Page 10 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Winter 2016

from the

SOMA PRESIDENT

Greetings to all SOMA Members, I would like to take a moment to thank
Friends, Donors, Volunteers, and all those that have taken on the hard job
Teammates of keeping the warfighter on line and the
continued support that each of you pro-
e just finished our Special Op- vides. It is a herculean effort.
Werations Medical Association Steven Viola
(SOMA) Board of Directors meeting SOCM, ATP, NREMT-P Never before has so much depended
last month, and we are looking forward on so few. To put that in context, the
in the coming year to continuing to work toward our standard operational procedures for deployment, en-
mission to advance the science, technology, knowledge, gagement, and sustainment for “medical types” have
and skills of unconventional medicine to improve the changed. The changes encompass everything from
survival, reduce suffering, and speed recovery of those the number of folks you deploy with, to the material
who become injured and ill in Special Operations Forces and equipment you will have to work with. You, as a
(SOF) operations or other tactical settings. Toward that healthcare provider, will have to help balance both the
end, the Board is currently reviewing its strategic part- burden and the risk of those under your care and to
nerships with other like-minded organizations. These the line side you support. Your ability to absorb infor-
collaborative relationships are helping SOMA get the mation will help you make sound decisions, but, more
word out about our association and they give us the op- importantly, the relationships that you have developed
portunity to work together on projects that affect the will see you through the good and not-so-good times.
SOF and tactical emergency medical support commu- Life will tempt you into believing you can do it alone,
nity. In addition, we are increasing awareness through but you can’t. You must rely on the relationships that
our presence at other industry events like the World you have fostered by building bridges based on mutual
Trauma Symposium. respect.

We have also started planning for the 2017 SOMA Collaborative relationships are fostered by creating a
Scientific Assembly (SOMSA), which will take place culture of trust and connectedness with everyone within
22–25 May in Charlotte, North Carolina. We appre- the organization; by being consistent and resilient; by
ciate all of the feedback that we received from the training to failure but, when it’s game time, being funda-
2016 SOMSA evaluation and are working to imple- mentally perfect; and, last, by being effective, efficient,
ment many of those suggestions. Among those, we and sustainable. In other words, pace yourself.
are planning to expand our lab offerings by adding
an additional half-day of labs on Sunday afternoon. I’ve had the distinct honor and pleasure to have these
We are also planning to change the flow of the main collaborative relationships in a variety of communities
program a bit by beginning and ending the program (SOF, DOS, civilian, nongovernment organizations, and
with general sessions and offering the breakout ses- in the conventional forces) both in and out of the medi-
sions for a full day on Wednesday. Our medic vignettes cal arena. One of the things that I quickly realized was
are always an insightful look at field medicine with a that unity of belief does not always mean uniformity of
“danger close” twist. We are also looking to highlight expression—not just in the medical arts, but also in all
the Preservation on the Force and Family topics along facets of relationships.
with the impact that it has had with nearly 16 years of
continuous wartime fighting. Planning for the Labs is Finally, many receive good advice, yet few profit from
also well under way. Among the many excellent labs it. Will you? My humble advice: I invite you to be a part
offered, we are looking forward to conducting another of the collaborative relationships that SOMA fosters.
successful Prolonged Field Care Lab. Keep an eye out If you haven’t already done so, be sure to renew your
on the SOMA and Prolonged Field Care websites for membership this year and participate in the upcoming
some videos from the 2016 Lab. Board election. If you are not already a member, what

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