NEWSLETTER
International Academy of Aviation &  Space Medicine	Summer Edition, July, 2002

 

“We want the air to unite the peoples, and not to divide them.”

                                             Lord  Swinton-                                         

   

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                    Please forward comments to:

                                                                                  Secretary-General, IAASM
                                                                                  21 Antares Drive, Suite 112
                                                                                  Ottawa, ON K2E 7T8
                                                                                  Canada

                                                                                  Tel: 613-228-9345
                                                                                  Fax: 613-228-0242
                                                                                  E-mail: <g.takahashi@sympatico.ca>

 

 

 

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

 

Dear Academicians, 

The airlines have now almost fully resumed their activities after the September decline connected with the terrorist attacks in USA. With tighter security, higher alert status and air marshals, people are slowly accepting air transportation as it used to be. This means that the medical departments of the airliners still are going to be busy. The military flying activities have also been kept on a high level during the last year and these activities seem to continue. A new Russian proposal for cooperation in a future international manned space flight to Mars has just been announced. All this may indicate that related activities in all aspects of aerospace medicine probably will continue to create many interesting tasks to accomplish by our Academy in the near future.  

The economy of our Academy is in good shape even if with fluctuations in the currency rates and money market. Outside donors have kindly contributed with more than $US 25,000 to the Academy, raising the value of the Educational Trust Fund to more than $US 100,000 for the first time. This means that the Academy is more economically independent and can continue to give out scholarships in aerospace medicine. Many new scholarship applications have also arrived during the last year. In addition, ten new applications for membership in the Academy were approved in Montreal and one application for corporate membership has just arrived. But there is still room for more membership applications to the Academy, among other things, due to some of the active members transferring to retired status. 

Our immediate-past president of the Academy, Dr. Claude Thibeault, took over as President of the Aerospace Medical Association in his hometown Montreal in May, which will give both organizations a good opportunity for valuable cooperation. Most of our members are also members in AsMA, which primarily is a US organization, but with about 25 % international members.  Both organizations have its merits, both striving to improve the understanding of  information and knowledge in aerospace medicine, however, in somewhat different ways. 

An amendment to the Constitution of the Academy was approved by the General Assembly in Montreal. The amendment allows individuals entering the field of Aviation and Space Medicine late in their professional careers, and, who have made a distinguished contribution to the area or reached positions of pre-eminence in the field, to be selected as Academicians through a separate procedure.

As the Academy, according to its constitution, is a bilingual organization, it was decided in Montreal that at least two  members of the scientific committee in the future should be from a French-speaking country. The procedures for the Academy’s future position papers together with AsMA were also discussed as well as how to proceed with the proposal for Distant Learning in Aerospace Medicine in cooperation with Griffith University in Australia. 

According to the Academy’s web-master, Dr. Michael Berry, our website (www.iaasm.org) has been very well attended during the last year. Its visits more than tripled during 2001 compared to 2000, with more than 70, 000 visits in 2001. This indicates a large interest in the activities of the Academy. Dr. Berry is planning a French language option to the website with, as usual, the kind assistance of the Academy’s always loyal and true interpreter Dr. Jean-Pierre Crance, from France.  

The planning for the next congress in Sydney, Australia is now in the final phase and we wish the organizers all the best. We are looking forward to celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the International Congresses under the auspices of  IAASM. The Allard lecture will be given by Dr. Michael Long, and the topic will be about the Australian Flying Doctors. Cosmic Radiation will be the theme of the John Ernsting panel.  

I hope all of you will try to attend this promising congress in beautiful Sydney. I am looking forward to seeing you in Sydney.  

With my best regards, 

Ulf Balldin, M.D., Ph.D.

President 

                                                                                    

                                             “We must be the change we wish to see in the world”

                                                                                                          -Gandhi- 

 

 

 

            NOTES FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL

 

“You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful idea in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality”
                                                                               -Walt Disney-           

 

            The Academy recently received a letter from Dr. Assad Kotaite, the President of the Council, ICAO,  that

 “the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, on June 11, 2002 bestowed the 36^th Edward Warner Award upon the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine in recognition of the eminent contribution of the Academy to the development of international civil aviation through its achievements in aviation medicine”. 

This is a great honour to the Academy. The Academy owes Dr. Silvio Finkelstein many thanks for taking the time and effort to nominate the Academy for the Edward Warner Award. Details regarding the official presentation will be available soon. 

How proud our founding members would have been to have known that their creation of their dream, back in 1955,  the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine, would receive such high international recognition.

The dream to create an organization to encompass all nations across all borders, regardless of race,  religion or politics, to further the art and science of Aerospace Medicine, was truly a remarkable and unselfish objective. It is through their foresight and vision that this Academy was founded. Let us list their names in order that we can pay  tribute to them. 

            Founding Members of the Academy:
                            Dr. Kenneth G. Bergin, UK; Dr. Kenneth Dowd, Canada;
                            Dr. Dan Ogle, USA; Dr. Jan Tillisch, USA; Dr. Harold R. Bohlman, USA;
                            Dr. Francis Kimball(First President), USA; Dr. Armand Robert, France. 

After their dream was realized, through the efforts of individuals from many nations, succeeding members who followed, continued to make their individual contributions to help make the Academy what it is today.  

So, let us thank the many, both deceased and alive, who have contributed to the success of the Academy, and, if able, please make every effort to attend and make the Sydney Congress a great success. The Organizers of the Sydney Congress are extending a warm Australian welcome to everyone. 

            See you in Sydney. 

            Yours sincerely 

            George Y. Takahashi, MD

            Secretary-General

           

 

 

In the Academy, we are constantly surrounded by greatness. Many of our members are true pioneers in aviation and space medicine-- men and women who have bravely led us into  unknown spheres, and now, thanks to their efforts, we are able to take for granted the knowledge that we have today. We in the Academy are very privileged to know  many of our heroes, not only as colleagues, but as very good friends. Often, we are not  aware of the many accomplishments and contributions made by our fellow Academicians who may be sitting next to us during a meeting. Therefore, as a small tribute to our many great Academicians, the Newsletter will, from time to time, “Spotlight” on deserving Members.

This month the Spotlight has been focused on the new Academicians who have been elected to the Academy at the last Selectors Meeting in Montreal, May 5^th, 2002.

 

1. Dr. Alfred Bonnici,            Full Member, Malta

            -Current position: Chief Medical Officer, Air Medical Services, Civil Aviation, Malta
                        -1959- MD, The Royal University of Malta
                        -1965- B.Pharm, University of Malta
                        -1968-Appointed FAA Senior Medical Examiner
                        -1974-General Aviation Medicine Course, Farnborough, UK
                        - Aviation Medical Examiner for FAA, CAA UK, CAA Pakistan, Libya, Canada, Australia, Italy
                        -1982-Member, Airline Medical Directors Association
                        -1985-Senior Medical Officer, Air Malta
                        -1992-Chief Medical Officer, Air Malta
                        -1992-Chairman, Civil Aviation Medical Board, Malta
                        -1990-Member , JAA Medical Sub-Committee
                        -2000-Vice-President, UK Association of Aviation Medical Examiners

 

2. Dr. Kathleen Callaghan, Associate Member, New Zealand

            -Current position: PhD research, teaching, University of Auckland, New Zealand
                        -1991-MB, ChB., University of Auckland
                        -1991 glider pilot
                        -1994 Private Pilots Licence, NZ
                        -1998-D.Av.Med., University of Otago
                        -1999-Msc., University of Auckland
                        -2001-Dip.Occup.Med., University of Auckland
                        -1995-99- Flight Surgeon, Royal New Zealand Air Force
                        -1997- member, Aerospace Medical Association
                        -1999-2001- Principal Medical Officer, CAA New Zealand

                       

3. Dr. Anthony D.B. Evans, Full Member, United Kingdom

            Current position: Deputy Chief Medical Officer, CAA, UK
                        -1975- Commercial Pilot, British Airways
                        -1978-BSc. Sports Science, Liverpool Polytechnic
                        -1979-MSc. Human Physiology, London University
                        -1984-MBChB., Glasgow University
                        -1985-Diploma in Geriatric Medicine, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
                        -1987-Medical Officer, UK Civil Aviation Authority
                        -1989-D.Av.Med., Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of London
                        -1993-Head, CAA Medical Standards and Certification Dept.
                        -1997-Head, CAA Medical Dept.
                        -2000-promoted to current position
                        -maintains currency as B757/767 professional pilot

 

4. Dr. Robert Liddell, Full Member, UK/Australia

            Current position: Medical Director, Aviation Services, International SOS
                        -1965-72-Royal Australian Army Infantry Corps
                        -1972-MBChB., University of Western Australia
                        -1974-Diploma, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Perth, Australia
                        -1976-83-Medical Director, Pilot, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Western Australia
                        -1980-D.Av.Med., Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of London
                        -1983-88-Company Medical Director, ATR Line Pilot, Dan Air Services
                        -1988-96-Director of Aviation Medicine, CAA and CASA, Australia
                        -1996-99-President, Aviation Medical Society of Australia and New Zealand
                        -1998- appointed to current position
                        -Member, Airline Medical Directors Association
                        -Fellow, Aerospace Medical Association 

5. Dr. Hiroshi Miyazaki, Full Member, Japan

            Current position: Chief Medical Director, Japan Airlines(JAL)
                        -1982-MD, Jikei University School of Medicine
                        -1988-Board Certified, Internal Medicine
                        -1990-PhD, Jikei University School of Medicine
                        -1991-Visiting Research Fellow, K.U. Leuven, Belgium
                        -1992-Board Certified, Industrial Physician
                        -1993-Deputy Chief Medical Director, JAL
                        -1993-Member, Aerospace Medical Association
                        -1994-Board Certified, Gastroenterology
                        -1994-Board Member, Japanese Society of Aerospace and Environmental Medicine
                        -1999-Asst. Professor, University of Occupational & Environmental Health, Japan
                        -2000-Appointed to current position, JAL                       

6. Dr. Hirofumi Okoshi, Full Member, Japan

            Current position: Deputy Chief Medical Director, Japan Airlines(JAL)
                        -1981-MD., Jikei University School of Medicine
                        -1988-Medical Director, JAL,
                        -1989-PhD., Jikei University School of Medicine
                        -1989-Member, Aerospace Medical Association
                        -1990-Visiting Research Fellow, Path. Dept.,Washington University, USA
                        -1991 to present-Councillor, Japanese Society of Aerospace and Environmental Medicine
                        -1992-Board Certified, Senior Occupational Physician
                        -1994-appointed to current position, JAL
                        -1999 to present-Director, Japanese Society of Travel and Health 

7. Dr. Eric B. Peters, Full Member, South Africa

            Current position: Medical Director, South African Airways
                        -1969-MB.ChB., University of Capetown, South Africa
                        -1977-Dip.Av.Med., SA Geneeskundige Diens SAMC Training Centre
                        -1977-Dip.Anaes., College of Medicine of South Africa
                        -1985-Dip.Occup.Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
                        -1985-Assoc.Fellow, Aerospace Medical Association
                        -1990-Lennon Aviation Medicine Achievement Award, South African Aerospace Medical Society
                        -1992-Lifetime Members, South African Aerospace Medical Society
                        -1993-President , South African Society of Aerospace and Environmental Medicine
                        -1993-President, Airline Medical Directors Association
                        -Past-Vice-President, Aerospace Medical Association
                        -AME- FAA, South Africa, Australia, Canada 

8. Dr. Romie N. Richardson, Full Member, USA

            Current position: Director, Aerospace Medicine Residency Program, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine
                        -1974-BSc.Biology, Northeast Missouri State University
                        -1978-DO., Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
                        -1989-MPH., Tulane School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine
                        -1988-89- Aerospace Medicine Residency, Tulane School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine
                        -1989-90-Aerospace Medicine Residency, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB
                        -1991-Board Certified, Aerospace Medicine
                        -1980-83-Space Shuttle Recovery Flight Surgeon, White Sands, New Mexico
                        -1990-93-Consultant in Aerospace Medicine to PACAF Command Surgeon
                        -1993-Medical Group Commander-4404(P) Wing, Saudi Arabia
                        -1993-96-Consultant in Aerospace Medicine to AFMC Command Surgeon
                        -Founding Member, American Society of Aerospace Medicine Specialists
                        -Fellow, Aerospace Medical Association            

9. Dr. Thomas W. Travis, Full Member, USA

            Current position: Commander and Dean, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB
                        -1976-BSc.Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
                        -1977-79- USAF pilot training
                        -1979-82-F-4 pilot, USAF
                        -1980-MSc. Physiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
                        -1986-MD., Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences School of Medicine, Bethesda
                        -1987-90- F-15 pilot physician, Langley AFB, Va.
                        -1990-92- Aerospace Medicine Residency, Brooks, AFB
                        -1991- MSc., Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
                        -1993-Board Certified, Aerospace Medicine
                        -1992-96- Chief, Medical Operations, Human Systems Program Office, Brooks AFB
                        -1996-98- Senior medical officer test pilot, RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, Farnborough, UK
                        -1999- MSc. National Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Washington DC
                        -1999-2001-Director, Operational Health Support, Chief, Aerospace Medicine Division, Wash.DC
                        -Fellow, Aerospace Medical Association
                        -Fellow and Regent, American College of Preventive Medicine
                        -President, USAF Society of Flight Surgeons 

10. Dr. Anthony S. Wagstaff, Full Member, Norway

            Current position: Asst. Director and Head, Flight Operational Health Environment & Safety Section,
                                       Royal Norwegian Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine(RNoAF), Oslo, Norway
                        -1985-MB BCh.BAO., Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin
                        -1987-Chief Medical Officer, Occupational Health Services, Central Government Admin., Oslo
                        -1992-Research Scholarship, RNoAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
                        -1994-Private Pilots Licence
                        -1994-Consultant Physician, RNoAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
                        -1996- Head, Section for Health Environment & Safety, RNoAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
                        -1997- D.AvMed. Royal College of Physicians of London, UK
                        -1998-Acting Director/Head, RNoAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
                        -1998-Appointed to current position
                        - 2001-PhD, Aviation Medicine,  University of Oslo
                        -Member, Aerospace Medical Association
                        -Member, International Aircraft and Pilots Association 

Congratulations and a warm welcome to the new Academicians.

The Editor apologizes for the briefness of the biographical sketches, and extends apologies for any major omissions.  

NEW APPLICANTS UNDER REVIEW 

As Academicians of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine, please review the names of the new Applicants, currently in the evaluation process,  listed below.

Any Academician member of the Academy knowing of any reason why a certain applicant should not be granted membership into the Academy is encouraged to forward such information to the Chancellor, the Chair of the Selectors Committee. The information must be in written format by e-mail or letter format. The letter must be signed. Although the information will be maintained on a confidential basis, it will be provided to the members of the Selectors Committee for consideration.

Any information regarding the following applicants listed below must be received by the Chancellor, no later than

September 6,  2002. <fpettyjo@usamail.usouthal.edu> 

            1. Dr. Raymond V. Johnston, UK
                        Sponsors: Dr. Sandra Mooney, UK
                                       Dr. Anthony Batchelor, UK 

            2. Dr. Masanobu Kaji, Japan
                        Sponsors: Dr. Ichiro Asukata, Japan
                                       Dr. Masanomi Kokari, Japan 

            3. Dr. Akira Miyamoto, Japan
                        Sponsors: Dr.Melchor Antuñano, USA
                                       Dr. Ichiro Asukata, Japan 

            4. Dr. William M. Waring, USA
                        Sponsors: Dr. Jay C. Bisgard, USA
                                       Dr. William Brath, USA 

           

 

ITEMS OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS

            1. Scientific Committee

The Scientific Committee is still seeking volunteers with expertise in a particular field to write “Position Papers” on behalf of the Academy when topical or critical issues appear on the aeromedical horizon.

Members who are interested in participating should forward their names and areas of expertise to the Chair of the Scientific Committee, Dr. Yehezkel Geoff Caine, <caine@cc.huji.ac.il> 

            2. Sydney Congress

The dates for the Sydney Congress are September 15 - 19, 2002. It will be the 50^th Congress, and our Australian hosts have told us that this year in Australia has been designated the Year of the Outback.

            There is still time to register.  You may visit the Website <www.icasm2002.org> for further information. 

         3. Proxy Authorization for Sydney, Australia

The Proxy Authorization Form is included in this Newsletter as Appendix A. If any Member will not be attending the Academy Meetings in Sydney, please fill out and sign the Proxy Authorization Form, and ensure that it reaches the Secretary-General’s office by September 6^th, 2002.. Please remember that your Proxy is counted to establish a quorum, and you may also instruct your Representative on how you wish to vote on an issue. It is surprising how many Proxies are received in the Secretary-General’s office after the meetings are over. Unfortunately these late Proxies cannot be placed in the official count. Many Members have also named as their representative someone who is not attending the meetings. Therefore, please confirm with your chosen representative that they are planning to attend the meeting.                     

 

                                                SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE ACADEMY 

Donations to the Scholarship Fund:

A special thank you to all Academicians who have made generous donations to the Academy Scholarship Fund.

The names are acknowledged below. However, a special note of thanks goes to Dr. Ian Perry for his own campaign amongst friends and associates from outside the Academy. His personal efforts have brought in an extra

$US 25,000.00 thus far. 

Donors 2002: Sir John Baird; Dr. Andrew H. Bellenkes; Dr. Jeffrey Davis; Dr. Roy DeHart; Dr. K. Edgington; Mr. Peter Fowler;Mr. David George; Dr. Harry Gibbons; Dr. John Hastings; Dr. Michael Joy; Hon. Michael Kadoorie; Dr. Daniel B. Lestage; Dr. R.E. Mitchell; Dr. Hiroshi Miyazaki; Mr. Dru Montagu. Dr. Hirofumi Okoshi; Dr. Gerald Saboe;  Dr. G. J. Salazar; Dr. Claude Thibeault.                       

Professor Jean-Pierre CRANCE:

Again the Academy owes a great bundle of gratitude to Professor Jean-Pierre CRANCE for the all the time and effort he spends translating the Newsletter and General Assembly Minutes. In addition, he has also provided kind assistance to the Organizing Committee of the Sydney Congress in translating material. This effort is greatly appreciated. Also a big thank you and merci to Ms. Françoise LORRAIN, who kindly transcribes the French edition of the Newsletter.  

Dr. Len THOMPSON:

Way down under in New Zealand our Deputy Secretary-General continues to work away quietly supporting the Academy by publishing the Monographs, tending to the Scholarship Fund and to giving the Secretary-General support and assistance whenever necessary.  Thank you Len. 

Dr. Michael BERRY:

Deep in the heart of Texas in spite of the heat and flash floods, Dr. Michael Berry tends to the Academy Website which has provided the Academy with significant international exposure. The Newsletter is also made available through the Website.

In case you have forgotten it is: <www.iaasm.org> . Please visit the Website from time to time. Dr. Berry would appreciate any comments or suggestions to improve the Website. Please forward your suggestions to Dr. Michael Berry: <DOCMikeB@aol.com> 

 

 

                                              A REMINDER FOR UNPAID ANNUAL DUES 

Thank you to the Academicians who have promptly paid their 2002 Annual Dues. To those who have yet to pay their Annual Dues, a Final Notice is enclosed with this Newsletter. Please forward your payment to the Secretary-General as soon as possible.

Many thanks.                                                                                    

 

 

 

                                                                         IN MEMORIAM 

                                            A Remembrance of George Fitzburgh Catlett, MD 

George F. Catlett, MD, died after a lengthy illness in San Francisco, California, on February 1, 2002. He is survived by two sons, George, of San Francisco, and Jeffery, a Captain in the US Army in Kansas. 

Dr. Catlett was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on September 25, 1924. He took his undergraduate work at the University of Florida, and his medical degree from Temple University of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1948. After internship at the Bryn Mawr Hospital of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, he opted for training in General Surgery at the Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City.  

Following residency, he was commissioned in the US Navy Medical Corps in 1951. After training at the School of Aviation Medicine in Pensacola, he was ordered to Marine Air Group 311 in Korea as a rated Flight Surgeon, a billet he held for the duration of his naval service in the US Naval Reserve. 

In 1954 he joined the Regional Medical Department of United Air Lines in San Francisco as Flight Surgeon. In 1956 he established United’s Regional Medical Department at Idelwild International Airport in New York(now JFK International Airport), and continued as Regional Flight Surgeon until his retirement in 1985. Following that, he was associated with the Medical Services of Pan American in New York. 

Dr. Catlett was a member of the American Medical Association and local and state New York Medical Societies. He was Past-President and Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association, and a Past-President of the Airline Medical Directors Association. In addition, he was an enthusiastic member of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine. He was certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine in Aerospace Medicine. He published a number of papers and was the recipient of the Edwards (1967) and Boothby (1972) Awards of the Aerospace Medical Association, as well as other honours. 

Although his career focused on clinical medicine, he was actively interested in research, and studied various entities of his specialty on his own. He maintained a life-long fascination with anthropology, literature, religion, music and the performing arts, and his knowledge in manyof these areas bordered on the encyclopedic. He added to the scientific as well as the social development of Aerospace Medicine. He will be remembered. 

Kindly submitted by Dr. Francis R. Schwartz.

 

               “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; that is to have succeeded.”

 

                                                                                                                      -Emerson-

 

 

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