Page 6 - JSOM Spring 2021

fromthe
SOMA PRESIDENT

SOMA Members and JSOM Readers, Although extraordinary circumstances
prevented an in-person scientific assem-
ur SOMA organization is a dis- bly in May 2020, a successful virtual
tinctive professional medical soci- Russ S. Kotwal, MD, MPH program was conducted in the fall. As
Russ S. Kotwal, MD, MP
H
Oety. It is the only medical society CO L (R et ) U S Ar these circumstances continued to influ-
COL (Ret), US Armymy
in the world that brings together a unique ence events into 2021, the SOMA Board
blend of prehospital, tactical, wilderness, voted to shift our May 2021 scientific
austere, disaster, and deployed medicine. Our organiza- assembly to a later date in order to maximize the poten-
tion serves our members so that they may better serve tial for having an in-person symposium.
others. Often this equates to saving lives. For the better-
ment of our organization and its members, many of our Thus, if you have not done so already, please mark your
fellow SOMA members have volunteered to serve on calendars for the SOMA Training, Education, Scientific
our board or serve as chairs, co-chairs, or members on Assembly and Exhibition, now scheduled for June 28
our committees. Their time and vast efforts are greatly to July 2, 2021, at the Charlotte Convention Center in
appreciated. Charlotte, North Carolina. We look forward to seeing
you there!
Currently, we have nine voting member positions on
our board. Additionally, we have several members serv- History is written by those who write. History can in-
ing on each of twelve vitally important committees: (1) form and guide current and future efforts. History in-
Communication Committee, (2) Education and Train- cludes research, performance improvement efforts, and
ing Committee, (3) Historical Committee, (4) Inter- vignettes previously published in our medical journals.
national Committee, (5) Membership Committee, (6) History can teach us lessons that have been previously
Nominating Committee, (7) Outreach, Engagement, learned. Ultimately, these lessons learned are not lessons
and Development Committee, (8) Prolonged Field Care learned unless you learn them. The JSOM has provided
Committee, (9) Research Committee, (10) Scholarship lessons learned from operational medicine for more than
Committee, (11) Second Half Initiative Committee, 20 years. The JSOM is the Official Journal of SOMA. It
and (12) SOMSA Program Committee. If you have the is your journal and your source for operational medicine
time, consider volunteering for a committee or serv- lessons learned in the peer-reviewed medical literature.
ing on the board. In addition to learning more about Share your lessons learned so that others may benefit
the inner workings of the organization, you will have from your knowledge, experiences, and wisdom. Submit
the opportunity to serve your fellow SOMA members your article to JSOM.
and make this organization better through your insight
and contributions. To learn more about volunteering, Russ S. Kotwal, MD, MPH
please visit the Committee page of the SOMA website at COL (Ret), US Army
www.specialoperationsmedicine.org SOMA President

In collaboration with the other committees, the SOMSA
Program Committee has dedicated much time and effort
toward providing you with great scientific assemblies.

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