From the new editors☆

Article Outline

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Abstract 

J Vasc Surg 2003;37:1.

Since its inception in 1984, the Journal of Vascular Surgery has become the pre-eminent publication dealing with vascular disease and its treatment. In no small measure, this is due to the effort and leadership invested by the previous editors, Drs DeBakey, Szilagyi, Thompson, Ernst, Stanley, Johnston, and Rutherford. It is also due to the outstanding contributions attracted by the Journal, and to the painstaking work of associate and assistant editors, editorial board members, and reviewers. As new editors of the Journal, we are inspired by our predecessors, honored by our selection, and excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

We are particularly grateful to Wayne Johnston and Bob Rutherford for their guidance during the transition. As we reflect on their tenure as editors, their accomplishments are truly impressive. The impact factor for the Journal has steadily risen to 3.15, which ranks seventh among 139 surgical journals. More than half (56%) of the vascular surgery papers cited in the literature are published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery. The entire Journal collection is available on the Internet, including prepublication of accepted manuscripts. Appropriate guidelines have been developed for competition of interest, fraudulent and duplicate publication, and investigators' responsibilities and rights in clinical trials. An Ombudsman has been established to advocate for authors in any disputes with the editors. New sections, such as review articles and ethics challenges, have been added. Most importantly, the founding vision for the Journal as the “publication of choice” for both authors and readers in our field has been maintained.

As new editors, we plan to continue many of the policies and procedures implemented by our predecessors. Dr Anton Sidawy has been appointed Associate Editor and will assist the editors primarily in the review of basic research studies. Dr James Menzoían will continue as Assistant Editor of the book review section. Dr Gregory Moneta has been appointed Assistant Editor for the abstract section, which will highlight important observations from other publications. Members of the editorial board will continue to serve a maximum of two 3-year terms, and new board members will be selected based on the quality and timeliness of their previous reviews.

We have also implemented several new features for the Journal. Most significant is the Web-based manuscript submission, review, and tracking system (Editorial Manager by Aries Systems Corporation, available at http://jvs.editorialmanager.com). This system is designed to increase convenience for authors and reviewers, reduce total turn-around time for manuscript evaluation, and reduce the cost of the editorial process. We appreciate the cooperation of authors and reviewers as we implement this new system. Information for authors and reviewers is available on the Web site and from the editorial office.

As you can see, we are also introducing a new section entitled “Vascular Images,” from which we will select an illustration for the cover of each issue. The purpose of this section is to provide an interesting vascular image and an associated short educational summary, in a focused, case-report format. Appropriate images include radiographs, pathology, anatomy, operative findings, and other relevant clinical pictures. Detailed instructions are provided in the Information for Authors. Contributions for this section are now invited.

Several other new features are planned for introduction this year. Key articles will be identified, based on input from reviewers, and listed on the Journal cover. Authors of these articles will submit multiple-choice questions based on the content of their article, which will then serve as the basis for continuing medical education credits (obtained by readers after answering the questions on the Journal Web site). In addition, editorial board members will supply written commentaries for selected articles. These commentaries will be published immediately following the article, analogous to the discussions that are published for Society meetings. The purpose of these commentaries is to put the article into perspective and provide a counterpoint when appropriate. Similarly, authors of basic research studies will provide a clinical perspective to be published with their articles. We will also emphasize the potential for rapid review and publication of concise, preliminary reports of seminal observations. Finally, we hope to provoke more commentary by readers in a new online “Journal Club”.

As we enter our term as editors, we look forward to working with all members of the vascular community to strengthen the Journal of Vascular Surgery and maintain its position as the pre-eminent publication dealing with vascular disease and its treatment. As always, we will appreciate your advice and assistance with this process.

Jack L. Cronenwett, MD

James M. Seeger, MD

Editors