The global COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for systematic studies on our changing society and medical students are responding accordingly. However, emerging evidence indicates that there are changing patterns in research production since the initial COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, with an exponential increase in the number of manuscripts submitted to academic journals for peer review, but with women producing significantly less research compared to men. In an effort to contemplate what academic journals’ responsibilities are to counteract these trends among medical students, we consider three “pre-existing social conditions” that have the potential to negatively affect female medical students’ careers long-term: 1) the unequal division of labor both at home and work; 2) women’s lower well-being compared to men’s; and 3) men’s greater representation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. As a society, we need to offset these trends that threaten women’s careers, as we are at risk of reversing the diligent work achieved to improve gender equality in the fields of science and medicine. While “pre-existing conditions”—the social, economic, political, and historical forces discussed here— have led to, and exacerbated, gender disparities in research production during the pandemic, The International Journal of Medical Students (IJMS) is committed to acknowledging these gender inequalities and preventing their perpetuation among the next generation of future doctors and physician-scientists.

The International Journal of Medical Students (IJMS) has emerged over the past decade as a critical platform for showcasing medical student innovation and experiences. Though the work of trainees has historically been undervalued and over scrutinized, the IJMS is committed to highlighting the immense capacity for novel and robust research in this cohort. Thus, supporting an upcoming generation of leaders in medicine and academia to gain confidence in their work and contribute positively to the scientific community. In this issue of the IJMS, we are proud to present 16 articles from the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Original research articles cover a breadth of topics, including medical training, impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on teaching and communication, pediatric respiratory illness, gender equity in medicine, understudied illnesses, and cardiovascular disease. The IJMS is proud to feature first-hand experiences of medical trainees in each issue. Accordingly, in the present issue perspectives of six medical students are outlined following unique and career-altering experiences. From working in palliative care to international outreach program, local vaccination initiatives, and the creation of a student-oriented research and innovation council in India. The IJMs extends our gratitude to our contributors, team, and readers for another remarkable issue.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are core values that are unequivocally essential to healthcare research and practice. However, global health inequities remain pervasive and disruptive to the delivery of healthcare. This unacceptable lack of inclusivity and equity infiltrates all aspects of medicine, including research and publication. Accordingly, there is a dissemination of unbalanced and homogenous perspectives which are not representative of the global population. The International Journal of Medical Students (IJMS) has strived to counter such biases through the development of content and the process of its publication. Further, the selection of its editorial team and ambassadors is conducted with the intention of diversity. We respect individual differences and celebrate them as strengths adding to the quality of our journal. Therefore, the IJMS has taken a positive step toward an equitable environment by publishing a policy statement on DEI. We hope to lead by example by fostering a culture of inclusivity for all researchers, regardless of background. Though, we recognize the complexity of implementing comprehensive DEI practices and consider it our duty to the community that we continuously develop through a dedicated effort and iterative process.

With the advent of high-resolution esophageal manometry, it is recognized that the antireflux barrier receives a contribution from both the lower esophageal sphincter (intrinsic sphincter) and the muscle of the crural diaphragm (extrinsic sphincter). Further, an increased intra-abdominal pressure is a major force responsible for an adaptive response of a competent sphincter or the disruption of the esophagogastric junction resulting in gastroesophageal reflux, especially in the presence of a hiatal hernia. This review describes how the pressure dynamics in the lower esophageal sphincter were discovered and measured over time and how this has influenced the development of antireflux surgery.

We introduce the first IJMS World Conference of Medical Student Research as a unique opportunity for medical students and early-career scientists around the globe to share the results of their research in an online worldwide platform, aimed at increasing accessibility to research for medical students and creating bonds of collaborations between participants and future scientists and leaders of medical research education. This is also the second issue of the 10-year anniversary of the Journal, and we describe in summary the published research and experiences of this issue.