President's Page
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Email: [email protected] Web site: www.asma.org Facebook: Aerospace Medical Association President’s Page Twitter: @Aero_Med Your AsMA advanced team, including yours truly, re- cently completed a site visit of next year’s meeting at the Swan and Dolphin hotel complex in Orlando, FL (www.swandolphin.com). These hotels provide ample capac- ity for all our scientific sessions, meetings, social gatherings, and exhibits. The staff was professional and accommodating and the grounds were beautiful and impressive, located on a lake front, complete with its own beachfront, and close to the Disney attractions. I hope you and your families will plan to enjoy all this venue has to offer. The theme for this year’s annual scientific meeting should be no surprise to anyone following my president’s pages. It is “Making a Difference in Aerospace Medicine.” Our meeting will address how we have been improving our Philip J. Scarpa, Jr., M.D., M.S. understanding and impact on our field’s current challenges. What knowledge gaps were filled by key work, what research was done in solving a critical problem, what scientific infor- Later, when I arrived home to our apartment, Lois mation or activities supported a change in viewpoints or pol- greeted me with “There’s a Colonel from AFIT that has been icy? How have we demonstrated our impacts on improving calling, and you’re to call him as soon as you get here.” I the health, safety and human performance of those involved replied that it was now too late to call so I would call tomor- in aviation, space and extreme environments? row. “No! He said he would be in his office until you re- Below is a story from Royce Moser, former President of turned, so call him now.” I did, and the earlier “Captain” AsMA, who reminds us that we can make a difference in our salutation had been replaced by “Doctor”, with apologies that field by helping the next AsMA generation. the Lt. Col. had failed to note travel would “certainly” be ap- proved if the Program Director required it. He then asked if I Helping the Next Generation could call Dr. McFarland that evening to advise him the trip My colleagues will be “shocked” to learn that I can re- was funded. When I called, Dr. McFarland responded, “Isn’t member my first Aerospace Medical Association Scientific that nice, Royce?” (It took me a while to put two and two to- Meeting since I am so “Chronologically Challenged,” recently gether.) receiving my 50 year membership pin. However, that first The meeting was great, and I learned from discussions meeting stands out because I almost missed it. by “giants” in our field. I knew only my classmates and Lt. I fortunately had Ross McFarland, Ph.D. as my supervi- Col. “Chuck” Berry, whom Dr. McFarland arranged for me to sor in the Harvard MPH portion of my Residency in meet while I was in medical school. However, everyone was Aerospace Medicine (RAM) program. His studies of human outgoing and friendly, and I was enthused after I attended factors in air transport played a major role in convincing the the meeting. airlines to pressurize passenger cabins. He was well-known The next year, Col. George R. Anderson, my RAM super- and highly respected in both aerospace medicine and indus- visor, “volunteered” me to take minutes at the Education try communities. Committee meeting. This opened up new opportunities to The AsMA meeting would be held in New York City, and meet leaders in our field, and I soon found I was learning as Dr. McFarland wanted all RAMs to attend. After the meeting much from these interactions as from the scientific meetings. we would tour aircraft manufacturing facilities in the area. Many members I met in committee work became life-long Dr. McFarland asked me to contact the Air Force Institute of friends, and Lois had the same experience in The Wing. As I Technology, which funded our time at Harvard, to see if the participated in committees, I was impressed by the contribu- RAMs could be funded to attend the meeting. tions of our members. For example, each November over 80 I clearly remember my conversation with a lieutenant Program Committee members meet, many at their own ex- colonel at AFIT. I stated our request, and the response was pense, to select scientific sessions. I know of no other organi- “Captain, can’t you read? If you can read you can see that zation with such dedicated members. Paragraph xx, sub-paragraph xxx, sub-sub paragraph xxxx, When I was President, I recalled my experience as a new clearly states there will be no funding of travel during the member. I did a President’s Page welcoming new members academic phase of the residency. Now don’t bother me and encouraging them to become actively involved in the nu- again!” “Yes, Sir.” merous opportunities in our organization as I did. A few The next day Dr. McFarland asked if I had called AFIT. I re- years ago, a member told me how impressed he was that I counted my experience. Dr. McFarland calmly stated how would devote a President’s Page to welcoming new mem- disappointed he was. After the class, I overheard Dr. bers, as he was when he read the Page. He found active par- McFarland asking his secretary to see if General Bohannon ticipation very rewarding, and… today he is your President! was free. I wondered why he was calling the Surgeon Making a difference by helping the next AsMA generation. General, but thought no more of it. You never know! Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine • Vol. 85, No. 9 • September 2014 977 Association News Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort – This is no Mickey Mouse Operation! By Jeffrey Sventek, Executive Director block is also in the Dolphin. However, if our Dolphin Hotel room block fills, overflow ac- The 86th Annual Scientific Meeting of the commodations will be made at the Swan Aerospace Medical Association is scheduled Hotel. It is a very short and easy walk be- for May 2015 at the Walt Disney World Swan tween the two hotels. Of significance, the and Dolphin Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Swan and Dolphin hotels are offering rooms In preparation for next year’s meeting, a small for all attendees at the US Government per group of AsMA and FAA leaders visited this diem rate. Currently, the per diem room rate meeting site to ensure we understand the for the Orlando area is $101.00 U.S. plus ap- venue layout and begin the process of assign- plicable taxes per night! What a great room ing scientific session rooms, committee meet- rate for our meeting. Of note, there is also a ing rooms, AsMA Wing Hospitality room, reg- Resort Fee that includes unlimited domestic istration space, and organizing the exhibit hall long distance and local calls, unlimited ac- spaces. The last time I visited the Orlando, FL, cess to the resort’s health club facilities, ten- area was in 1998, when our family drove from nis equipment and access to lighted courts, Virginia to Orlando to visit Walt Disney seasonal pool and recreational activities, in World and other theme park attractions in the room high-speed Internet access, and 2 bot- area. I was anxious to see what changes had tles of water daily. This fee is usually $23 occurred in Orlando over the past 16 years. plus tax per day but we are working with the I arrived at the Orlando International hotel to get a discounted rate. Airport (MCO) and immediately realized the As I entered the Dolphin Hotel, I was little disappointed with the large ballroom area had grown significantly in 16 years. The taken by the very large lobby area with its space the hotel was offering us for our ple- airport is a very large and modern facility ca- large fountain. There were numerous sitting nary sessions and large events. It was lo- pable of managing a large number of aircraft areas for people to gather and chat. Check-in cated on the 1st floor very near the Exhibit from international locations. Getting around was efficient and the reservation personnel Hall space. This location was not ideal for the airport and to the baggage claim was quite were extremely nice. With key in hand, I our Continuing Medical Education activities. easy. I retrieved my bag and stepped outside went to my room. Phil Galanty made a note to discuss this to find my Super Shuttle ride. We loaded into I found my room to be a good size with space during the next day’s official tour with the van and began our circuitous trip to the nice furniture and amenities. The bathroom the hotel staff. Walt, Phil and I had a won- Dolphin Hotel. Unfortunately, I was the last was large with nice fixtures and was very derful dinner at the Shula’s Restaurant lo- of six shuttle passengers so it took a little more clean. Exhausted, I immediately prepared cated inside the Dolphin Hotel and turned in ® than one hour and a very scenic tour of the for bed. I found the Westin’s Heavenly Bed for the evening. Orlando area before I arrived at my hotel. to be very comfortable. What a great night’s The following morning, our team gath- Direct transport from the airport to the sleep! ered for a wonderful breakfast provided by Dolphin Hotel is about 30-35 minutes, depend- The next morning, I met with Walt and the Dolphin Hotel.