Patrick Avery

Patrick is a portfolio locum GP based near Bristol in the UK. He is married with two young boys. He splits his time between GP work, location medic work with the BBC NHU, and his various wilderness medicine teaching commitments with both Phoenix and on the Diploma in Expedition and Wilderness Medicine run by the RCPSG. He is also in the process of setting up an African-based adventure tourism business.

Born and raised in Kenya, Patrick’s childhood camping trips with his family took him to a huge variety of East Africa’s fabulous wild places. It also exposed him to a myriad of different tribal peoples and cultures, and generated lifelong passion for Africa’s wild places, traditional peoples, and wildlife. It also gave him an acute awareness of the health care inequalities and environmental challenges that exist in many areas of Africa.

A very practical person, operating in these remote areas has taught Patrick to be completely self-reliant. He is a knowledgeable mechanic, and twice winner of the Rhino Charge; a legendary annual off-road driving event held in Kenya. Through this event he has been involved in raising well over £300,000 for conservation.

Patrick is a great naturalist and is very knowledgeable about African bird life and animal behaviour. His love for African travel has extended into adult life and has included a 20,000 kilometre return overland trip from Nairobi to Cape Town, and multiple recent trips to remote areas of East, Southern and Central Africa. He has climbed many of Africa's highest peaks including Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Oldoinyo Lengai, and Mount Toubkal. He is a very keen and accomplished photographer and often mixes this skill with his medical role on TV shoots with the BBC.

Patrick went to school in Kenya then studied Medicine at Bristol University. A somewhat restless and adventurous spirit by nature, Patrick was inspired by portfolio doctors like Jon Dallimore. He has always been determined to return to use his medical skills in Kenya. His diverse training reflects this and includes several years of surgery, and a diploma in tropical medicine.

His expedition doctor experience includes; multiple trips with the BBC NHU worldwide in 10 different countries and counting; four separate trips as the doctor to Sir David Attenborough on location; as ship’s doctor in Antarctica on the Alucia; and as a doctor on the trans-Siberian express.