Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Podcasts

Episode Description:In this spring edition of the Journal of Special Operations Medicine Podcast, the team examines evolving challenges at the intersection of behavioral health, combat trauma care, and medical technology in austere environments. Drawing from recent JSOM publications, the discussion highlights how modern warfare—characterized by remote engagement, prolonged care timelines, and rapid technological integration—is reshaping both injury patterns and treatment strategies across the continuum of care.The episode reviews three featured articles. First, a case report explores the augmentation of cognitive processing therapy (CPT) with spiritual counseling in a Special Operations Forces (SOF) operator experiencing PTSD and moral injury following indirect trauma exposure via drone surveillance. Second, a systematic review of orthopedic trauma in the Russia–Ukraine conflict outlines current injury patterns dominated by blast and high-velocity mechanisms, along with implications for surgical management and long-term rehabilitation. Third, a pilot study evaluates AI-assisted lung ultrasound interpretation by novice medics, demonstrating improved diagnostic accuracy and confidence in identifying pneumothorax in resource-limited settings.Together, these discussions underscore the increasing complexity of operational medicine, where providers must integrate psychological, surgical, and technological considerations to optimize outcomes in dynamic and constrained environments.Guests / Hosts:- Jessica Rodriguez — Medical student, incoming surgical resident; co-host- Sydney Duke — Medical student; co-host- Matthew Faranella — Medical student with operational perspective; co-host- Dan Godbee — Medical Editor, JSOM (introductory commentary)Key Topics Covered:- PTSD and moral injury, including indirect trauma exposure in modern warfare- Integration of spiritual counseling with evidence-based psychotherapy (CPT)- Role of military chaplains in operational and clinical settings- Orthopedic trauma patterns from near-peer conflict (blast, drone, and high-velocity injuries)- Damage control orthopedics, infection mitigation, and rehabilitation strategies- AI-assisted point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for pneumothorax detection- Operational considerations for deploying AI and ultrasound across echelons of care- Triage and decision-making in mass casualty (MASCAL) scenariosOperational Relevance:This episode highlights the expanding scope of operational medicine, emphasizing the need for adaptable, multidisciplinary approaches that address both physical and psychological injury. It also critically examines how emerging technologies can enhance frontline capability while reinforcing the importance of context-appropriate application in austere and combat environments.Major Takeaways:- Indirect exposure to trauma is an increasing driver of PTSD and moral injury- Spiritual counseling may enhance engagement and outcomes in select patient populations- Blast and drone-related injuries continue to define modern combat trauma- Early stabilization and infection control remain essential to survivability- AI-assisted diagnostics improve medic performance but require careful operational integration- POCUS is most impactful in triage and higher echelons of care rather than point of injury

The Winter 2026 edition of the Journal of Special Operations Medicine Podcast brings together hosts Jessica Rodriguez, Sydney Duke, and Matthew Farinella for a lively, insightful discussion that blends medical education, operational readiness, and the evolving demands of military medicine.🎙️ Episode HighlightsTeam Updates & Military Match: The hosts share personal updates on rotations, match results, and the unique rhythm of the military medical training pipeline—from audition rotations to the fast-paced final months of medical school.Leadership & Combat Medic Training: Sydney reviews a Belgian Defense study evaluating whether prior EMT experience predicts success in combat medic training. The surprising takeaway: Intrinsic leadership, situational awareness, and tactical decision‑making—not prior clinical experience—were the strongest predictors of performance. Matt adds perspective from his time as an Army Ranger medic, underscoring the real‑world importance of tactical awareness over résumé bullet points.https://jsomonline.org/product/implementing-operational-skills-in-the-education-of-combat-medics-at-the-belgian-defense-an-integrative-model/SAM IO vs. EZ‑IO in Austere Environments: Jessica breaks down a comparative study of two intraosseous access devices. While the EZ‑IO was slightly faster, both devices had 100% success rates. The SAM IO’s lighter weight, lower cost, and lack of battery dependence make it a compelling choice for prolonged field care and dismounted operations.https://jsomonline.org/product/a-prospective-comparison-of-sam-io-versus-ez-io-insertion-time-and-usability-during-simulated-vascular-access/Lead Article: Rethinking CASEVAC for Near‑Peer Conflict: Matt dives into the edition’s lead article, exploring how the U.S. military must adapt casualty evacuation doctrine for large-scale combat operations. Key themes include:Moving from MEDEVAC-centric thinking to flexible CASEVAC modelsIntegrating evacuation planning under the Army Maneuver Center of ExcellenceTraining challenges for mass‑casualty, multi-branch, multi‑domain operationsLessons from historical conflicts and modern precision‑strike capabilitieshttps://jsomonline.org/product/the-chicken-fox-and-grain-solving-the-problem-of-casevac/🧭 Why This Edition MattersThis winter installment bridges the gap between academic insight and operational reality. Whether discussing leadership development, medical device selection, or the future of battlefield evacuation, the hosts highlight the evolving demands placed on today’s military medical professionals.📡 Stay ConnectedFollow the Journal of Special Operations Medicine across social platforms at @JSOMonline, and subscribe to the biweekly newsletter for updates, research highlights, and community insights.

This summer, Jessica will review “Ultrasound Use by Special Operations Combat Medics: A Narrative Review Limited to the JSOM” by Dr. Jonathan Curley. (https://jsomonline.org/product/ultrasound-use-by-special-operations-combat-medics-a-narrative-review-limited-to-the-jsom/) The heart of this article provides an overview of how Special Operations Combat Medics (SOCMs) use ultrasound in clinical practice and proposes future applications. Sydney is reviewing “Injuries in Specialist Police Officers: A Scoping Review” by Dr. Kate Lyons et al (https://jsomonline.org/product/injuries-in-specialist-police-officers-a-scoping-review/). This article identifies, collects, and synthesizes evidence on injuries sustained by specialist police and compares those injuries with those of other law enforcement officers and wider Special Forces populations. Matthew is reviewing “Proof of Concept: Is Small-scale Production of Diethyl Ether for Anesthetic Use Possible?” by Dr. Sandeep Dhanjal et al. (https://jsomonline.org/product/proof-of-concept-is-small-scale-production-of-diethyl-ether-for-anesthetic-use-possible/) In this manuscript, the authors explore the use of diether ether as a stopgap solution to anesthetic supply limitations in humanitarian crises or armed conflicts. Be sure to subscribe to the JSOM podcast on Spotify. You can also find it at https://jsom.us/Podcast. Follow us on Social Media @jsomonline or on our website https://www.jsomonline.org

A U.S. Soldier on a night patrol hears a gunshot, feels a sharp pain in the right side, and yells, “I’m hit.” The unit medic quickly moves to the casualty’s side. The wounded Soldier thinks of the family waiting at home and says to the medic: “Doc—will you please tell my family that I love them.” The medic responds, “Hey—shut up! I got this. You’re gonna be fine, and you’re going home to your family—you can tell them yourself. It’s not your day to die.” Far beyond any other battlefield trauma care program in history, Tactical Combat Casualty Care has enabled America’s combat medics to make good on that promise. Josh and Alex sit down with coauthor Jeff Butler to discuss the motivation and inspiration for the book, "Tell Them Yourself: It's Not Your Day to Die." Tell Them Yourself is the extraordinary account of how a small group of world class trauma experts joined forces with America’s best combat medics to rewrite the rule book in battlefield medicine - and then to sell these revolutionary new concepts to a disbelieving medical world. Thousands of Americans wounded in combat died in Vietnam - when they could easily have been saved. More deaths than in the Twin Towers on 9/11. More deaths than Pearl Harbor. In 1990, there had been very little progress made in battlefield trauma care since the Civil War. But the revolutionary new concepts embodied in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) have changed that landscape dramatically. Against great odds, TCCC has reduced the incidence of preventable deaths among combat casualties to the lowest level in history and has been credited with saving the lives of thousands of our nation’s wounded Servicemembers in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. TCCC is now mandated by the U.S. Department of Defense as the nation’s standard for battlefield trauma care. TCCC has forever changed the way care will be provided to America’s combat wounded and is now being used by militaries around the world and in civilian prehospital trauma care as well. This is a medical book like no other because it is a combat medical story like no other. Published by Breakaway Media, this book is available at https://jsom.us/TTY We Would Love Your Feedback Please email Podcast@JSOMonline.org. Follow us on Social Media @jsomonline or on our website https://www.jsomonline.org

Our JSOM Podcast team of Alex Merkle and Josh Randles will be reviewing the following articles for our Spring podcast: Our JSOM Podcast team of Alex Merkle and Josh Randles will review the following articles for our Spring podcast: Development and Implementation of a Standard Operating Procedure for Military Working Dog Blood Collection, Storage, and Transport by Elizabeth L. Evernham, Benjamin T. Fedeles, and Kayla M. Knuf (https://jsomonline.org/product/development-and-implementation-of-a-standard-operating-procedure-for-military-working-dog-blood-collection-storage-and-transport/) Emergency Fresh Whole Blood Transfusion Training for Ukrainian Health Professionals in Austere Environments by Zachery L. Brown, Joshua P. Cuestas, Kevin J. Matthews, Jonathan T. Shumaker, Durwood W. Moore, and Rebekah Cole (https://jsomonline.org/product/emergency-fresh-whole-blood-transfusion-training-for-ukrainian-health-professionals-in-austere-environments/) JSOM Guest Editor Captain Cam Strawn reviews Development and Implementation of a Standard Operating Procedure for Military Working Dog Blood Collection, Storage, and Transport. Capt Strawn serves as an Air Force Combat Rescue Officer and combat veteran who teaches leadership as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Brigham Young University, where he is also completing a premedical post-baccalaureate program. He is a SOFtoSOM Scholar applying to medical school this year. JSOM Guest Authors Emergency Fresh Whole Blood Transfusion Training for Ukrainian Health Professionals in Austere Environments authors SFC Zachery Brown and HM1 Kevin John Matthews are interviewed by our podcaster team about their article. SFC Zachery Brown enlisted in the Army on 15 September 2009. He has served with the 75th Ranger Regiment for the past 13 years: 7 years in the 1st Ranger Battalion and 6 years in the Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC). He served as a Ranger Squad Leader, Regimental Reconnaissance Team (RRT) Medical Sergeant, RRT Assistant Team Sergeant, and RRC Operations NCOIC and has nine combat deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, amounting to over 500 Special Operations Raids. In 2021, the Uniformed Services University of Health Services (USUHS) selected him for one of seven Army slots for the 24-month Cohort 9, Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program (EMDP2). This program prepares top-performing enlisted Servicemembers to apply to medical school. He is currently enrolled as a graduate student and aims to continue serving our nation and global community as a military physician and medical officer in the United States Army. SFC Brown earned a BS in Biology, Bio-Engineering Concentration, from the University of Arkansas in 2008, an MS in Strategic Leadership from the University of Charleston, and is currently working towards completing an MS in Biology at George Mason University. Hospital Corpsman First Class, HM1 (FMF/ SW) Kevin John Matthews enlisted in the Navy in 2016. Operationally, HM1 Matthews served as the Senior Line Corpsman, Scout Sniper Platoon, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, deploying to Africa and the Middle East aboard the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in 2021. Upon returning from deployment, the Navy Education and Training Office (NETO) selected HM1 Matthews as a Combat Trauma Management and Valkyrie Emergency Fresh Whole Blood Transfusion training instructor. He oversees the training of all medical personnel attached to Marine Corps expeditionary ground forces at 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA. Hand-selected by the Division Surgeon, he was appointed the founding Course Manager for the inaugural Prolonged Casualty Care Course, prepa

Our JSOM Podcast team of Alex Merkle and Josh Randles will be reviewing the following articles for our Fall podcast: Slow Intravenous Infusion of a Novel Damage Control Cocktail Decreases Blood Loss in a Pig Polytrauma Model by Nathan J. White, MD, MS, et al. (https://jsomonline.org/product/slow-intravenous-infusion-of-a-novel-damage-control-cocktail-decreases-blood-loss-in-a-pig-polytrauma-model/) Pain Control and Point-of-Care Ultrasound: An Approach to Rib Fractures for the Austere Provider by Reece Snyder, PA-C, et al. (https://jsomonline.org/product/pain-control-and-point-of-care-ultrasound-an-approach-to-rib-fractures-for-the-austere-provider/) Phosphorus Burn Management with Multimodal Analgesia by Luc Saint-Jean, MD et al. (https://jsomonline.org/product/phosphorus-burn-management-with-multimodal-analgesia/) JSOM Guest Medic EditorTechnical Sergeant Derek Fyksen will be reviewing Pain Control and Point-of-Care Ultrasound: An Approach to Rib Fractures for the Austere Provider. TSgt Fyksen is currently an Air Force PJ. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2011 and served three years at 1st Marine Raider Battalion before transferring to the Air Force to pursue becoming a Pararescueman in 2017. After his separation from the Air Force, Derek intends to pursue a joint MD/MPH program. JSOM Guest Author Interview Dr. Luc Saint-Jean is affiliated with the 1st Specialized Medical Unit, Versailles, France. He will be reviewing his article, Phosphorus Burn Management with Multimodal Analgesia. Josh Randles will review Slow Intravenous Infusion of a Novel Damage Control Cocktail Decreases Blood Loss in a Pig Polytrauma Model.

Our guest medic editor this quarter, SSG Blake Wright, enlisted in 2013 and has since served in various roles across the 173d, 82d Airborne, and USASOC. He currently serves as a Special Operations Flight Medic and has future aspirations of applying to the Inter-Service Physician Assistant Program. He will review The Effect of Prehospital Blood Transfusion on Patient Body Temperature from the Time of Emergency Medical Services Transfusion to Arrival at the Emergency Department. Our author interview will be with Sean M. Stuart, DO, FACEP, FAAEM, FAWM Commander, Medical Corps, US Navy (Naval War College). Commander Stuart received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2009. CDR Stuart reported to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, where he served as the Battalion Surgeon from 2010 to 2013. During this time, CDR Stuart deployed twice to support Operation Enduring Freedom. He also served as the Director of Medical Readiness for 3d Marines. CDR Stuart also served as the Deputy Regimental Surgeon, coordinating medical support for developing Marine Rotational Force–Darwin and RIMPAC exercises. He pioneered the development of a combat training curriculum, created a training tactical simulation laboratory, and served as the Director of Operational Training. In 2014, CDR Stuart began his emergency medicine residency training. After graduating, CDR Stuart assumed the role of MEU Surgeon for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. In 2019, CDR Stuart returned to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth as academic faculty. In 2022, CDR Stuart was selected to attend the Naval War College. CDR Stuart is board-certified in Emergency Medicine, holds a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor of Military and Emergency Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, and the Academy of Wilderness Medicine. He will review iTClamp-Mediated Wound Closure Speeds Control of Arterial Hemorrhage With or Without Additional Hemostatic Agents on p. 87 of the Winter 2022 edition. Be sure to follow us on our Social Media platforms @jsomonline https://jsom.us/Podcast.

This podcast is focused on research and contributions made by women in service to the military. We start with a review of "Women in US Military History" by Gretchen Garceau-Kragh. Guest medic HM1(FMF/EXW) Eric Dodson reviews "Active Warfighter Resilience: A Descriptive Analysis" by Nikki Barczak-Scarborov, et. al. Finally, we give an objective review of "Operation Blood Rain Phase 2: Evaluating the Effect of Airdrop on Fresh and Stored Whole Blood." The review is complemented by an interview with lead author Dr. (LtCol.) Roselyn Fuentes. Be sure to follow us on our Social Media platforms @jsomonline https://jsom.us/Podcast.

The Spring podcast is a little late, but well worth the wait! In this podcast, our experts Josh and Alex review articles from Dr. Alexander Iteen and Dr. Hossam Abdou. Guest Medic PJ Pelaez reviews the article from PA Brett TerBeek. Josh and Alex are joined by Dr. Jonathan Morrison, coauthor of the Swine Polytrauma article. Their discussion delves into the particulars of the research and adds an element of fidelity to the manuscript. Be sure to follow us on our Social Media platforms @jsomonline https://jsom.us/Podcast.

In this episode of the JSOM Podcast, Alex and Josh start by reviewing, "Timeline of Psychological and Physiological Effects Occurring During Military Deployment on a Medical Team" by Hall, et. al. Guest reviewer Rico Pesce and SSG Meredith Cole review "Blood Product Administration During Transport Throughout the US Africa Command Theater of Operation," by Schauer, et. al. Josh and Alex discuss, "Impact of a 10,000m Cold-Water Swim on Norwegian Naval Special Forces Recruits" with author Jorgen Melau. Don't forget to follow us on our Social Media platforms @jsomonline https://jsom.us/Podcast.

We are honored to sit with Dr. Russ Kotwal, President of the Special Operations Medical Association. In this interview, Dr. Kotwal talks about the Association and the upcoming SOMSA symposium, to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina from June 28 - July 2, 2021. This year's scientific assembly will be held in-person, following current CDC and state of North Carolina health guidelines. Visit our Social Media @jsomonline https://jsom.us/Podcast

We close out the 20th anniversary interview series with another of the pillars of our SOF medical community - Doc Rush from pararescue. He helps us learn more about the tremendous advances in special operations en route care over the last 20 years. We also get to hear about his background and how he serendipitously become involved with pararescue in the latter part of his civilian physician career. Looking back through the retrospectoscope, he is able to describe the training and level of en route care provided at the turn of the last century. We learn about the many different aeromedical platforms used in GWOT, their capabilities, and the different mission sets by reviewing Doc Rush's own article "Forward aeromedical evacuation: A brief history, lessons learned from the Global War on Terror, and the way forward for US policy" (2013). Alex also has a great discussion of the literature, such as Dr Mabry's "Impact of critical care–trained flight paramedics on casualty survival during helicopter evacuation in the current war in Afghanistan" (2012). Doc Rush is able to guide listeners through an outstanding tutorial about how to change policy and improve patient care through the use of tailored research that is leveraged to relevant policymakers. As always, our guest concludes the interview by reminding us that the most important thing each of us can do to improve combat trauma care is to report your patient data to the JTS. We need your help to analyze patient data and provide data driven improvements in care. Visit our Social Media @jsomonline https://jsom.us/Podcast

The Journal had the great pleasure to sit down and chat with one of the great leaders in SOF medicine, recently retired Dr Redman. He uses his extensive experience developing and improving prehospital REBOA care delivery to give us a wide-ranging education on the topic. We review the original of REBOA in the Korean Conflict and its subsequent translation into civilian cardiothoracic practice before recent use in trauma surgery. Our guest then teaches us about recent SOF prehospital REBOA experience and their lessons learned. We then wrap up with an excellent summary of the JTS REBOA CPG and Dr Redman’s personal recommendations going forward. Don’t miss another outstanding interview from one of our SOF medicine leader. Visit our Social Media @jsomonline https://jsom.us/Podcast