Journal of Special Operations Medicine. Volume 8, Edition 1, Winter 2008
Abstract
This issue of the JSOM follows the December 2007 Special Operations Medical Association (SOMA) meeting here in Tampa. SOMA continues to grow; we expected 1000 attendees perhaps, up from 800 last year, and ended up getting more like 1200. I attached some of the slides that I presented at SOMA at the end of this column. We plan to publish another JSOM Lesson Learned Supplement, which will include more from the SOMA conference. For preparing such an outstanding conference I heartily congratulate the SOMA leadership: Bob Saum, Bob Harrington, Russ Justice, Sammy Rodriguez, and Dave Davis! Dr. Harrington continues to grow a more robust program each meeting and the attendees overwhelmingly liked the small group sessions. Particularly noteworthy were the number of foreign SOF medical soldiers in attendance. With the growth of Theater Special Operations Command Surgeons I hope even more allies will participate and give presentations. Bob Harrington continues to search for enlisted Medics to speak, so step up to the plate. SFC Miguel Davis from USASOC gave an excellent talk entitled "Strategic Lessons from a UW Clinic." The conference arrangements were, for the first time, run by a professional corporation and it showed. The SOMA website is now run by them at: http://www.trueresearch.org/soma/. There were some bobbles as SOMA transitions from a small, personal organization to a professional enterprise but all in all I though it a great improvement. We should be able to accommodate even more vendors with this change. The vendors are like family, I say, since they are with us every year and very supportive. We owe them a vote of thanks. It was also nice to see the "gray beards," the former SOMA presidents, there: Allen Moloff, Craig Llewellyn, and Jimmy Coy. This was the twentieth anniversary, depending on how you are counting; it is truly breathtaking to see the change and growth.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA495462
Entities
Organizations
- Joint Special Operations University