State of the Society: Governance, Safety, and Leadership in a Critical Quarter
Wishing you and your families a wonderful holiday season and a bright start to the New Year. Thank you for your continued partnership; we look forward to the year ahead.
Over the past quarter, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) has remained firmly focused on its core mission: advancing patient safety, professional standards, education, and scientific integrity in undersea and hyperbaric medicine. This period has been marked by meaningful engagement across governance, education, accreditation, and public advocacy, reflecting both the maturity of our Society and the responsibility we bear as the leading authority in this field.
A central priority this quarter has been leadership continuity and representation within the UHMS. We have actively supported the nomination and development of outstanding candidates for elected and appointed roles, ensuring that physician, nursing, and active-duty military perspectives remain strongly represented at the leadership level. This deliberate approach reinforces institutional memory while preparing the Society for future challenges in an increasingly complex clinical and regulatory environment.
Education and training have also remained front and center. The UHMS continues to strengthen oversight of educational offerings, emphasizing appropriate governance, CME integrity, and legal accountability for course ownership and direction. These efforts are not administrative formalities; they are essential safeguards that protect learners, patients, and our specialty's reputation. By maintaining rigorous standards, the UHMS affirms its role as the gold standard for hyperbaric education worldwide.
Perhaps most notably this quarter, the UHMS engaged directly in public safety advocacy following a tragic hyperbaric-related death of a five-year-old child in Michigan. At the request of state leadership, UHMS provided formal testimony before the Michigan Subcommittee on Public Health, addressing the circumstances surrounding the incident and the broader issues of chamber safety, physician oversight, facility accreditation, and regulatory gaps. This testimony underscored a message the UHMS has consistently advanced: hyperbaric medicine must be delivered in properly accredited facilities, under the supervision of appropriately trained physicians, using chambers that meet established safety standards. While no testimony can undo a tragedy, the UHMS’s role in this process reflects our obligation to speak clearly, responsibly, and authoritatively when patient safety is at stake.
In parallel, the Society has continued its engagement with legislators, regulators, hospital systems, and professional organizations, positioning the UHMS as the trusted voice in hyperbaric medicine. These efforts are critical as hyperbaric oxygen treatment continues to attract public attention, commercial interest, and, at times, misuse outside accepted medical frameworks.
Throughout this quarter, the UHMS has remained guided by professionalism, collaboration, and respect for the legacy of those who built this Society, while maintaining a clear vision for its future. I am grateful to the Board of Directors, committee and council chairs and members, and our engaged membership for their dedication and thoughtful counsel. Together, we will continue to advance the UHMS’s mission with clarity, credibility, and purpose.
Looking ahead, I would also like to highlight the upcoming UHMS Annual Scientific Meeting in Denver, Colorado, May 17-21, 2026. This meeting remains the cornerstone of our Society’s scientific and educational mission, bringing together clinicians, scientists, engineers, nurses, technologists, and trainees from around the world together with our aerospace aviators, astronauts, and colleagues from the Aerospace Medical Association. I strongly encourage all members to attend, especially our associate members who provide the backbone of our society. I encourage you to submit your abstracts showcasing your clinical work, research, quality initiatives, and innovations from the past year. The Annual Scientific Meeting not only advances our collective knowledge but also strengthens the professional community that defines the UHMS. I look forward to seeing many of you in Denver for what promises to be an outstanding and impactful meeting.