asam newsletter... july 2020 - asam newsletter | 1 july 2020 in this issue page annual subscription...
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www.asam.org.au July 2020 - ASAM Newsletter | 1
JULY 2020 IN THIS ISSUE Page
Annual Subscription 2
Airline Update 2
Honours & Awards 2
Australian Space Agency 3
ASAM Board Update 3
Space LIfe Sciences Committee 3
Vale 4
JASAM 4
Photos 5
ASAM AGM 6
Calendar of Events 6
New ASAM Members 7
The ASAM Board 7
ASAM Conference 2021 8
ASAM NEWSLETTER
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Dear Colleagues,
Well, it never rains but it pours, right? I last wrote a President’s letter to you all in November 2019. Then it was Christmas, and we had a good couple of months of fires and chaos distracting from our usual work…. But by February the dust (smoke) was settling, and we were starting to look forward to things again, like what fun we’d be having in Hobart later this year.
And then 2020 got cancelled.
There are so many things to think, say and do because of SARS-CoV-2. Not least of all, as medical practitioners mostly working in primary care, is to ask the most important question – Are You OK? We can’t look after our aircrew, our patients or our families if we don’t look after ourselves. Fit your own mask first.
As DAMEs we have a responsibility to ensure our aircrew patients are in the best health possible, so they can aviate safely. Right now our pilot and ATC patients – as well as engineers, aircrewmen, cabin crew and many other aviation industry workers – are facing some pretty troubling times. Many of them have lost their jobs, or have lost a lot of income. We know that more than 80% of aviation safety incidents are attributable to human factors and human performance. We also know that our aviation population carries an increased risk of substance misuse and of mental health difficulty compared with the general population (as do we as doctors). Might it be worth reaching out to your aircrew patients to check in with them?
CASA has extended medical certificate expiry by 6 months, which is immensely helpful in buying time for aircrew and DAMEs to work out safe processes for performing medical assessments and clinical examinations. It also means, though, that some of them with chronic medical conditions might not have been as vigilant as they were in the pre-COVID19 world. Maybe their GPs haven’t been as available; gyms were closed; kids were at home; Dan Murphy’s had free delivery…. So when the time comes 6 months later, the HbA1C / BMI / BP / K10 / AUDIT-C is not quite where it needs to be, and we have a bit of work to do between the pilot and CASA to help restore them to flying fitness. I say again, might it be worth reaching out to your aircrew patients to check in with them?
On a lighter note…. Conference. I don’t know about you, but I was seriously contemplating heading down to Hobart anyway. 2 weeks in quarantine in a Hobart hotel, ordering in seafood bisque from Mure’s while quaffing Tamar Valley pinot noir doesn’t sound all that bad to me! Seriously though, we are well aware of the value of having an annual meeting as an opportunity to spend quality time with respected and well-liked peers; not to mention the CASA currency requirements.
The Board has made the decision to cancel the 2020 conference in its intended face to face format. We will be working busily away alongside CASA and the Iceberg team to make sure nobody misses out. We will let you know as soon as we have a plan.
In the meantime, please stay safe and well. Fit your own mask first.
With warmest regards,
KateKate MandersonPresident
Australasian Society of Aerospace MedicinePO Box 2252 Hawthorn VIC 3122 AUSTRALIA
Mobile: +61 418 890 641 [email protected]
@AustralasianSocietyof AerospaceMedicine
"Promoting the science of aerospace medicine"
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AIRLINE UPDATEIn Australia, the airlines are working collaboratively with Government and academic institutions to conduct research that will help understand the extent and nature of transmission of COVID-19 onboard aeroplanes. The team includes clinicians (including aviation medicine and public health specialist doctors) as well as epidemiologists and experts in virology including genetic sequencing. The research is being coordinated by the federal department of health's COVID-Net in cooperation with individual state and territory public health personnel. The research team is planning to:
1. examine case studies of flights where more than one person onboard was diagnosed with COVID-19,
2. a large-scale epidemiological analysis involving airline flight manifests to understand if diagnosed cases infected other passengers, and lastly
3. a descriptive analysis of infections among aircrew.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONIn acknowledgment of the many challenges faced by medical practitioners as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board has agreed to extend the annual subscription period by 6 months. Previously, the annual fee was levied on a calendar year basis.
In 2021 and moving forward, the annual subscription period will be 1 July to 30 June.
Existing members whose annual subscription was due to expire on 30 December 2020 will have their membership extended until 30 June 2021.
AEROSPACE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (AsMA)Dr Kate Manderson and Dr Rowena Christiansen have been awarded Fellowship of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA). Fellowship of AsMA is awarded to eminent members of the aerospace medicine community to reflect their long-standing commitment to the art, science, and practice of aerospace medicine, their leadership and mentoring in the field, and their active support of the Aerospace Medical Association.
Dr Justin Dickie and Dr Steven Chin-Chiu Ho have been awarded Associate Fellowship of the Aerospace Medical Association.
Dr Gordon Cable is the recipient of the THEODORE C. LYSTER AWARD which was established to honor the memory of Brig. Gen. Theodore C. Lyster, the first Chief Surgeon, Aviation Section, United States Army Signal Corps. It is given annually for outstanding achievement in the general field of aerospace medicine.
Brigadier Craig Schramm, CAPT Kelsie Nichols (NZDF), FLTLT Abbey Steggall (RAAF) and Dr Kate Manderson (March 2020).
HONOURS & AWARDSAustralia Day HonoursMedal (OAM) in the General Division Dr David WORKMAN, East Melbourne VIC 3001 For service to ophthalmology, and to international relations.
Queens Birthday HonoursMedal (OAM) in the General Division Dr David Rolla COOKE, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 For service to medicine, and to aviation.
Merz Prize - March 2020Lt George P Merz Memorial Prize for AVMO Course Dux was awarded jointly to CAPT Kelsie Nichols (NZDF) and FLTLT Abbey Steggall (RAAF).
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ASAM BOARD UPDATE After 23 years of service, Dr Gordon Cable has stepped down from the Board. During his term as director, Gordon has fulfilled many roles including President, Editor of the Journal, Chair of the Space Life Sciences Committee, and convenor of several conferences and the Humans in Space: Challenges for Exploration short course. During his term as President he guided the society through its change of name and rebranding. Gordon’s passion for aerospace medicine, and his extraordinary commitment to ASAM, has made a lasting contribution to the growth and development of ASAM.
Dr John Cherry has been appointed to fill the casual vacancy on the Board and will also chair the Space Life Sciences Committee. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, John has worked for NASA and the European Space Agency to develop medical support and training for astronauts and he remains actively involved in Space Medicine research. He holds academic titles with the University of Sydney, the University of Newcastle and the University of Wollongong. Prior to medicine he worked as an Astrophysicist, commercial helicopter pilot, science teacher and expedition leader. John was the recipient of the inaugural ASAM Conference Scholarship in 2013.
AUSTRALIAN SPACE AGENCY Dr Gordon Cable has accepted a secondment to the Australian Space Agency to lead the Agency’s Space Medicine and Life Sciences Roadmap Project and be a point of liaison between NASA’s space medicine department and the Agency. Space medicine has become a priority in ASA’s collaboration with NASA on the Artemis and Moon to Mars programs. Dr Cable will be the first doctor providing medical representation within the Australian Space Agency.
Dr Rowena Christiansen has been shortlisted in the ‘Academic of the Year’ category in the inaugural Australian Space Awards.
SPACE LIFE SCIENCE COMMITTEE After years of service Dr Gordon Cable has recently retired from his position as Chair of the Space Life Science Committee and Director on the ASAM Board. The Committee would like to thank him for his extended commitment to, and passion for, the area of Space Medicine. Gordon will remain a member of the Space Life Science Committee to provide ongoing support and advice to the newly elected Chair, Dr John Cherry. John comes to the role having previously worked for both the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA).
During this change over period the work of the Space Life Science Committee continued with preparations for the Humans in Space course ongoing. The course was due to run from the 9th-11th August in Hobart and interest in the course was high. Unfortunately, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic required us postpose the 2020 course due to safety concerns and the impact on logistics and planning. With a high reliance on international faculty and a large segment of the program devoted to workshops, it was not feasible to run the course in 2020. However, plans are already underway for reintroducing the Humans in Space course in 2021 so stay tuned!
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the Space Life Science Committee actively participated in the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars initiative. Members of the Committee attended briefings in capital cities around Australia and we were delighted to see Space Medicine highlighted as a major focus of the Moon to Mars program. As part of the consultation process the Committee have submitted a formal consultation paper to the Australian Space Agency which highlighted the potential for growth within the field of Space Medicine in Australia.
With recent governmental investment and increased media awareness, space science research and development is continuing to grow across Australia. Make sure to join the ASAM Facebook page or follow ASAM on Twitter (@AustSocAeroMed) to stay up to date with all the latest developments.
Dr John Cherry
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VALE Dr Jeanette Linn OAM MBBS MD FRACGP ACCAM
The Board acknowledges the passing of long-standing member, board member and advocate for ASAM, Dr Jeanette Linn OAM
• Member of ASAM since 1976• Committee member 1993 - 2007• Secretary of Committee 1996 – 2007• Honorary Member ASAM 2002• DAME appointment 1970• Consultant in SA to Air Services Australia• President AMA SA Branch 1980• Member of Federal Council AMA 1981-88• Member of Administrative Review Tribunal 1982 – 2001• Member of SA Medical Board 1982 – 2001
Dr Jeanette Linn OAM
JASAM The Journal of the Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine is available here.
Recently published articles: FLYING HOURS OF AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL PILOTS AND RISK OF CUTANEOUS MELANOMA Jean Claude Dusingize / Catherine M. Olsen / Kyoko Miura / Ian Hosegood / Rick Tinker / Ken Karipidis / Adèle C. Green
MISSION TO MARS: RADIATION SAFETY OR RADIATION DISASTER? SPACE TRANSIT AND MARS RADIATION EXPOSURE RISKS – THE POTENTIAL SHIELDING EFFECT OF AN INTRAVEHICULAR GRAPHENE SPACE SUIT AND A STORM SHELTER DURING SPACE TRAVEL Tim Squire / Grant Buchanan / Hany Elsaleh
Access the Journal here
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THE GOOD OLD PRE-COVID19 DAYSLet’s reminisce with these snaps from the last few conferences.
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ASAM AGMTHURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2020
6PM (AEST)
To be held by Webinar (Zoom) on Thursday 17th September 2020 at 6pm (AEST).
Pre-registration is required. Email [email protected] for more information.
REGISTER NOW
12 September 2020 AMSNZ Conference (Webinar registration available)
17 September 2020 ASAM Annual General Meeting (Webinar)
22 September 2020 Webinar - Aviation Health Conference 2020
10-15 October 2020 AsMA, Atlanta
16-19 September 2021 ASAM Annual Conference, Hobart
17 September 2021 ACAsM AGM, Hobart
18 September 2021 ASAM AGM, Hobart
23-25 September 2021 International Conference of Aerospace Medicine, Paris
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2020
2021
Dates may be subject to change, please check the relevant website.
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NEW ASAM MEMBERSAbby Steggall, Newcastle, NSWAhmed Al Jahwary, Seeb, OmanAman Ullah Jamil, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaAnthony Carpenter, Moonee Vale, VICAshley Wallin, Rockingham, WABen Addison, Carramar, WABenjamin Kabbabe, Broome, WABrad Wohlers, Clearview, SAChristopher White, Port Adelaide, SAFelix Ho, Darwin, NTGraeme Cumming, Mackay, QLDHoward Yu, Como, NSWKaledas Flintoff, Townsville, QLDKelsi Nichols, Auckland, New ZealandLauren Dickson, Richmond, NSWLorin Monck, Kalgoorlie, WANahina Naaz, Nadi, FijiNeil Glasson, Subiaco, WANicholas Tumman, Mitchelton, QLDNicole Dever, Coorparoo, QLDOwain Morgan, Mosman, NSWPaul O'Grady, Erskineville, NSWRamaswamy Goundar, Chermside, QLDRaveen Kaur Purba, Brunswick East, VICRiaan Jeffery, Isle of Capri, QLDRobin Yong, Harristown, QLDRoslyn Shaw, Townsville, QLDRowan Story, Hawthorn, VICSatish Kharia, Coorparoo, QLDSudha Cugati, Walkerville, SATara Kinnane, Springfield Lakes, QLDTeneille Boyland, Idalia, QLDThomas Kennedy, Tindal, NTTimothy Rogers, Mawson Lakes, SA
THE ASAM BOARDPresident Dr Kate Manderson
Vice-President Dr Craig Schramm
Treasurer Dr Jeremy Robertson
Secretary Dr Ian Hosegood
Board MembersDr Kelly Bofkin Dr Priti Bhatt Dr David Fitzgerald Dr Mike Hill Dr Collette Richards Dr John Cherry
FACEBOOK GROUPJust a quick reminder that ASAM runs a ‘closed’ Facebook group for members.
It is envisaged as a place to discuss current topics, or seek advice or opinion from fellow aviation medicine professionals. The security settings are such that only members of the group can see posts made on the page. When you apply you will be asked to supply the name and email address your ASAM membership is held in to help us identify you.
The group can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ASAMmembers
ASAM NEWS?For member updates and stories, let us know at [email protected]
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ASAM 2021Annual Conference16-19 September 2021 Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart
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