Mike Paterson, MD, center, with his fellow climbers. At press time on May 12, we received word that Dr. Paterson had reached the summit of Mt. Everest. It's unlikely that Mike Paterson, MD, would have spent a year preparing to climb Mount Everest just because it's there. Instead, the trim, gray-haired emergency physician decided to combine his love of mountain climbing with providing health care in places in crisis. The first passion has taken him to the top of four of the tallest mountains on an equal number of continents. Now he is trying for the prize—summitting Mount Everest. He said he hopes those who support his climb will also support the International Medical Corps, which provides emergency care to patients in desperate situations.