Teimojin Tan
Season 9Age: 31
Hometown: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Profession: Physician
Teimojin grew up in Montreal and had a very worldly upbringing. From taking his first steps on a plane as a child to solo traveling through developing countries in his youth, he was never one to feel stuck in one place. As he traveled, he developed a fascination and appreciation for indigenous cultures. As he learned about plant-based medicines, survival, hunting tactics, and local customs, he was also exposed to the health disparities and challenges facing impoverished communities.
Seeing people in need and feeling helpless to render aid inspired him to work for non-profit organizations in South America, Ghana, and East Africa and to pursue higher education. But
coming from a single-parent household, he wanted to be financially independent so at the age of 17, Teimojin joined the Canadian Army Reserve as an Infantry soldier. He took a special interest in Cold Weather Warfare & Survival and would spend weeks to months in the Subarctic learning how to make improvised defenses, conduct patrols, assaults, search and rescue missions, and employ strategies to procure food and shelter that he learned from the native Cree Rangers.
Eventually, Teimojin found his way to medical school and became a doctor. He plans to work in the rural Emergency Departments, Hospitals, and Clinics of the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada. These seemingly contradictory life experiences in fighting and healing, with a healthy obsession with the outdoors and survival, lead him to further specialize in Wilderness Medicine. He now teaches people how to prepare for and to overcome illness and injury in austere environments. He hopes to share a unique perspective on the medical side of survival so that others can venture out in the wild confidently and safely. His dream would be to teach Survival Medicine internationally while working as a physician in local underserved and indigenous populations and being involved in community development projects. During this season of Alone, Teimojin has an incredible opportunity to live out all of his passions and is thrilled to put his knowledge, skills, and abilities to the test!
Here聽are聽the ten items Teimojin selected to bring on his survival journey to聽the remote wilderness valley in Labrador, Canada:
1. Sleeping bag
2. Ax
3. Multitool
4. Ferro rod
5. 2-quart pot
6. Bow and arrows
7. Paracord
8. Trapping wire
9. Fishing line and hooks
10. Emergency rations
