Page 8 - JSOM Spring 2025

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SOMA PRESIDENT

SOMA Members and JSOM Readers, SOF elements, the Committee of
Tactical Emergency Casualty Care,
elcome to 2025 and the op- and National Tactical Officers As-
portunities and challenges sociation have chosen our venue to
W of the new year! We at SOMA COL (Ret) Sean Keenan, MDMD gather and host major meetings of
eenan
Sean
COL
K
(Ret)
are eagerly and diligently planning their own, recognizing the value of
for the upcoming Special Operations Medical and Sci- this venue and all it has to offer. We welcome and en-
entific Assembly, or just “SOMA” as we more expe- courage these continued partnerships!
rienced (read: old) members are fond of calling it. I
think we got back to using the term “SOMA” last year In addition to the May meeting, we continue to work
when we acknowledged the meeting was so much behind the scenes to lay the groundwork for our Fel-
more than a scientific assembly, especially given the lowship of the Academy of Special Operations Med-
number of labs and training opportunities that were icine which we hope to debut later in 2025. This
offered each day. initiative will build on the foundations of medical
knowledge in SOF medicine and recognize this unique
Though it has become over the past decade much discipline of the profession, by highlighting the knowl-
more formalized and broader in its approach to ad- edge, skills, and experience needed to perform the
vancing SOF medicine, SOMA is, at its heart, a truly job. This initiative will also help build the offerings on
unique opportunity for frontline medical professionals, our learning management system (LMS), the SOMED
whose sole purpose is saving lives and restoring health platform. Formalizing this curriculum and establishing
in the most extreme environments. It is the opportu- the foundation of knowledge, both at the meeting and
nity to gather for 5 days a year to learn, exchange on the LMS, will benefit all members of SOMA. Many
ideas, reflect on lessons observed, and make new of our medical community truly enjoy and benefit from
connections and friendships. This gathering of unique attending our May meeting. For a long time, that was
medical professionals and all the enablers—from aca- our only offering. I would encourage all of you, how-
demics, to theorists, to industry—is remarkable in its ever, to consider renewing or becoming a member of
format and energy. As part of our expanded reach and your professional organization. Benefits of member-
communications strategy, we have hired social media ship include free SOMED access, a JSOM electronic
support to spread the word about what our Board and subscription, and scholarship and eventual fellowship
Committee members have been planning. Our Pro- opportunities. Becoming or renewing as a member of
gram Committee returns with added depth and both your organization helps support the vital function that
medic and medical officer representation in all tracks SOMA plays in sustaining and advancing the art and
and planning tiers. Additionally, for the second year science of SOF medicine. And, for our medic mem-
in a row, numerous official and partner organizations, bers, we cut your fees this year, so take advantage!
including USSOCOM, U.S. SOF Components, NATO See you all in Raleigh in May.

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