Page 9 - JSOM Fall 2025

fromthe

SOMA PRESIDENT

SOMA Members and JSOM Readers, members who now serve as members
of Congress, we are seeking recogni-
s we move into the second half tion of our organization at the national
of 2025, we take an opportu- level. With this recognition, we hope to
Anity to reflect on our annual establish our Association as an “offi-
COL
MD
eenan
Sean
K
(Ret)
meeting last May and look forward to COL (Ret) Sean Keenan, MD cial” organization that serves the mil-
planning for next year. Each year, we itary and tactical medicine community.
experience new opportunities but also challenges. This With over 38 years of proud history and proven service,
past year again showed the reluctance or inability of SOMA has left a legacy of innovation and medical lead-
Commands to support education and training outside ership that has morphed into strategic initiatives, such as
their base schedules. Uncertainty and a change in prior- TCCC, Prolonged Field Care/Prolonged Casualty Care
ities resulted in some hesitance and restricted travel for (PFC/PCC), and medical support to irregular warfare.
many of our members and attendees. Despite this, we It is time that these contributions and advancements are
continued to assert ourselves as the international meet- recognized in a manner consistent with other peer orga-
ing supporting one single mission: improving SOF medi- nizations that have received congressional validation. A
cine for our core demographic, the SOF medic. group of our senior civilian leadership are engaged with
this initiative.
This coming year, we will build on our other member-
ship services and offerings outside our flagship meeting. Lastly, just as we are taking a well-deserved rest from
The enhancement of the learning management system the planning, preparation, and execution of our last an-
(LMS) in support of our core curriculum will also build nual meeting, we look forward to next year’s. The theme
a foundation for our Fellowship program. Initially built has been decided—Mobility of Medical Assets in the Fu-
to host noteworthy lectures from past scientific assem- ture Environment. The call for presentations, abstracts,
blies, the LMS now features highlights from all our main labs, and research be open from September until early
stage and track sessions. The intent of this initiative is December. If you missed an opportunity to participate
to bring the “best of” the meeting to those who are un- last year, please submit your ideas during that window
able to attend in person. Our Fellowship Committee for April 2026! If you are a medic and have lessons you
continues to work with representative senior members want to share but think you don’t have the experience,
to test and create the backbone for the Fellow of the there are many within your units and this association
Academy of Special Operations Medicine (FASOM) who are willing to partner with or mentor you to get
credential. Based on a solid foundation of core tasks, your ideas to the meeting. Please submit these inno-
as well as proven service within SOF organizations and vations, good ideas, or lessons observed when the call
service to our Association, this credential will be open opens this fall—we, and the broader medical commu-
to any member who wishes to pursue it with a focus on nity, need to hear from you! Thank you for all you do!
refining all aspects of their SOF medicine practice. This
credential is intended to be open to both military and Each organization and nation is experiencing its own
non-military members who meet the requirements. unique challenges, but our common mission—pro-
tecting our brothers and sisters who put themselves in
We are also seeking opportunities to publicize our As- harms’ way—unites us with a common purpose. SOMA
sociation’s accomplishments to those outside the SOF is your organization to push positive change in the most
medical enterprise. By engaging with some former SOF challenging prehospital care environments.

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