Page 141 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Spring 2015

want to thank everyone for making the Our 50­ and 100­meter targets are to host
I Special Operations Medical Association’s a symposium in the San Antonio, Texas,
Scientific Assembly (SOMSA) held 8–11 area in December 2015 followed in May
December 2014 at the Tampa Convention 2016 by our regular SOMSA in its new
Center one of our best ever. Our new man­ venue, Charlotte.
agement group did an outstanding job. The
The Program Committee and breakout sessions con­ The December symposium’s theme will be “Translat­
tinue to set the bar higher each year. Even though things ing SOF Medical Lessons Learned to the Conventional
went very well, SOMA continues to look for ways to Force.” This symposium will be geared to a conven­
make things even better for our next meeting in Char­ tional medical audience and will be a great chance for
lotte, North Carolina, on 23–26 May 2016. strategic engagement with SOF medical forces and Big
Army, Navy, and Air Force medical providers.
Here are a few stats from this year: of the 1203 who
attended, 305 were SOF personnel; 154 were Depart­ Then on 23–26 May 2016, we will move to our new
ment of Defense personnel from the Defense Health venue in Charlotte for the 2016 SOMSA. Although
Agency, MEDCOM, BUMED, and AFMED; 248 were Tampa in December is a great venue, especially for folks
International Partners representing 25 nations from all coming from colder climates, SOMSA’s core mission is
geographic combatant commands; 62 were Interagency to reach the SOF medical operator. We anticipate the
Partners; 325 were General Attendees from civilian EMS, move to Charlotte will double or even triple the num­
healthcare professions, and academia; and 140 were in­ ber of SOF medics who can attend because they will
dustry representatives or vendors. be within driving distance. This will significantly lower
transportation and TDY costs in an increasing fiscally
The SOMSA theme was “Preparing for the Next Fight,” restrained “inter­war” period.
with a heavy focus on prolonged field care, difficult
evacuations, and the tyranny of distance. Highlights in­ Finally, the first renewal notices have been sent out to
cluded SOF Medic Vignettes/Lessons Learned, Global SOMA members. By renewing your membership each
Health Engagement; Military Medicine; Tactical EMS, year, you will continue to have access to SOMA re­
and Human Performance & Resiliency. SOMSA empha­ sources through the website, receive discounts on Scien­
sized SOF medic­centric topics and discussions with sig­ tific Assembly registration, be eligible to participate as a
nificant progress in advancement of medical knowledge volunteer leader, as well as receive your subscription to
and challenges that will lead the way ahead for SOF this publication. If you haven’t done so already, be sure
medicine. A significant central focus throughout was to renew today.
the prolonged field care aspects of emerging SOF opera­
tions. Overall, SOMSA was executed with the utmost Thanks for supporting SOMA, the most unique medical
professionalism and greatly enhanced the expansion of society in the world.
the Global SOF Medical Network through lasting rela­
tionships with international, interagency, industry, aca­ —LTC Bob Mabry, MD
demia, and civilian health care colleagues. SOMA President

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