Thawing Hearts, Emerging Springs

February 2026 | Vol. 70, No. 1
By Porsche Lee, LECOM OMS-III

As winter loosens its icy hold and February’s final days whisper toward spring, we enter a quiet season of change. The early months often bring long clinical days, full schedules, and, for many students and residents, the anticipation of Match and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. These months can feel heavy, yet they invite reflection — a reminder that growth often occurs quietly, beneath the surface, even when unseen.

February marks American Heart Month, a moment not only to raise awareness about cardiovascular health but also to honor the heart as a symbol of warmth, empathy, and human connection. For osteopathic physicians, it is a reminder that our work extends beyond organs and diagnoses. We care for whole people, guided by presence, understanding, and the belief in the body’s capacity to heal. The heart is more than an organ; it reflects why many of us chose medicine, serving as a symbol of the attentiveness, compassion, and care that define our work. Each day, we are entrusted with moments of vulnerability, and that trust calls not only for skill but for humanity.

We Have a Problem

October 2025 | Vol. 69, No. 3
Written by Joseph Zawisza, DO

In October 2024, I wrote in this very column that we were reinventing the JPOMA after a hiatus. From then on, it was going to be delivered in a digital format, with a new layout, new features, and a new presentation style. The Publications Committee had requested contributions from our members. Furthermore, all of this was set to happen successfully, despite JPOMA having not published an issue in almost a year, and the previous committee chair had passed away.

That was a year ago. With any new (or renewed, as the case may be) undertaking, there is always a fear that it may be doomed from the start. As physicians, we have all taken on new projects and adventures in our lives that we worried might not work out. Remember the first day of medical school?  Residency? And most frightening of all, your first day as an attending physician, when there was no safety net.

As expected, the first issue required significant contributions from the committee members. Nevertheless, it was published, and only a few glitches arose, which we were able to resolve quickly. As a bonus, for the first time in JPOMA’s history, we were able to determine how many members were reading the journal and which articles they were engaging with.

Sonata for Kaleidoscope

June 2025 | Vol. 69, No. 2
Written by Samuel Garloff, DO

Ladies and Gentlemen, as I peer through my View-Master, click through the various scenes and witness the rebirth of the JPOMA. The transition from the printed to an online edition is complete, and we hope it meets with your approval.

In past years, I advocated for the inclusion of original poetry in the journal. With the rebirth of the JPOMA, this has expanded into a creative writing section. I couldn't be happier

Science and the arts have always advanced hand in hand. Einstein played violin. After all, could a string instrument produce music without the physics of harmonics? How could Orpheus attempt to rescue Eurydice from the underworld without the science of the lyre? One of the world's greatest playwrights was physician Anton Chekhov, who famously said, "Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress." If you would like a more recent example, read any of the works of Robin Cook, MD. Fond of the visual arts? Consider the anatomical drawings of Frank Netter, MD. The greatest concert violinist I ever met is a psychiatrist who had his medical school expenses paid by Leonard Bernstein.

"POMA Tense"

February 2025 | Vol. 69, No. 1
Written by Joseph Zawisza, DO, Chair, Publications Committee

In grade school (or perhaps you called it grammar school, which is appropriate for this editorial) one of the things we learned about was the tenses of a verb: past, present, and future. As we set out to develop a theme for this issue of the JPOMA, our theme was to be “POMA Past, Present and Future.” While we continued to refer to this issue by that theme at our committee meetings, trying to fit the content of the issue to that theme specifically became cumbersome and challenging at times. And so, after discussion, we decided to abandon the idea of rigorously trying to squeeze broad content into a potentially narrow theme. This made things a lot less tense.

However, as I reviewed submissions for publication for this issue, it became apparent that the JPOMA represents the past, present and future of POMA. I’m sure you’ll see this too. Dr. Barry Marks has shared thoughts and insight about a part of the future of Medicine that probably intimidates most of us – AI. Several submissions, including case reports and reflections, come from the doctors of tomorrow, osteopathic medical students. Meanwhile, Dr. Samuel Garloff reminds us of the origins of Medicine and how seemingly foolish thoughts of the past might not be so foolish today. Student Doctor Yasmine Saikali has suggested ways that we can advocate for our patients who experience procedural delays. I could cite all of the authors that have contributed to this issue and identify how they represent the past, present and future of POMA, but I’m sure you’ll see that as you read on.

You might be thinking, why is he naming specific authors and don’t these articles represent MEDICINE rather than POMA? That answer is simple. The authors of the JPOMA are the members of POMA. This journal is, and always has been, for you and by you, our members. The content has represented, and always will represent, the past, present and future of POMA.

With that thought in mind, I’d like to introduce you to some new content in the journal. The Vignettes section will include short stories from our readers on a specific topic. Not so coincidentally, in the first installment of this section authors talk about some of their first experiences with osteopathic medicine. Sticking with that idea, the June issue will feature your memories of your first clinical rotation.

Taking a look further in our past, in the Pages In Time section, you’ll see a page republished directly from the first issue of The Journal of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Association in 1959. I hope you enjoy seeing the what was on the minds of Pennsylvania’s osteopathic physicians of that time. Similarly, in the Everything Old Is New Again section, we’ve looked at a specific piece from the same issue and related it to an issue we face today. Lastly, for some fun, our Guess Who section will feature an osteopathic physician from Pennsylvania who we ask readers to identify. I believe our first subject embodies the past, present and future of POMA.

I’m sure all of you are familiar with the idea that history repeats itself. The familiar quote by philosopher George Santayana in 1905, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” is one of the first expressions of this that I am aware of, although I’m willing to bet that Santayana would have admitted that this was not a new idea based on his own words. As a child, since I wanted to be a physician when I grew up and therefore preferring science over history, I didn’t really appreciate this sentiment. But as each birthday passes by, I realize more and more just how true this statement is.

Enjoy the past, present and future of POMA!