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lrogers{at}ajroffice.org
It is a time for reflection and contemplation. There is good and bad in every year. Dwell on the good! Celebrate the joys of family, friends, and (with any luck at all) your good fortune. Admittedly, some years are better than others. Some years it may seem as if the Wise Men have passed you by—while in better years it may appear that all the Magi's gifts were just for you.
Over time, the blessings bestowed on radiology have been so great that it is difficult to know where to begin.
In truth, radiology has no Three Kings of the Orient, but our specialty has its own wise men, its Magi, individuals who have brought forth the greatest of gifts: gifts of the intellect. I focus on three—three teachers and scholars of world renown. Each has made substantive contributions to our specialty through their publications in the AJR during my tenure as editor, for which I am most grateful. But they have also authored major texts and published numerous articles in other major scientific journals during this same period. They frequently lecture to enthusiastic audiences both here and abroad. Their professionalism and dedication have placed them at the pinnacle of our specialty.
The first is Donald Resnick, the father of present-day musculoskeletal radiology. No matter what you count when it comes to academic productivity, Dr. Resnick's numbers are truly prodigious. He has authored 850 articles in peer-reviewed journals (and that number does not include the lead article in this issue [1], which is coauthored by Mohana-Borges and Chung). His major opus, the six-volume Diagnosis of Bone and Joint Disorders (now in its 4th edition) is the standard text in musculoskeletal radiology. He has also authored 15 other books. In addition, Dr. Resnick has trained 250 fellows (no, that is not a misprint—250 is the correct number) in musculoskeletal radiology in his department at UC San Diego, the graduates of which include a significant percentage of those who practice academic musculoskeletal radiology in this country and abroad. To top it off, Dr. Resnick is a speaker nonpareil. More of an orator than a lecturer, Don draws crowds of radiologists for his informative presentations worldwide.
The second of the Magi is Nestor Müller, a doyen of the radiology of chest disease. Dr. Müller is a Canadian academician of admirable achievements who has authored numerous articles for the AJR. He has 350 papers in scientific publications to his credit and has also authored 16 books and served as editor of three others, including the long-time standard text, Fraser and Pare's Diagnosis of Diseases of the Chest (now in its 4th edition). Dr. Müller has trained 44 fellows in pulmonary radiology who are currently practicing the world over, many as faculty in academic institutions. Like articles authored by Resnick, Müller's publications often have a long list of multiple authors of various nationalities. When you finally come to the bottom of such a list, if the article is devoted to chest disease, you are liable to encounter Nestor Müller as senior author—just as you will likely find Don Resnick's name if the article is devoted to musculoskeletal disease.
The third Wise Man is Leonard Berlin, the father of radiologic jurisprudence and the source of most of what we know of medical liability and legal issues in our specialty. Admittedly, my selection of Dr. Berlin carries with it a certain bias, for he is a very good friend of mine, and a friend of long standing, long before he came to prominence on the national and international scenes. However, it can be said with equal assurance that almost every radiologist knows of Dr. Berlin, thanks to his series, Malpractice Issues in Radiology, featured for many years running in the pages of the AJR. In fact, his series has appeared in every issue since March 1996: 94 consecutive issues! Amazing! And, I am proud to say, the series began at my invitation, and a 2nd edition of Dr. Berlin's book that collects these AJR articles is now appearing, published by the ARRS. I realized that Lenny is unique, but I just had no idea that he would be so dedicated and so well received. He is a fine writer and his works obviously fill a void. As a result he is in great demand as a speaker at professional society meetings, conferences, and symposia. He has given unstintingly of his time and energy to honor these invitations. Because of him, radiologists undoubtedly have at their disposal the greatest body of literature devoted to the legal aspects of their practice in all of medicine and surgery.
So there you have it, radiology's Magi. And while these Wise Men of radiology may not have borne gold, frankincense, and myrrh as did the Magi of old, they have brought forth precious gifts of intellect: the gifts of knowledge, insight, and understanding—priceless gifts that have enriched the professional lives of all radiologists.
May the Joys of the Season be upon you and yours, both now and forevermore.
Now even as the bright star appears in the East, the sun sets on the Editorial Office here in Winston-Salem. My term as Editor in Chief is concluded.
It is likely that by the time the December issue of the Journal appears on your desk, the Winston-Salem office will have been emptied and abandoned. And, after so many years of loyal and effective service, the office staff will have dispersed. It is impossible for me say enough about the outstanding service rendered by them during my tenure. Suffice it to say the success that I have enjoyed as Editor of the Journal is in large part due to their efforts. I am certain that all our authors and reviewers as well as our readers would join me and my associate editors, Ron Zagoria and Jim Provenzale, in expressing our heartfelt thanks to Charles Jenkins, Julianne Berckman, Deborah L. O'Rourke, and Stephen L. Newsome for a job well done. We wish these fine people all the best in their future endeavors.
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