If She Can Treat Him...

Dr. Mateja de Leonni Stanonik, a 32-year-old physician from Slovenia who accompanied Guinness-record marathon swimmer Martin Strel during a 66-day swim of the Amazon (Outside, February 2007), is hoping to spread the concept of telemedicine to the developing world. Dr. Stanonik, the only doctor on Strel's crew, used hi-def cameras and a computer with electronic medical equipment to consult over the Internet with members of a virtual medical team around the world. During Strel's 3,274-mile swim, Stanonik had to treat the long-distance swimmer for dizziness, vertigo, high blood pressure, diarrhea, nausea and delirium. "One could say that I had a custom-built ER suite outfitted with telemedicine equipment and satellite connections," Dr. Stanonik said. Thankfully, no toothpick fish were involved.--Damon Tabor