific session along with Dr. Ken Zafren and Dr. Christoph Siebemann. This session comprised of very exciting topics on high altitude medicine from around the world. Studies done in Nepal, India, Switzerland, Colombia, China, Italy, USA were presented and was followed by extensive discussions.
Title
HAM 12: Hot and New topics in High Altitude
Date
15/06/2021
Venue
Interlaken, Switzerland
Name of conference
XIII ISMM World Congress on Mountain Medicine, 14-16 June 2021
Type of presentation
Live online session
Presentation Description
This is the study conducted in the Humla District Hospital, Nepal particularly focusing on the rapidly ascending pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar. The aim of this study is to identify the spectrum of medical problems in the very rapidly ascending group of elderly pilgrims.
Title
A prospective epidemiological study of high altitude sickness among rapidly ascending pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar (4,500m) visiting Humla District hospital
Date
15/06/2021
Venue
Interlaken, Switzerland
Name of conference
XIII ISMM World Congress on Mountain Medicine, 14-16 June 2021
Type of presentation
Poster Presentation
Presentation Description
Dr. Baniya was invited as an expert on the topic of "Extreme medicine" in Nepal. The talk was focused on the history of expedition and trekking medicine. The talk also highlighted the milestones in the Himalayas that has very significant impact in the high altitude medicine till now.
Title
Extreme Medicine in the Himalayas
Date
21/05/2019
Venue
Basel, Switzerland
Name of conference
43rd ICMM World Congress on Military Medicine, 2019, Basel, Switzerland
Type of presentation
Invited expert speaker
Presentation Description
This session comprised of "introduction to high altitude medicine" and "real life medical cases" encountered in high altitudes. The aim of this talk was to stimulate young medical students into High altitude physiology and mountain medicine.
Title
Working as a Mountain Medic
Date
12/04/2019
Venue
Nepal Medical College, Kathmandu
Name of conference
Meeting of Physiology Society of Nepal
Type of presentation
Invited Guest Speaker
Presentation Description
Dr. Baniya was one of the speakers in conducting the workshop on "How to manage a high altitude base camp clinic". The workshop was interactive and practical tips on how to perfectly manage a clinic at such an austere environment was extensively discussed.
Title
How to manage a BASE CAMP CLINIC
Date
24/11/2018
Venue
Kathmandu, Nepal
Name of conference
XII ISMM World Congress on Mountain Medicine, 21-24 November, 2018
Type of presentation
Workshop Speaker
Presentation Description
Dr. Baniya co-chaired this session along with respected Dr. Ken Zafren. This session focused on the demographic profiles and problems of pilgrims and porters. In addition, a very interesting talk regarding Yarshagumba pickers was also presented.
Title
Pilgrims’ and other medically disadvantaged populations at high altitude
Date
24/11/2018
Venue
Kathmandu, Nepal
Name of conference
XII ISMM World Congress on Mountain Medicine, 21-24 November, 2018
Type of presentation
Session Chair
Presentation Description
Dr. Baniya presented few cases he had encountered as a consultant via telemedicine. This session ended with very interactive panel discussion which comprised of other 3 presenters from the UK, Italy, Poland and the USA. This session was chaired by Peter Hackett and David Hillebrandt.
Title
Telemedicine; Case Presentation and Panel Discussion
Date
24/11/2018
Venue
Kathmandu, Nepal
Name of conference
XII ISMM World Congress on Mountain Medicine, 21-24 November, 2018
Type of presentation
Case Presenter and Panelist
Presentation Description
This was a case of young Rai porter who was resuscitated and later intubated at 4,300 meters and descended to Kathmandu to survive after few days of ICU stay. This highlights one of the most heroic efforts made by volunteer doctors at Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) aidpost.
Title
Challenging Cases in Extreme Altitude "What a Save"
Date
04/03/2016
Venue
Kathmandu, Nepal
Name of conference
11th Asia Pacific Travel Health Conference, Kathmandu, Nepal
Type of presentation
Presenter
Publication
Reentry High Altitude Pulmonary Edema in the Himalayas
Baniya, Santosh, Christopher Holden, and Buddha Basnyat. Reentry high altitude pulmonary edema in the Himalayas. High Alt Med Biol. 18:425–427, 2017.—Reentry high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), a[...]Mismanagement of Severe Altitude Illness in a Tertiary Hospital in Nepal: A Cautionary Tale
High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a potentially lethal noncardiogenic pulmonary edema1 that accounts for the majority of deaths from high-altitude illness.2 The availability of[...]Efficacy and safety of inhaled budesonide on prevention of acute mountain sickness during emergent ascent: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a pathophysiologic process that occurs in non-acclimated susceptible individuals rapidly ascending to high-altitude. Barometric pressure falls at high altitude and[...]The impact of travelling to high altitude in the Himalayas on self-reported appetite
To assess whether self-reported appetite is influenced by altitude accounting for physical exertion, age, gender, duration at altitude, physical fitness, illness and medication.Bell’s Palsy as a possible complication of mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccine against COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccines have been linked to some adverse effects, including fever, myalgia, and headache. Bell’s Palsy, a rare adverse effect was reported to be associated[...]Prevalence of Respiratory Manifestations in Chronic Kidney Diseases; A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Nepal
Chronic kidney diseases affect patients with multiple respiratory complications by varied etiopathogenesis adversely affecting the outcome in them. The aim of the study is to[...]Status of vitamin D and parameters of calcium homeostasis in renal transplant recipients in Nepal: a cross sectional study
Vitamin D, apart from being an important part of the “calcium-vitamin D-parathyroid hormone” endocrine axis, has diverse range of “non-calcemic” biological actions. A high prevalence of[...]Prakash Adhikari: April 13, 1965 to October 23, 2020
Prakash Adhikari (54), a hero of mountain rescue, passed away on October 23, 2020, in Kathmandu, Nepal, from COVID-19 pneumonia. He worked tirelessly as the[...]My Blog
Altitude illness and Acclimatization; Thriving at high altitude
Altitude illness refers to the spectrum of diseases that occurs at high altitude (above 2,500 meters) as a result of failure to acclimatization. Altitude illness[...]
Mythbuster; 10 Myths And Facts About Altitude Illness
In a sunny day with clear blue sky and the Annapurna range in the background I was having a tea chat with my good friend[...]
Headache in High Altitude
Headache is the most common symptoms travelers experience during travel to high altitude. It is found to be experienced by more than half of the[...]
Tips for successful travel in high altitude
No matter how exciting the travel is to the high altitude, it is always challenging and is never free of troubles. We have hundreds of[...]
Level of difficulty in expedition
Trek/Expedition difficulty levels: There is no specific classification on level/grades of difficulties for an expedition or trek. Please follow the following “Level of difficulty” which[...]
Travelers diarrhea; A complete guide to avoid the illness
What is Travelers’ diarrhea?It is the gastrointestinal infection occurring in the travelers within 10 days of travel as a result ofvirus, bacteria or parasites. It[...]
Unaware and Ignorant Pilgrims
Pilgrims in the Himalayas have been travelling to high altitude pilgrimage sites since ages with absolutely different mind-set, in comparison to other (usually younger) travelers.[...]
Rapid ascent to high altitude: Fast, Fun but Fatal
Under clear blue sky, facing snowcapped towering mountains and enjoying the majestic view of the highest lake in the world, Lake Tilicho (4,919 meters) is[...]
Calculating oxygen capacity of cylinder and it’s lifespan
Supplementing oxygen through the oxygen cylinder either to thrive in extreme altitudes (>8,000 meters) to ascent peak or to treat hypoxia related illnesses is a[...]First Aid Kit
