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Announcements
FAA Offers Medical Certification Q&A ColumnThe FAA Safety Briefing magazine is offering a new column by Warren Silberman entitled “Ask Medical Certification.” It is a series of aeromedicine-related questions and answers sent in by readers and runs in addition to their regularly slotted Aeromedical Advisory column by Dr. Fred Tilton. Both of these columns can be found on pages 5 and 6 of the new September/October 2010 issue of FAA News Safety Briefing. Transmission of Disease in Airports & on AircraftThe Transportation Research Board of the National Academies recently released the summary of their symposium titled “Research on the Transmission of Disease in Airports and on Aircraft.” The summary report can be found here: www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/163870.aspx. The report includes summary papers provided by the symposium speakers. These papers were not peer reviewed and are intended only as written summaries of the research discussed in the presentations during the symposium. Not all speakers provided papers, so only those received are included in the document. IAASM Scholarship Deadline ExtendedThe deadline for the 2010 International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine (IAASM) Scholarship has been extended through the end of September. The aim of this scholarship program is to enable young physicians who are starting on a career in aerospace medicine to either attend a formal course of instruction in aerospace medicine or to work in a recognized aerospace medicine training or research institute for instruction, and for research experience in the discipline. This scholarship is for $15,000 U.S. For more information or to apply, please see the IAASM website, where a copy of the Scholarship Application Form is available in either English or French. For Immediate Release: "My Car Is Sinking"The article “My Car is Sinking: Automobile Submersion, Lessons in Vehicle Escape”—-published in Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine online free ahead of print with MP4 video clip--explains how to escape from a sinking car and the need for better public education. Read the complete Press Release (pdf file). For the complete article, go to: www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asma/asem/2010/00000081/00000008/art00009. The MP4 Video clip (supplemental data)is available at: www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asma/asem/2010/00000081/00000008/art00009/supp-data/asem2769. For more video clips contact Pam Day. AsMA Welcomes 2 New CorporatesAsMA recently welcomed two new Corporate and Sustaining Members: NeuroKinetics Health Services (B.C.), Inc., and Aerospace Medical, PLC. NeuroKinetics is a clinic dedicated to researching and implementing techniques to help people overcome health problems related to the brain. They were established in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1997. Their research focuses on the role the brain plays in daily life and develops treatments using a neurophysiological approach. They integrate Western neuroscience with traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and the principles of neuroplasticity to create innovative techniques to treat sensory-motor, postural, and cognitive dysfunctions. Their two most recent developments are the BioRegulateur Externe, a device for the correction of postural and balance-related disorders, and the Dynamic Ocular-Visual Monitoring System, which allows accurate and consistent measurements of human neurophysiology using sensory deprivation and non-invasive sensory-motor tests. For more information on this company, you can visit their website at www.neurokinetics.com. Aerospace Medical, LLC, is a company founded by Dr. Russell Rayman, who is the former Executive Director here at AsMA. NSBRI Postdoctoral Fellowship ProgramThe National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) is soliciting applications for its Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Two-year fellowships are available in any U.S. laboratory carrying out space-related biomedical or biotechnological research that supports NSBRI goals. NSBRI research addresses and seeks solutions to the various health concerns associated with long-duration human space exploration. Applicants must submit proposals with the support of a mentor and institution, and all proposals will be evaluated by a peer-review panel. The program is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or persons with pre-existing visas obtained through their sponsoring institutions that permit postdoctoral training for the duration of the project. Detailed program and application submission information is available on the NSBRI Web site. Notices of intent and applications must be submitted through the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). Notices of intent are due July 23, 2010, and the application deadline is August 18, 2010. Questions may be directed to David A. Watson, Ph.D., NSBRI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, e-mail: postdoc@www.nsbri.org, or phone: 713-798-7412. ABPM Announces New Educational PathThe American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) is pleased to announce the approval of a new educational pathway leading to board certification. This pathway is called the Complementary Pathway. The Complementary Pathway is designed to accommodate physicians who wish to make a mid-career shift into the practice of Preventive Medicine and to achieve certification by the ABPM in one of its three specialty areas – Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine, or Public Health and General Preventive Medicine. Please click here (Adobe pdf; 44 KB) for complete details. New FAA Policy on SSRIsFAA Proposes New Policy on Antidepressants for Pilots - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it will consider the special issuance of a medical certificate to pilots who are taking medication for mild to moderate depression, conditions that now bar them from all flying duties. An April 2 Press Release SSRIAAM3, an April 5 FAA Policy Statement/Request for Comment SSRIAAM1, and an April 5 Notice of Enforcement Policy SSRIAAM2 are provided here for your review. ASEM Article Featured in NYTAn article from the December issue of Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine was featured in the N.Y. Times. As a public service, we are posting the article in its entirety for free (download pdf). Latest FAA Aviation News Issue OutThe latest issue of FAA Aviation News focuses on the critical role human factors play in aviation safety. Articles address fatigue, decision making, aircraft design and technology, and more. The link to the online edition is: www.faa.gov/news/aviation_news. Journal Archives OnlineArchives of the journals of the Aerospace Medical Association are now available online. Members please log into the Members Only pages to access the archives. Commercial SpaceflightCommercial Human Spaceflight Working Group The Commercial Human Spaceflight Working Group (CSFWG) was mandated by the AsMA President and Executive Director to discuss various commercial spaceflight medical issues on a continuous basis and advise the AsMA Council periodically. Position papers may be developed when considered necessary. It should be understood that the commercial spaceflight situation is dynamic and findings and conclusions will evolve over time. Representation of the AsMA CSFWG on the FAA Commercial Space Flight Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) is viewed as one way in which the results of the Working Group can be communicated to the commercial space flight providers. Jim Vanderploeg and Mark Campbell currently are Co-Chairmen of the CSFWG. Several principles have been delineated for all discussions: - Issues for consideration must be directly relevant to the emerging commercial spaceflight industry and their participation is considered critical. - The CSFWG will not focus on recommendations for standards or certification, but instead will develop evidence-based, referenced evaluations and guidelines of the risks and ways to mitigate those risks to improve safety. Where there is insufficient evidence concerning a particular issue, then a recommendation will be made on what level of evidence is needed and how to obtain that evidence. A goal is to better articulate what are the gaps in the present knowledge of commercial spaceflight medical issues. - It is important to develop a process of determining risk assessment for participants (instead of standards or certification) with the goal of being able to provide informed consent to individuals prior to flight. This would be protective not only to the individual participant who would be better informed, but also to the industry which is also taking risk with each participant. - The issues to be discussed will include all aspects of commercial spaceflight, such as specific environmental threats (enclosed cabin environment, hyper G, hypo G, remote medical care). It will involve primarily crew issues, but will also address passenger safety. Mitigation strategies might include training issues as well as suggested countermeasures. The goal is to both identify and assess risk and then to suggest ways to mitigate risk. If you have any questions or input for the Commercial Space Flight Working Group, please feel free to contact Mark R. Campbell, M.D. at mcamp@1starnet.com. AsMA Represented at NRC SeminarAsMA was recently represented at an NRC seminar on disease transmission in flight and in airports with emphasis on H1N1. Interestingly, it was demonstrated that even with severe restrictions on airline travel, transmission worldwide would, at best, only be delayed and not prevented. A complete report will be published in the coming months. AsMA Submits White PaperThe National Research Council (NRC) invited AsMA to submit a White Paper on recommended research priorities for the Nation’s space program. The White Paper, which recommends that the highest priority be given to artificial gravity research, was approved by Council and forwarded on to the NRC. It will soon be on our web site(asma.org) under the Policy Compendium section. It is entitled "Decadel White Paper." Archival DVD Now AvailableAsMA's archival DVD of 73 years of the Blue Journal is now for sale. You can fill out the Archival DVD order form and return it or contact Sheryl Kildall. AsMA Foundation Summary AvailableA summary of the AsMA Foundation, including types of gifts that can be given and how to give, is now available for perusal. |
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