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Didactic Curriculum

A Strong Foundation

APEX is only possible because of the aviators, astronauts, researchers, physiologists, and medical practitioners that laid the foundation of aerospace medicine. Therefore, it is important for any physician that participates in the practice or research of aerospace medicine and surgery to understand the fundamentals of aerospace medicine. The core didactics for APEX are based on the thoughtfully crafted American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) Aerospace Medicine Content Outline that is the basis for traditional aerospace medical certification. The outline can be found here and below:

I. The Flight Environment

A. The Biosphere

B. Theory of flight

C. Physiology

D. Gravitational effects

E. Pressure effects

F. Other physical effects

G. Human factors

H. Aerospace systems

II. Clinical Aerospace Medicine

A. Fitness for duty and return to work

B. Health Maintenance

III. Operational Aerospace Medicine

A. Air and space operations

B. Selection and retention

C. Aeromedical transportation

D. Survival, search and rescue

E. Mishap Investigation

F. Travel medicine

IV. Management and Administration

A. Regulations

B. Organizations

Core Resources