Page 6 - JSOM Fall 2023

fromthe

SOMA PRESIDENT

SOMA Members and JSOM Readers, AMSUS annual meeting will be held
February 12–15, 2024, at the Gaylord
OMA members and JSOM read- National Resort & Convention Cen-
ers, I hope your summers went ter in National Harbor, MD. Please
Swell. It’s time to get ready for J Jo h n D om i i n gu e z, MS G (R et t ) see the AMSUS website for informa-
D
h
(R
G
MS
John Dominguez, MSG (Ret)
SOMSA 2024. We published the call tion on submissions and registration,
for lab workshops and abstracts for presentations in at https://www.amsus.org/events/annual-meeting-2/.
mid- September and look forward to your submissions.
Please don’t be discouraged by the process. If you have I’d like to thank all those involved in the effort to ad-
any problems with the submission portal or any ques- dress the medical irregular warfare (IW) gap by bringing
tions about the process, please contact SOMA Staff at back the IW working group. I’d also like to extend a
info@specialoperationsmedicine.org. special thank you to SGM (Ret) Litt Moore and LTC
Nate Friedline for volunteering to co-chair SOMA’s IW
I’d like to welcome the new United States Special Oper- Committee. The IW Committee will be working on the
ations Command (USSOCOM) Surgeon, COL Michael following:
Tarpey, Deputy Surgeon, Lt Col Josh Peter, and Senior
Enlisted Medical Advisor (SEMA), SGM Ryan Nemeth. a. Developing a Medical Annex/Supporting Concept
They have transitioned into their roles with the upcom- to the Resistance Operating Concept;
ing retirements of COL John Detro and HMCM Jeremy b. Integrating military, academic, and industry efforts
Torrisi. COL Detro and HMCM Torrisi would like to for medical support to IW (MSIW);
pass along this message: “It was an honor to end our c. Establishing a SOMSA advisory group for future
careers serving alongside the nation’s best!” I’d like to SOMSA topics (SOMSA 2024 and beyond); and
thank COL Detro and HMCM Torrisi for their years d. Conducting SOMSA lab workshops that support
of dedication and effort to advance SOF Medicine and IW tasks and identify new gaps.
mentor those around them.
As previously stated,
SOMA and the THOR (Trauma Hemostasis Oxygen-
ation and Research) Network have been partners for “America does not fight alone. Alliances and
several years. This year, THOR and the Australian SOF partnerships are among the greatest sources
community have collaborated to hold a satellite confer- of our military strength. This global landpower
ence for the first time Down Under—THOR Down Un- network is DoD’s foundation for competi-
der (THUNDER). The goals of THUNDER are to share tion, creating inroads and maneuver space
ideas, bring the international community together, and for Joint and whole-of-government strategic
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learn from each other. This new collaboration demon- engagement.”
strates how the SOF community around the world can
interact and use conferences to build relationships and Medical integration from the tactical level through to
knowledge. International relationships have grown the strategic level will create efficiency and reduce mor-
strong over the past 20 years of conflict. Through part- tality. Opening our aperture to understand NATO Al-
nerships and conference attendance we can continue lied Joint Doctrine and the healthcare systems of the
to advance medicine and integrate international best countries in which we operate will ensure our assistance
practices. This THOR satellite meeting may not happen is sustainable and reduce the learning curve associated
again in Australia, so don’t miss out! For information with multinational deployment.
about THUNDER, please visit waagconference.com.
Reference
1. Hearing Before the House Appropriations Subcommittee
SOMA is pleased to announce our recent partnership on Defense, 117th Congress, 1st Sess (2021) (Statement by
with AMSUS (the Association of Military Surgeons of The Honorable John E. Whitley, Secretary of the Army, Act-
the United States). As with many of our partners, we ing and General James P. McConville, Chief of Staff, United
share with AMSUS common goals and seek to synergize States Army). Accessed August 24, 2023. https://www.
our efforts to reach our goals rapidly and efficiently. The congress.gov/event/117th-congress/house-event/112531.

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