Dear Colleagues,
How much we needed an in-person conference!
Those of you that were fortunate enough to attend probably enjoyed, as much as I did, the quality of the presentations during the Student Symposium and the Conference, in addition to the two excellent keynote lectures offered by Leah Shahum and Cecilia Sunnevang. But, even above it, I have the impression that the in-person interactions, the discussions during the breaks, and the meetings of the different committees and SIGs held during those days were irreplaceable.
For me, a special moment in the conference was seeing Sue Baker and Jan Price during the Awards Dinner, even if only in a video recording. Listening to these two individuals that have contributed so much to the field of injury prevention and AAAM was a compelling reminder of how we stay on the shoulders of giants…and, indeed, we have now the responsibility of continuing this tradition of excellence in our organization.
If I would have to highlight one piece that may have a significant impact on the future of our association, it is the presentation of the Digital AIS tool. The AIS is an essential part of AAAM as it is a necessary tool in the reduction of deaths and injuries in motor vehicle crashes. The Digital AIS application will open up numerous opportunities for partnering with organizations from a variety of countries and help them build robust injury information systems. I invite you all to get familiar with the new Digital AIS platform when it launches in the spring of 2023 and to promote its use in your circles.
At the business meeting, I had the privilege of introducing the new strategic plan for the coming years, which could be summarized in three words: INTERDISCIPLINARY, IMPACT, INTERNATIONAL. I am happy to inform you that you will be seeing several new initiatives becoming a reality in the coming months that are fully aligned with these ideas. As always, I am happy to hear your thoughts and suggestions about aspects of the strategic plan or about how AAAM can achieve the proposed goals.
As we head toward the beginning of a new year, I would like to invite you to join the different committees and SIGs within the organization. It is thanks to your generous contribution that AAAM will achieve its mission of eliminating road traffic injuries worldwide.
Francisco José López Valdés, PhD