Doctor named Fellow of British Exploring Society

A doctor and academic who specialises in global healthcare has been named one of 12 inaugural Fellows of the British Exploring Society.

Dr Lucy Obolensky, who leads the Global and Remote Healthcare masters programme at the University of Plymouth, joined her co-recipients in London to collect her award – including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Ben Saunders and Olympic gold medal-winning rower, Alex Gregory MBE. 

Dr Obolensky is the senior medical advisor for the British Exploring Society, and has led on many of their expeditions. 

Since 2000, she has completed more than 20 expeditions, travelling to Africa, South and Central America, India, Tibet, Cambodia and Vietnam. Her self-proclaimed career highlight was supporting Sir David Attenborough as a medic in the filming of Planet Earth II. 

Dr Obolensky was the medic for the Help for Heroes Kilimanjaro Summit, and she teaches advanced medical skills to explorers and expedition leaders at the Royal Geographical Society and the BBC. 

Increasingly she is providing training to families planning that ‘once in a lifetime’ trip to remote and challenging parts of the world.

As well as her clinical work in emergency medicine and general practice, and her academic work leading the Global and Remote Healthcare masters, she advocates for global health education throughout all undergraduate and postgraduate training.

Dr Obolensky said: 

“It is a real honour to have received this Fellowship from the British Exploring Society and to be alongside the other names who have made a real difference to adventure and discovery. Whether it’s giving emergency treatment to a patient in a remote area, or training large groups of people set to undertake an expedition, I’m passionate about education and ensuring people are well equipped to deal with the challenges they face in austere environments. 

“The Global and Remote Healthcare programme is a wonderful way to share my experiences and help to inspire people to make a difference around the world, so I look forward to celebrating alongside the rest of the team.”