About the Journal

Focus and Scope

The Memorial University Medical Journal aims to serve several purposes in-line with expected competencies of future medical practitioners and resarchers, not the least of which are improving research interest, proficiency and participation, while attempting to promote student works. In addition to such, the journal is dedicated to the scholarly review and dissemenation of high quality literature relevant to the field of medicine.

Peer Review Process

Each submission is evaluated based on: 

  • The originality of the research and its contribution to the field of medicine
  • The soundness of the theory and methodology given the topic
  • The coherence of analysis
  • The ability to communicate to readers (grammar and style)

All submissions are subject to multiple rounds of blinded review conducted in duplicate with anonymization of reviewers and authors. Initial submissions are examined by the current Editor-In-Chief and randomly allocated to an appropriate divisional editor who will perform preliminary screening and edits. Pieces are then assessed by a junior and senior executive editor concurrently before being sent to two faculty reviewers with significant expertise in the field pertaining to submission. Different student editors will be assigned to a given manuscript at each stage of review. At any point in the review process, the submission may be returned to the submitter for edits required for publication.

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Journal History

Lithos is the Memorial University Medical Journal created within and supported by the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University. The Journal was founded in 2022 by second-year medical student Ian Janes (class of 2024) and originally designed as an outlet for students to foster creativity and develop original ideas individually and collaboratively. The creation of the Memorial University Medical Journal aimed to serve several purposes in-line with expected competencies of future medical practitioners and medical researchers, such as improving research interest, proficiency and participation, while attempting to promote student works.

The journal continuously operates via a student-led editorial team under the guidance of an esteemed advisory board composed of researchers and physicians within the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial. A variety of disciplines relevant to the field of medicine are featured within the journal, with a dedication to a double-blinded peer review process that strives to publish high quality literature.

The title of our journal, Lithos, is the Greek word for rock or stone. Memorial University is the sole University of Newfoundland and Labrador which is often referred to as "The Rock". Additionally, the word Lithos appears as the suffix of various medical conditions. As such, Lithos is a title representative of both, our province and the field of medicine.