AAAM is moving forward at an amazing pace. Following the annual meeting in Madrid, the committees and leadership have focused on pivotal initiatives designed to propel AAAM into the 21st Century with effective and expanding design.
A key component of the developing initiatives was to be a Board of Directors retreat and strategic planning session scheduled for April. AAAM, like the general public, is concerned about the growing spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the current impact it is having all over the world. After considering multiple factors, including the protection of our Board and staff members, we have decided to postpone the strategic planning retreat and reschedule it for some time this summer.
As you know, preparations for this event have included both a membership and a leadership survey and the creative input from these responses will guide the Board in establishing priorities for the next few years of AAAM. The direction provided from this initiative is invaluable and thank you to everyone who submitted their feedback. Stay tuned for the energizing outcome.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) at AAAM are very alive and well. The Low- and Middle-Income Country (LMIC) SIG has recently convened and a report on the workshop held in Madrid is under development. Priorities and proposals will be developed and included in the board discussion in April. Topics including adaptations of the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), continued workshops and conferences at annual meetings and a Conference in a LMIC were discussed. It is fully recognized that addressing issues in LMIC is critical to the mission of AAAM and that we need to carefully select our initiatives to ensure they will be effective and feasible. Thank you to Brian Fildes, Mark Sochor, Maria Gomez, Gary Smith and all the members of the LMIC SIG who contribute great expertise.
Our Scientific Planning Committee has been intently planning an exciting meeting for Portland, October 13-16, 2020. Outstanding opportunities still exist for participation in the Student Research Symposium to present in the poster session and to submit an abstract for a Short Communication. Do encourage your students and colleagues to take advantage of potentially presenting in Portland and experiencing the networking that only attending the AAAM annual meeting can provide.
Additionally, the SPC has planned three webinars that are free to members and a conference in conjunction with the National Transportation Safety Board is under development.
As a new president, I am extremely appreciative of the opportunity to experience first-hand the depth of expertise provided by our members and the gifts they provide in pursuit of the Mission of AAAM. There is always an opportunity for YOU to get involved as a member of a SIG or Committee. Dedication to the elimination of road traffic injuries worldwide is a mission to which we all can aspire.
Warmly,
Marilyn J. Bull, MD
AAAM President