Page 4 - JSOM Fall 2025

from the
VICE PRESIDENT of MARKETING and

SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
Sophia Leishman

ecently, I attended the VA Health Summit, where wasn’t just his own, it was a testament to the cost of
I was asked about a photograph and cover from service and the experiences forged in combat.
RFall 2015 (see below)—a photo which, coinci-
dentally, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. This isn’t just medicine under fire. This is the indomita-
ble spirit of Special Operations Forces in real time. It’s
the relentless drive to keep pushing, to keep fighting
for the man beside you, even when you yourself are
bleeding. It’s the unspoken creed that you never quit,
never back down—no matter the odds.

For the Journal of Special Operations Medicine, this
image became more than a snapshot in time. It was a
rallying point. It showed our audience—medics, oper-
ators, veterans, and supporters, alike—what our com-
munity stands for. In our early social media growth,
images like this fueled connection and purpose. Every
share, every comment, every veteran who wrote in to
say “I’ve been there” became proof that our mission
wasn’t just about publishing knowledge, it was about
preserving the spirit of the men and women who live
it. We’ve grown, adapted, and evolved as a publica-
tion. But I keep this image close, because it reminds
me what we’re fighting to honor: warriors who bleed
so others may live.

From time to time, I cross paths with the man in this
photo, and we’ve traded the occasional email. Despite
his remarkable service, he carries himself with deep
humility, always quick to say that others did more and
never came home. When I catch sight of him at our
It never ceases to amaze me how deeply this cover im- annual conference, it’s a reminder that some wins can’t
age resonates with everyone who sees it. Early in my be measured on paper, and it’s like the best parts of
time at the JSOM, I was tasked with combing through this job staring back at me.
our imagery archives to find powerful visuals for social
media. (This was at a time when our social media pres- Respectfully,
ence was barely more than a blank slate.) Sophia Leishman
Vice President of Marketing and
When I first saw this image, it hit hard. A wounded Social Media Communications
American Special Operations Forces medic (18D), shot Journal of Special Operations Medicine (JSOM)
in the shoulder by enemy fire, treating an injured Af- Executive Editor of the JSOM Newsletter
ghan Commando. The blood soaking through his shirt www.jsomonline.org

2