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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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“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. |
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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. |
The Lasting Impact of OMT
February 2025 | Vol. 69, No. 1
Written by Anthony Frost, LECOM OMS-IV
As a child, I always answered “happy” when asked what I wanted to be. Over time, I realized my happiness came from helping others, which led me to medicine. Shadowing my mentor, an osteopathic physician, I learned to treat the whole person — mind, body, and spirit. A patient of mine suffered from chronic migraines and muscle spasms. Using osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and lifestyle adjustments I was able to ease his tension and improve his migraines. This experience deepened my commitment to a holistic approach that not only heals but cultivates meaningful, lasting relationships with my patients. |
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