Halloween is creeping closer, and that means one of our favorite JOF traditions is almost here: Canes!

On Sunday, October 25, we’re bringing the JOF community together at Creekside Commons in Lafayette for an afternoon of Halloween fun, good company, and a great cause. Kids are welcome, costumes are encouraged, and tickets are pay what you can, because we want everyone in our community to be able to join us. 

We've had a lot of interest in this topic from our website visitors so we thought we'd offer an update, below.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) can be easy to miss in primary care. Symptoms may initially look like common mechanical back pain, and research shows that patients can experience significant delays before receiving the right diagnosis.

For nurse practitioners and other advanced practice providers, the goal isn’t to make a specialist diagnosis. It’s to recognize when persistent back pain may have an inflammatory cause, begin an appropriate initial evaluation, and know when to refer.

Every year, the Healthcare Immersion Program (HIP) is made possible by an incredible group of healthcare professionals who generously open their practices, share their expertise, and give students an authentic look at life in healthcare. We can't thank our preceptors enough for the time, encouragement, and mentorship they provide.

We’re delighted to welcome the 2026 cohort of Jackson Orthopedic Foundation’s Healthcare Immersion Program (HIP): Jaylene Banaag, Danica Bagayna, Megan Truong, and William Anderson.

We’re excited to welcome three outstanding clinicians and educators to the Jackson Orthopedic Foundation faculty. Tom Bush, Matt Jacinto, and Matthew Scroggy will be teaching our nationally certified, in-person Orthopalooza workshops.

Combined, they bring a great mix of experience, perspectives, and a shared commitment to improving musculoskeletal (MSK) care in primary care settings. As we continue to grow, their experience will help us reach and support more clinicians across the country.

If you know a college student with an interest in healthcare, now is a good time to encourage them to apply for the 2026 Healthcare Immersion Program (HIP).

Our 2026 program runs from July 7 to July 31, and applications are now open. The deadline to apply is Monday, June 8, 2026.

Primary care is often the best place to treat common muscle, bone, and joint problems, and winter makes that role especially clear. As colder temperatures, seasonal storms, and disrupted routines affect how people move and work, musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints become a frequent reason for primary care and urgent care visits. 

During the current Arctic blast, for example, many nurse practitioners and other advanced practice providers are likely seeing how slippery surfaces, heavy lifting, cold-related stiffness, deconditioning, and winter sports contribute to predictable injury patterns. 

Following are common winter MSK injury patterns, how they typically present, and practical insights intended to support primary care clinicians in delivering confident, nonsurgical care.