Page 118 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Spring 2014

would like to thank everyone who and decreased funding across government
A worked so hard to bring together a agencies at all levels, this step is critical if
great SOMA meeting this past December. we are to continue our mission of improv-
We had more than 1800 registered attend- ing the capabilities of SOF medical Opera-
ees. The speaker lineup was outstanding. tors with the ultimate goal of saving lives.
The labs and hands-on sessions were ex-
cellent. Wrapping up with Dave Gross- We have engaged the services of a full-time
man’s phenomenal seminar at the end management company to assist us as we grow and ex-
topped it off. pand our operations. In the days ahead, you will see an
updated and interactive website, a streamlined member-
We are already taking what we have learned and put- ship and registration process, and many other improve-
ting together next year’s meeting. We will keep the same ments in the services we provide our members.
format as our last meeting but will modify the breakouts
somewhat. In addition to military SOF, TEMS, global We appreciate your patience during the transition pe-
health, and research, we will be adding a session on pro- riod. I anticipate the transition to go smoothly and un-
longed field care. This was a topic of huge interest at our noticed to most members. If there are any hiccups, we
past meeting. Dr. (COL) Sean Keenan, 10th SFG(A) Sur- will work through them.
geon, has stood up SOMA’s first clinical working group
on the topic. COL Keenan is engaging across the SOF Finally, SOMA needs you. We are an organization of vol-
global network to develop and collect information on unteers who have a common interest in advancing SOF
the best practices, tactics, and techniques to help us solve medicine. There are opportunities to serve on committees
the problem of prolonged care in austere environments. such as the Program Committee and on working groups
such as COL Keenan’s prolonged field care group. The
LTC Dave Haight, 1st SFG(A) Surgeon, is putting to- opportunities are limited only by the imagination. If you
gether a session on human performance for next year as have a particular interest or you feel a niche is not being
well. LTC Haight has engaged experts on sports medi- served, let us know and we will get you involved. This
cine, training, nutrition, injury, and recovery and is as- call goes out particularly to our SOF enlisted medics. We
sembling a world-class lineup for this session. need your input and your participation to keep us fo-
cused on what you need at the tactical level.
SOMA’s main goal for 2014 is to solidify our business
model for long-term stability and growth of the organi za- —LTC Bob Mabry, MD
tion. Given restrictions on government sponsored travel SOMA President

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