ANDY RICH

Andy Rich is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology who founded and has led the University of Utah’s Remote Rescue Training (RRT) program and the Wilderness & Technical Rescue emphasis in the EMS degree since 2009. Drawing on 25+ years as an outdoor educator, mountain guide, and technical rescuer (FAWM, DiMM, AMGA guide credentials, A‑EMT), he designed the academic curriculum, established a community contract training enterprise serving ~550 students annually, and built sustained partnerships with agencies and professional programs including the Wilderness Medical Society Diploma in Mountain Medicine. Under his leadership the DiMM technical curriculum has trained over 200 medical professionals, and his scholarship includes multiple textbook chapters and co‑editing the second edition of Mountain Medicine and Technical Rescue. His program development work spans course creation and iterative curricular refinement (HEDU 4500–4530 and contract Avalanche courses), instructional media and field manuals, and robust risk‑management systems. Recognized with College and national awards for teaching and service, he provides regular national and international workshops, chairs professional committees, and mentors students and TAs into careers in EMS, search & rescue, and medical professions. His work integrates evidence‑based pedagogy, operational readiness, and community engagement to advance technical rescue education and institutional reputation.