The Southern Medical Journal is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.
SMJ // Browse the Southern Medical Journal
SMJ Article | Original Article
Reimagining Medical Educator Development: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of KinetiC3, A Longitudinal, Character-Integrated Teaching Academy
Objectives: Medical educators often navigate professional isolation, identity dissonance, and limited institutional support, despite strong motivation for growth. KinetiC3 is a year-long cohort-based educator enrichment program that integrates character education with pedagogical development, informed by theories of transformative learning, self-determination, and social identity. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of...
SMJ Article | Original Article
Incidence and Impact of Atrial Fibrillation after Open Thoracotomy and VATS Pulmonary Lobectomy: A Single-Center Experience
Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the incidence and impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) after open thoracotomy versus video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy at an academic medical center. Methods: With institutional review board approval, 899 patients who underwent a pulmonary lobectomy from January 2005 to December 2021...
SMJ Article | Original Article
Publication Bias in Coronary Artery Disease Clinical Trials: A Bibliometric Review
Objective: The objective of our study was to determine the extent of publication bias of clinical trials pertaining to the treatment of coronary artery disease. Specifically, studies are more likely to be published if the results are positive and have a higher citation rate. Methods: The US National Library of...
Posted in: Cardiovascular Disease32
SMJ Article | Original Article
Pilot Cross-Sectional Study Assessing the Correlation between Marijuana Use and Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Exacerbations
Objective: Cannabis use is increasing among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, often for symptom relief; however, its impact on disease activity remains unclear. This pilot study assessed whether cannabis use was associated with differences in flare frequency or duration among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or...
Posted in: Rheumatology and Orthopedics25
SMJ Article | Original Article
A Qualitative Study of Perceptions of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Work at University of Utah Health
Objectives: The Diversity Engagement Survey (DES) was administered at University of Utah Health (UUHealth) in 2015 and 2023. In 2023, leaders provided an opportunity for participants to express their opinions on equity, diversity, and inclusion work at UUHealth as part of the DES. Methods: E-mails were sent with a survey...
SMJ Article | Original Article
Interprofessional Workshop: An Impactful Approach to Introducing Interprofessional Education to Health Professions Students
Objective: Incorporating interprofessional education (IPE) into healthcare education programs is essential for preparing future healthcare professionals to meet the demands of modern healthcare environments. This study evaluated whether a condensed IPE session can produce significant changes in student knowledge and attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration. Methods: The session comprised a pre-workshop...
SMJ Article | Original Article
Obesity, Body Fat Distribution, and Blood Pressure in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Whites in a National Survey
Objectives: Recent data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) indicated that despite a higher prevalence of obesity in Hispanic women than non-Hispanic White women, their hypertension prevalence did not differ. Obesity and large upper arm (UA) circumference can affect the accuracy of BP readings. Anthropometric data were...
SMJ Article | Original Article
Travel Costs and Health Disparities: The Impact of Rurality and Social Vulnerability on Hand Therapy Access in Alabama
Objective: Postoperative hand therapy is important for recovery and enhanced functional outcomes following hand surgery. Access to this essential care is limited in Alabama, however, particularly for vulnerable populations in rural areas where public transportation is scarce. These challenges are further amplified for patients who are unable to drive due...
SMJ Article | Original Article
Performance of Large Language Models on Diagnostic Radiology Board–Style Questions: A Comparative Evaluation of GPT-4o, Perplexity AI, and OpenEvidence
Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy and internal consistency of GPT-4o (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer-4 omni), Perplexity AI (artificial intelligence), and OpenEvidence when applied to text-based, specialty-level radiology board questions. Methods: A total of 161 text-based multiple-choice questions from the American College of Radiology (ACR)...
SMJ Article | Perspectives
Impact of Medical School–Mandated Step 2 Deadlines on Student Well‑Being and Match Outcomes: A Medical Student’s Perspective
Because the US Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 (Step 1) has transitioned to pass/fail scoring, US Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 has emerged as a primary standardized metric in residency selection. In response, many medical schools have implemented hard deadlines for Step 2 completion before Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) submission. Although intended...
SMJ Article | Perspectives
Personal Philosophies of Practice: Purposeful Guides for Patient Engagement
At a time when many physicians feel frustrated and burned out, the author invites them to create their own personal philosophies of practice, statements that clarify the purposeful meanings they choose to instill in their work beyond the exigencies of their daily endeavors. Three tasks frame the process of creating...
SMJ Article | Letter to the Editor
A Call for Revising Handicapped Parking Permits Categories to Include Extreme Weather Conditions
Per the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, summer 2024 was the hottest on record since 1880,1 rising more than 1.5ºC (34.7ºF) from preindustrial levels. As we start to experience unprecedented heat waves globally and instances of snow in northern Florida, physicians need to consider how these previously uncommon weather patterns...
SMJ Article | Original Article
Could High Game Volume over a Shorter Season Increase Noncontact Knee Injury Risk among Kentucky High School Girls’ Basketball Players?
Objectives: A retrospective review of high school, college, and professional female basketball team game number and season duration comparisons was performed. The objective was to compare group differences with consideration of the possible relationship between game volume per season duration and noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury risk from accumulated microtrauma....
SMJ Article | Original Article
Decreased Maternal Weight Gain in Pregnancy Is Seen with Buprenorphine Medication-Assisted Treatment
Objectives: Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is associated with low maternal weight gain, and low maternal weight gain is associated with infant mortality. Many MAT patients also are smokers. This study investigates buprenorphine administration during pregnancy as a possible independent risk factor for low maternal weight gain. To our knowledge, this is...
SMJ Article | Perspectives
When a Pandemic Challenges the Art of Medicine
In The Doctor by Sir Luke Fildes (Fig.), light draws our focus to the patient and physician. The painting shows the compassion, concern, and tenderness found in their relationship. The physician’s countenance encapsulates the challenges of our profession. In the physician’s expression of concern, there is the contemplation of pathophysiology,...
SMJ Article | Review Article
Antibody-Drug Conjugates in the Management of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer remains a predominant contributor to global cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women, with its incidence steadily rising and presenting complex therapeutic challenges. Conventional treatment modalities, including chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and molecularly targeted interventions, have demonstrated substantial clinical efficacy. The emergence of therapeutic resistance, systemic cytotoxicity, and metastatic progression...
SMJ Article | Perspectives
Advancement of a Vertically Integrated Training Program (VITP): Introspective Assessment and Expansion
MedConnect, originally known as the Vertically Integrated Trainee Program (VITP), was created in fall 2017 to connect premedical undergraduate students at the University of South Carolina with medical students at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, both located in Columbia, for mentorship and guidance. Our organization was formed...
SMJ Article | Original Article
Distribution of the Georgia Pulmonology Workforce: A Rural-Urban Analysis
Objectives: Although healthcare disparities between rural and urban populations are documented, access to pulmonary subspecialty care in rural regions is not well characterized. This study aimed to quantify rural-urban disparities in access to pulmonology, pulmonary critical care medicine (PCCM), and sleep medicine physicians in Georgia. Methods: The Georgia Composite Medical...
SMJ Article | Original Article
Promoting Autonomy in Pediatric Trainees: Independent Rounding on a Pediatric Hospital Medicine Service
Objective: Trainee autonomy is a value emphasized by formal governing bodies within graduate medical education, yet prior data demonstrate that pediatric residents perceive less autonomy than attendings report providing. Independent rounding (IR) is one practice that has been demonstrated in qualitative studies to promote autonomy. The objective of our study...
SMJ Article | Original Article
Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening and Positivity in Pregnant Women Living in Areas with High Social Vulnerability Indices
Objectives: Pregnant women living in rural areas of the United States are not equitably served by healthcare systems and may be disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We examined the impact of location of pregnancy care on STI screening and positivity in a statewide health system. Methods: Pregnant women...
