Page 3 - JSOM Winter 2025

from the
PUBLISHER and EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Publisher: Michelle DuGuay Landers, MBA, BSN, RN Editor-in-Chief: Scott Graverson, MBA, PhD
Lt Col (Ret) MSgt (Ret)

Season’s Greetings,

n behalf of the JSOM staff, we extend our warmest wishes This Winter edition also features a podcast lineup that includes:
Ofor a joyful holiday season and a successful year ahead. Win- • The Chicken, Fox, and Grain: Solving the Problem of
ter is a time of reflection and renewal, offering us the opportunity CASEVAC by Barbee et al.
to look back on the milestones of the past year while preparing for
the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. • A Prospective Comparison of SAM IO versus EZ-IO: Inser-
tion Time and Usability During Simulated Vascular Access
Year in Review by Stiglitz et al.
2025 was a year of remarkable engagement and growth for the • Implementing Operational Skills in the Education of Com-
Special Operations medical community. Our team attended and bat Medics at the Belgian Defense: An Integrative Model
supported several key conferences, including SOMA’s Scientific by Waroquier, et al.
Assembly in Raleigh, NC, in May; the Combat Medical Confer- Winter 2025 Cover
ence in Ulm, Germany, in July; the IDGA’s 19th Annual VA Health-
care Summit in Alexandria, VA, also in July; the Military Health The Winter 2025 cover of the Journal
System Research Symposium in Orlando, FL, in August, and the of Special Operations Medicine reflects
World Trauma Symposium / EMS World Expo in Indianapolis, IN, the intensity of close-quarters combat
in October. Each event reinforced the importance of collaboration, and the unique trauma profile associ-
innovation, and knowledge exchange across disciplines. ated with fighting in confined environ-
ments. These scenarios demand rapid
We also proudly released new protocol handbooks that will serve
as vital resources for medics in the field: the 2025 Ranger Medic decision-making in settings where mo-
Handbook, produced by the 75th Ranger Regiment, and the Pro- bility, visibility, and cover are severely
longed Field Care Field Handbook, produced by Specialized restricted. Tactical med ical providers
Medical Services in Colorado Springs, CO. These publications re- must be prepared to manage life-
flect our ongoing commitment to equipping practitioners with the threatening injuries while supporting
most current and practical guidance available. Both handbooks, the force’s capability to neutralize ongoing threats.
along with our standard handbook offerings, are available for Subterranean operations introduce an additional layer of com-
purchase in either bound or PDF format on our storefront. They plexity, presenting environmental, physiological, and operational
are also available as part of our Digital Handbooks or All Digital variables that challenge even the most experienced teams. As al-
subscriptions. A portion of the proceeds of the Prolonged Field ways, mission success is enhanced by consistent skills sustainment:
Care Field Handbook supports SMS’s non-profit mission. mastery of core TCCC principles, realistic stress inoculation, the
ability to deliver competent care under sensory deprivation or
Looking Forward to 2026 overload, and equipping teams with mission-appropriate medical
The coming year promises to be equally dynamic. We look for- and tactical gear.
ward to attending the National Association of EMS Physicians For over 25 years, the JSOM has remained committed to advanc-
(NAEMSP) in Tampa, FL, where Dr. Frank Butler (CAPT, USN, ing the medical knowledge base of the military and responder
Ret) will sign his book, Tell Them Yourself: It’s Not Your Day medical community—delivering relevant, evidence-informed con-
to Die. In addition to attending SOMSA and the World Trauma tent and supporting the ongoing evolution of medical innovations
Symposium, we will participate in EMS on the Hill, with legisla- that enhance survivability and operational effectiveness.
tive meetings sponsored by EMS World, in March, and the Wilder-
ness Medicine Summer Conference in Asheville, NC, sponsored Closing Thoughts
by the Wilderness Medical Society, in July. Additionally, we plan
to support the Combat Medical Conference in Paris in November, As we move into 2026, we remain steadfast in our mission to sup-
port the Special Operations medical community with resources,
further strengthening our international collaborations.
research, and opportunities for professional growth. Your dedica-
Podcast Initiatives tion and expertise continue to inspire us, and we are honored to
serve as a platform for your work.
We are excited to announce a new feature: monthly interviews
with prominent SOF medical icons, hosted by Sam Patrick. Sam With gratitude and anticipation,
brings a wealth of experience as a former Medical Platoon Ser-
geant and senior flight medic, having overseen the operations of Michelle Landers, Lt Col, USAFR (Ret)
Publisher, Journal of Special Operations Medicine
13 Special Operations flight medics, managed clinical oversight
for a battalion of over 600 personnel, supervised civilian medical Dr. Scott P. Graverson, MSgt, USAF (Ret)
support staff, and served as a trusted advisor to medical officers. Editor-in-Chief
Many will also recognize him as the former host of the Splints
and Whiskey podcast.

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