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JAMA and Its Editor—Thinking Forward
Catherine D. DeAngelis, MD, MPH
JAMA. 2000;283:105.
My favorite writing place is outside where I can see the sky and feel the open air. I am told that for me to do that in Chicago, I will have to add antifreeze to the ink half of the year. Yes, I said ink. While I certainly use a computer and surf the Web, I prefer the feel of a pen moving across paper when I write nonscientific prose. It might be old-fashioned, but it helps my thought process.
I must confess to being somewhat old-fashioned in other ways that are pertinent to our authors and readers. I believe in the sanctity of editorial (and academic) freedom. When an author sends a paper to a scientific journal, the editor and editorial staff must have every confidence that the data presented are accurate and the conclusions rendered are supported by the data. Likewise, the author must know that peers will review his or her study and that the only factors that influence publication are merit and available space. You all have my absolute word of honor that nothing will interfere with that process as long as I am editor of JAMA and editor-in-chief of scientific publications, including all multimedia applications.
Moreover, from my career as vice dean, educator, researcher, and clinician, I also believe in the old-fashioned values of the highest level of scholarship and the highest quality of clinical care. I know that publication of scientifically sound, clinically relevant articles is essential to advance medical science, to foster academic progress, and to improve the health of patients around the world.
The executive vice president of the American Medical Association, Dr E. Ratcliffe Anderson, Jr, and the AMA Board of Trustees have given me every assurance that they believe in and respect editorial independence. In case of disagreement about what constitutes editorial freedom, we have a Journal Oversight Committee to assist us.1 The members of this committee are individuals with impeccable qualifications to help ensure the absolute integrity of JAMA and the ARCHIVES Journals. The members of the Journal Oversight Committee are Christine K. Cassel, MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; David A. Kessler, MD, JD, Yale University School of Medicine; Joshua Lederberg, PhD, The Rockefeller University; Robert A. Musacchio, PhD, American Medical Association; William M. Passano, Jr, a professional publisher; Roy M. Pitkin, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology; and Kenneth I. Shine, MD, Institute of Medicine.
I have negotiated (with no argument) another aspect of administration that is pertinent. I will work with the senior vice president for Publishing and Business Services to establish the scientific publications' annual budget, but will report directly to the executive vice president in budgetary matters. In essence, I will function as a senior vice president but will not use that title because I want to make it absolutely clear that my top priority as editor-in-chief is to ensure that JAMA and the AMA scientific publications continue to achieve and maintain the highest editorial and academic levels possible. All else is secondary and based solely on ensuring sufficient resources for success. If the scientific publications are editorially successful, financial success should follow and allow for necessary resources.
Having said all that, I want you to know that I consider my position as editor a great honor that carries many responsibilities. Fortunately, I am already somewhat familiar with the current editors and editorial staff who are efficient, effective, industrious, cordial, and professional. Their dedication and knowledge will allow me to work with those of you who will submit your scientific work to us. I have greatly enjoyed the experience and learned a great deal as editor of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, and I expect the same will be true with JAMA.
I have been asked about the changes I plan and areas that I will emphasize for THE JOURNAL. First of all, I cannot imagine any substantial change for at least 6 months; it will take that long for me to get a real feeling for the spirit of the place. Topic areas that are of special interest to me include child and adolescent health including the role of violence, drugs, and injuries; women's health; and the plight of academic health centers, especially how current managed care has affected the practice of medicine, the education of physicians, and medical discoveries.
To those of you who sent letters or faxes or otherwise conveyed your good wishes to me as I begin this new adventure, I say thank you. I will make every attempt to live up to your (and my) expectations for the success of JAMA, the ARCHIVES Journals, and the AMA scientific publications.
Finally, I would like to know what you, our readers and authors, think about JAMA. If you have specific ideas, please let me know. My e-mail addresses are cathy_deangelis{at}ama-assn.org or jama_mama{at}ama-assn.org. Please forgive me if I respond in kind, ie, via e-mail and not E (as in envelope) mail. If I can write outside comfortably with pen only half the year in Chicago, I would like to save that time for editorials.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Editorials represent the opinions of the authors and THE JOURNAL and not those of the American Medical Association.
Corresponding Author: Catherine D. DeAngelis, MD, MPH, JAMA, 515 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610 (e-mail: cathy_deangelis{at}ama-assn.org).
Author Affiliation: Dr DeAngelis is Editor, JAMA.
REFERENCES
1. Editorial governance for JAMA. JAMA. 1999;281:2240-2242.
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