Page 6 - JSOM Spring 2023

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SOMA PRESIDENT

SOMA Members and JSOM Readers, long affiliation with Special Operations
medicine includes tours as the U.S. Spe-
OMSA is upon us, and I’d like to thank cial Operations Command (USSOCOM)
those who have volunteered to partic- surgeon general and the Marine Special
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Sipate on committees, work on tracks, John Dominguez, MSG (Ret) ) Operations Command (MARSOC) com-
and serve on working groups to build a pro- mand surgeon. As TBICoE branch chief,
digious symposium and program. SOMSA 2023 has an amaz- he serves as chair of the DOD’s TBI Advisory Committee
ing lineup of speakers, presenters, and labs. We are currently (TAC), the DOD’s coordinating body chartered to promote
working to have food available at the conference center on and address issues regarding preventing, diagnosing, treating,
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. and mitigating the impact of TBI on our Servicemembers.” 1
This year, the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence You may have noticed recent changes to the SOMA website
(TBICoE), led by Navy CAPT Scott Cota, will expand the (https://somed.specialoperationsmedicine.org/). We have mod-
brain-health offerings at SOMA 2023 through hands-on TBI ernized our website platform to current business standards
skills training and a variety of lectures on current TBI topics. (see photo below). Over the next few months, there will be
Ricky Ditzel, Brian Hwang, and Jon Johnson leaned on their several updates to the website; if you notice any issues on the
network of colleagues focused on advancing brain health treat- website, please email info@specialoperationsmedicine.org.
ment to develop the SOMSA 2023 Brain Health sub-track. The upgrades were originally set for execution in 2020 but,
due to the pandemic, the Board delayed the rollout for other
TBICoE is the principal organization leading, translating, and pressing priorities. This upgrade is long overdue, and we hope
advancing brain health for the DOD. “TBICoE identifies and you find the site to be more user-friendly.
responds to knowledge gaps in TBI research; develops TBI
clinical recommendations and tools for military health care I look forward to seeing you in May at SOMSA 2023.
providers; and supports TBI education and training through
a network of regional education coordinators. The center Reference
supports many DOD efforts as well, including the Warfighter 1. https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence/
Brain Health Initiative Strategy and Action Plan. CAPT Cota’s Traumatic-Brain-Injury-Center-of-Excellence

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