Page 4 - JSOM Spring 2026

This will be our first time attending this conference, and we Leishman. The framework is entirely original, and all content
look forward to introducing a new market of readers to the is created and reviewed under her oversight to ensure accu-
JSOM. This conference is directed toward medical profes- racy, clarity, and alignment with the JSOM’s mission. Atlas is
sionals who engage in outdoor activities, including mountain a tool—one that supports but does not replace the Journal’s
travel; who counsel individuals who take part in such activ- institutional voice.
ities; or who practice medicine in locations where they are
likely to encounter individuals who have been injured in such We understand that AI technologies are viewed differently
activities. across our community, and we respect those perspectives. At
the same time, we ask that engagement with JSOM content re-
September will bring us back to Orlando for the EMS World main focused on the information we are presenting. We kindly
Expo and World Trauma Symposium. That conference will be request that readers not use our platforms to host broader de-
28 September to 2 October. This conference is recognized as bates about AI so that we can maintain a professional, mission-
the largest and most comprehensive EMS education event in centered environment for all readers.
the world, attracting thousands of EMS professionals includ-
ing EMTs, paramedics, nurses, educators, medical directors, In addition to video briefs featuring Atlas, our new YouTube
and prehospital clinicians. channel @jsomonline also includes our new series, JSOM Con-
versations with Sam Patrick. These are short-form discussions
with leaders in our community. Our inaugural guest was the
Podcast
father of TCCC, Frank Butler. It was an interesting exchange,
We are saddened to announce that the Spring 2026 Podcast and we encourage you to check it out. As of this writing, the
will be 2d Lt Jessica Rodriguez’s final podcast for the JSOM. NARdoctor himself, Ethan Miles, of North American Rescue,
She will begin her general surgery internship shortly and will is scheduled to be Sam’s next guest. This episode should be
be busy learning how to be the best physician she can be. We available to stream in late April.
sincerely thank her for leading the podcast team this past year
and getting it back on our platform. Sydney and Matthew will Spring 2026 Cover
still be with us for the foreseeable future, but we are looking
for someone to step in and help fill Jessica’s shoes. We want to The Spring 2026 cover illustration
continue offering this opportunity to either a medical student of the Journal of Special Opera-
or an active duty medic; however, we will consider anyone in- tions Medicine (JSOM) depicts the
terested in reviewing articles for the JSOM. If you are inter- complexity and urgency of casualty
ested in joining the podcast team, please get in touch with us at evacuation during a tactical engage-
scott.graverson@breakawaymedia.org. We recently moved our ment. Recent theaters of operation
podcast feed to RSS.com, making the JSOM Podcast available remind us how dramatically casualty
wherever you listen to podcasts. management can change depend-
ing on the operational environment.
This quarter, our podcasters will review the following articles: When air superiority enables rapid
evacuation, medevac crews can of-
• Perceived Performance Traits of Blood Warming De- ten quickly transport casualties to higher levels of care. In
vices Among Special Warfare Medics by Seth Williams; contrast, large-scale combat operations (LSCOs) may require
Wayne Papalski; Matthew A. Tovar; Lorie Gower; Chris- prolonged casualty care and ground movement over multiple
topher Treager; Eric J. Koch; Eric Sulava; Emily Friedrich; days—conditions unlike those experienced during the past
Brittany Dellinger two decades of conflict.
• AI-Assisted Lung Sliding Detection in Point-of-Care Ul-
trasound by Marine Corps Corpsmen by Melissa Côté; These realities demand a deliberate shift in mindset. Recogniz-
Ross Prager; Khoa Tran; Nicolas Orozco; Delaney Smith; ing the operational differences, identifying likely constraints,
Zoë Holliday; Robert Arntfield and training to overcome them are essential to mission success.
• Case Report on the Augmentation of Cognitive Pro- Anticipating the appropriate medical equipment, supplies, and
cessing Therapy with Spiritual Counseling to Address treatment capabilities at the point of injury may ultimately de-
Faith-Based Concerns for an Operator with High Relig- termine survival in the LSCO environment.
iosity by Blake Schroedter; Mark Schimmelpfennig; Jona-
than W. Murphy For more than 25 years, the JSOM has remained dedicated
to publishing peer-reviewed research that advances the surviv-
As part of our continued evolution in ability, lethality, and operational effectiveness of modern warf-
digital communication, the JSOM has in- ighters. The journal continues to support the study, refinement,
troduced Atlas Whitaker, an AI-assisted and field application of life-saving medical interventions that
communications initiative designed to en- directly impact the success of saving lives through the applica-
hance how we share educational content tion of good medicine in bad situations.
across modern platforms.
Atlas was developed as a purpose-built
system by our Vice President of Market-
ing, Media, and Communications, Sophia

2 | JSOM Volume 26, Edition 1 / Spring 2026