Editor's column

E-mail address: shubrook@ohio.edu

With each new calendar year comes an opportunity for a new beginning, setting new goals, and learning new practices. In Osteopathic Family Physician’s first year as a medical journal, we will continue to strive to provide information that you can use in your day-to-day practice. We invite your active participation in this journal and ask you to provide feedback on ways we can better serve you. If you have suggestions, you can reach me via email at shubrook@ ohio.edu.

OFP is actively seeking the following content:

• original research articles,

• review articles that address common and important issues seen in family medicine,

• case reports that demonstrate important clinical lessons, and

• brief reports that address practice management, health pol- icy, or medical education in relation to family medicine.

The January/February 2010 issue focuses on infectious disease topics. Bacterial and viral infections are routinely seen in family medicine, but a keen awareness for atypical infections or complications can be critical to protect your patient’s health. In this issue, Dr. Adarsh Gupta and Dr. Ashmit Gupta discuss chronic rhinosinusitis and explore when antibiotics are indicated. In the article “Evaluation of Identifying Tuberculosis Infection and Disease in a Rural Institutionalized Population,” student doctor Nduaguba describes a study exploring the utility of screening for tuberculosis in an at-risk population. In the case reports, Dr. Beck discusses the management of poststreptococcal glomerulo-nephritis and Dr. Richmond describes a case of pharyngitis originating from multiple etiologies. In addition, this issuehas an article, “Bio Ethics: A Patient’s Advocate Role for OFPs,” by Lawrence J. Abramson, and a policy piece, “The Osteopathic Physician and End-of-Life Care,” by student doctor Marlow Hernandez.

As family physicians, we are role models and key participants in the battle against infection. Simple things we can do to prevent disease include hand washing, judicious use of antibiotics, and disease education that includes limiting exposures to others when ill. By the time you read this issue, the H1N1 virus has probably passed through your community and you are now confronted daily with the seasonal flu. As health educators, it is important to dispel myths and inform patients about health promotion and disease prevention. Most important to our infected patients is that we help them recover as quickly as possible.

I hope you enjoy this issue. We look forward to exceeding your expectations here and in the future.

Have a happy and healthy New Year!

Jay Shubrook