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POMA wants The Journal of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association to be a safe space for all DOs to have a voice and be heard. Opportunities to contribute in all content areas are open to all osteopathic medical students, residents and physicians. Share your thoughts, ideas and submissions via email to [email protected].
*Views expressed in The Journal of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial board, The JPOMA, or POMA unless specified.
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A Different Time
October 2025 | Vol. 69, No. 3
Written by Barry Getzoff, DO
Sometimes I think about the beginning of my career at 48th and Spruce Street as a student at PCO, as it was called at that time. Classrooms were set with movable chairs and numbers on the back….so different from when I now enter the amphitheater as an instructor to give a lecture. From a classic show that had a song that began, “It’s a very ancient saying, but a true and honest thought, that if you become a teacher, by your pupils you’ll be taught.” As a mentor and instructor, I find that is definitely the case. I’ve been fortunate enough to have students work with me in my office, and because of my niche in practice, I am not privy to a lot of the information that they have. It is not unusual for a student, resident, or intern to interject some very pertinent information into our conversation with a patient that I was not aware of. I welcome that. I am also amazed by the quality of students who come through, as well as the information and medical knowledge they already have before they even get to my office. It’s very reassuring to know that the next generation will be well prepared to practice. |
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“Weighing In” On My First Clinical Rotation As A “Booth Doctor”
June 2025 | Vol. 69, No. 2
Written by Ted Eisenberg, DO – PCOM ‘76
When I arrived at the clinic in North Philadelphia, I knew virtually nothing about patient management – other than that I had to do a history and physical to get started.
I went to weigh my first patient and asked her to step on the non-digital scale. It wouldn’t register because she was well over 300 pounds. So, I grabbed a second scale, had her place one foot on each, and I tried to simultaneously calibrate each one. It didn’t work. I dug deeper into her 3-inch chart and discovered that someone had figured out that if you put a large clamp on the end of the scale part that moves up and down, and you weigh yourself before and after placing the clamp, you’d know how many pounds it would knock off – about 80 pounds in my case.
After my second patient walked in and sat down, I asked, “How much do you weigh?” He told me, and I followed up with “Is that with or without your shoes?” He then knocked on one of his legs. It was wooden. Then he knocked on the other! Both were a result of a below-knee amputation from diabetic gangrene. My first day in the clinics was a learning experience – a very embarrassing one. |
Paving a Path Forward
February 2025 | Vol. 69, No. 1
Written by Kirsten Mendez, LECOM OMS-IV
My journey to becoming an osteopathic doctor has been life changing. I will be the first person in my family to earn a medical degree, and entering the workforce as a DO will allow me to break new ground in my family's legacy. This milestone has required lots of perseverance, and I look forward to inspiring future generations of osteopathic physicians. As a medical student, I have had the opportunity to interact with and touch the lives of many individuals. The most important thing I have learned is to focus not only on a patient’s medical health but also on their overall wellness. |
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