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Berquist.Thomas{at}mayo.edu
We cannot adopt the way of living that was satisfactory a hundred years ago. The world in which we live has changed and we must change with it.—Felix Adler (1851–1933)
In his presidential address, the newly installed president of the ARRS, Dr. John K. Crowe [1], challenged the more than 3,000 attendees at the 2008 ARRS annual meeting in Washington, DC, to be avatars of change. He exhorted radiologists to "lead medicine to better practice, education, research, and testing." Citing the tendency of some radiologists to focus on today's technology rather than on the patients we care for, he said, "We must embody and teach the professional basis of our contact with society. This is only done by making our focus the patient, not the organ we're imaging, or the test we're using, or our own private agenda."
The AJR is responding to this challenge by continually adding new content and features to arm today's radiologist with the tools (AJR, AJR Integrative Imaging, free journal-based SAMs and CME articles, and Web exclusive articles) to be connected and competitive. We continue to provide our readers with essential, up-to-date material; our journal must enhance current and future radiology practice and patient care skills and serve as a constant reminder that "the needs of the patient come first."
"Today, the only thing that is permanent is change," said Charles H. Mayo, one of the founding brothers of the Mayo Clinic. Change is constant. At the AJR we are challenged to deliver large volumes of vital information using a variety of methods (print, online, pushed, pulled, vodcasted, and podcasted). With more than 80 journals in the medical imaging field, we face increasing competition for reader attention and loyalty, and we are committed to providing clinically relevant content at the point of care, where it has become even more critical.
We must address current and future challenges to improve the recognition and impact of our journal so that it is indisputably the "must-read" journal in radiology We know that many readers do unwrap the plastic on the yellow journal each month. We want to keep them doing just that, as well as engage new readers in new ways through increased online access and features. We must better understand the needs of our audience and seek insight into the challenges they face in their practices. To do this, the AJR editorial team will define the key elements for change and develop a strategic approach with metrics that permit us to determine success or modifications required to achieve our mission.
ARRS members clearly know the value of the AJR, consistently note the journal as a key factor in their decision to join our society, and rank it as a top member benefit, but we must extend the reach of the AJR beyond its current boundaries. In addition to providing a cross section of radiology topics each month, we must address the continuing education needs of potential radiologists (students), residents and subspecialty fellows, practicing physicians in private and academic practice, as well as scientists. The AJR has the opportunity to help residents and radiology educators address the significant changes in training that are on the horizon as well as provide practicing radiologists with the tools to meet new MOC (maintenance of certification) and PQI (practice quality improvement) requirements. And we'll deliver this information to your mailbox, your in-box, or your desktop in full-length or bite-sized chunks.
AJR and AJR Integrative Imaging must become more focused to address what radiologists "need to know" to provide added value, meet the requirements of MOC, and constantly improve practice and patient care. Also, the ARRS has recently launched a new Website at pqi.arrs.org/ to keep you in touch with news and information in practice quality improvement.
Beginning in July 2008, the organizational structure of our editorial group will change. The editorship will be distributed among 11 section editors, reflecting the increasingly complex practice of radiology and the board examination categories. Each section editor will have primary responsibility for his or her designated subspecialty area, with support from a roster of expert assistant editors, to improve coverage and depth of knowledge in each section. I am humbled by the list of radiology's "best and brightest" who have agreed to serve during my editorial tenure. I encourage you to look for your colleagues and mentors on the newly revised masthead and contact them with your thoughts, comments, and congratulations on their dedication to our journal.
Our "dream table of contents" will include quality original research and focused review articles in each section of every issue. Beginning in 2009, we plan to highlight a subspecialty area in each issue on a rotating schedule. With this approach, you can expect a consistent format providing up-to-date review on current topics with links to additional resources when appropriate.
With this issue, I take over from Dr. Robert J. Stanley and find myself commenting on the excellent array of articles he and his editorial group have secured. There are 10 cardiac articles; eight are original research and two are pictorial essays. The musculoskeletal section includes six original research articles.
In addition to the broad coverage across radiology you have come to expect in the AJR, Women's Imaging remains an important focus in the journal as well as online at womensimagingonline.arrs.org/. The AJR also will provide more practical practice-oriented physics, informatics, and patient safety content for our readers. Expanding the practical material in medical physics is critical to improve patient safety and mirrors upcoming changes in resident training. Residents should watch the online pages of www.ajronline.org for content planned specifically for them.
Constant effort, a mission, and vision to change as our world changes will make AJR the best of radiology journalsfor all professionals who are part of the medical imaging team.
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