Alex Potter is a photojournalist, trauma nurse, former wildland firefighter, and co-founder of Global Response Medicine, a humanitarian non-profit bringing emergency medicine to low-resource and high-risk areas.
Alex spent her early career photographing conflict in the Middle East, before spending two seasons as a wildland firefighter in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho.
She then moved to Alaska to pursue a career as an Air Force Combat Rescue Officer and was selected in Phase 2 of the CRO pipeline in 2022.
While a twist of fate (and knee) changed that path, she remains passionate about mountain pursuits, far-forward medicine, and the ability to help others achieve their goals. She is a current board member of the Special Operations Climbers Coalition, and recently moved to Bozeman, Montana.
More about Alex:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexkpotter/
Global Response Medicine: https://global-response.org/
Photography: https://www.alexkaypotter.com/
Support GRM: https://givebutter.com/AcuteCare
Timestamps:
00:00:22 Introduction to Alex Potter
00:01:14 Piecing Together Alex Potter's Career
00:04:48 Combat Rescue Officers VS. Pararescueman
00:06:43 Everybody Loves PJs
00:09:00 Trauma Nurse in Iraq
00:13:16 Notable Things in the Learning Curve
00:14:31 Where Did Your Food Come From
00:16:12 Being a Women in Traditional Muslim Culture
00:21:47 Ending two years in Iraq
00:24:03 Firefighter in Alaska
00:24:57 Month Long Boot Camp
00:26:13 What Makes Effective Leadership
00:27:21 Not Hoarding Knowledge
00:29:56 Becoming a Wildland Firefighter
00:33:15 Specific Boots for the Job
00:34:37 Physical Training Prior to Firefighting
00:37:10 Marriage & Nursing on the East Coast
00:40:07 The CRO Pipeline
00:45:45 Training to Maintain While Working on Weaknesses
00:50:27 Phase Two of Training
00:55:60 Qualifying for Air Force after Training
00:58:28 Pete Gets Director Position in Ukraine
01:02:35 Long Journey to Bring Pete Back Home
01:03:37 The OTS Pipeline
01:10:51 What is Alex Potter Doing Now
01:11:42 Mountain Guiding Professionals
01:13:25 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received
01:15:29 Outro
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