The Wilderness Medical Society has received the Texas Society of Association Executives 2024 Association Impact Award for our organization’s work in supporting the Wongchhu Sherpa Memorial Hospital in Nepal.
This project began as a vision of the late Wongchhu Sherpa, who dedicated his life to giving back. After improving infrastructure and education in his community, his final wish was to bring better access to quality healthcare to the people of the Chyangba village and the Solukhumbu region of Nepal. The tireless efforts and generous donations from WMS past presidents Luanne Freer, Eric Johnson, the late Paul Auerbach, as well of hundreds of other WMS members and donors, that dream became a reality when the hospital was inaugurated on October 12, 2022. This hospital is not just a building; it's a beacon of hope and a lifeline for many in a region that previously lacked access to essential medical care.
According to the press released "It was an incredibly proud moment for us to accept the award on behalf of our community at the recent TSAE New Ideas Conference, and we want to extend our gratitude to everyone involved in making this project possible, including Lakpa Sherpa, Himalayan Yokpu Foundation, Everest ER, Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal, Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island, MetroHealth, Musa Masala - Safe, healthy and culturally aware mountain travel., Central Indiana Community Foundation, the late Megan Rand, and countless others."