Kendall Walker is an experienced medical professional who combines a strong clinical background with a deep passion for the Pacific Northwest backcountry. After graduating from nursing school in 2015, they spent years hiking and backpacking before finding the perfect intersection of their medical expertise and love for the wilderness in search and rescue. Since 2019, Kendall has been a dedicated volunteer with King County Explorer Search and Rescue (ESAR), where they have also completed advanced training for specialized winter and snow-based missions. As an instructor, they draw upon this unique blend of formal nursing education and rugged field experience to equip students with practical, wilderness-ready medical skills.
The Journey to Remote Medicine
Remote medical assistance and care requires a completely different mindset and set of skills than in an urban environment. While I enjoy caring for people in their homes or in an inpatient setting, there is something special and uniquely challenging in supporting people in an unfamiliar environment with limited resources and a dependence on your own skills and confidence. As a female in the outdoors, I feel a special calling to helping other women feel confident in their own skills and value, and working in remote medicine is a perfect avenue to impart that knowledge and skill-set for future use.
Specialized Industries
Wilderness & Backcountry Medicine
Search & Rescue
Besides being outside, I love to play music and see live shows all over the country. I volunteer hundreds of hours every year with The Mountaineers, including leading backpacking trips, teaching navigation courses, and assisting with glacier climbs.
Teaching Philosopy
I meet students where they are at. Teaching is not a one size fits all approach, but instead requires flexibility, creativity and adaptability to maximize the experience for each student.
Why I Choose to Teach
I love to share my joy of the outdoors with others, especially if it helps people feel more safe and comfortable in different environments.
Professional Certifications & Licensures
Registered Nurse
King Country Explorer Search & Rescue
Most Memorable Field Experience
My most memorable field experience was my first Pararescue mission aboard the Port Kyushu, rescuing an unconscious sailor more than 800 miles offshore. I hoisted the patient off the ship and remained with him for the five-hour flight back, providing continuous care while working through a broad neurologic differential with limited diagnostics. After landing, I handed the patient off to a large multidisciplinary team at Stanford, transitioning care from an austere, resource-limited environment to definitive treatment. That experience shaped my clinical judgment, reinforced ownership of patient care from point of contact through handoff, and defined how I approach medicine in remote and high-acuity settings.
