She first was introduced to wilderness medicine as a patient when she was a thru hiker on the Appalachian Trail. As fate would have it she returned to Roanoke, to complete a residency in emergency medicine and and fellowship in wilderness medicine at the same hospital where she was taken 10 years prior. Research interests include altitude physiology and pathophysiology, and long distance hiker health. Jessie is also passionate about expanding emergency and wilderness medical education in Nepal. Her interests include backpacking, mountaineering, cycling, animal rescue and rock and roll music.