From the Editor: The JCEM in 2004—Winding Up While Winding Down

John P. Bilezikian, M.D., Editor-in-Chief

With this issue, the JCEM begins its fifth and last year in the New York-based editorial office at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. As is true with many endeavors that have a defined period, one often begins without any thought of its end, but the end comes, and we now see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. The analogy is not apt because the proverbial tunnel has been anything but dark. Rather, our years have been filled with bright opportunities that have enabled us to bring to you the very best in our field. When you pick it up, though, be careful. JCEM has grown to be heavy, if not ponderous, with weighty issues! Let me summarize the past year’s activities as I look forward to the current one.

Over the past 4 years, the distribution of papers in the various endocrinological subcategories has been relatively constant, with papers well represented from all the subspecialties: Reproductive Endocrinology, Thyroid, Diabetes, Metabolism, Adrenal, Bone, Neuroendocrinology, Pediatric Endocrinology, Cardiovascular Endocrinology and Obesity. Although the number of papers submitted leveled off in 2002, the year just ended has seen the volume of papers resume its steady climb. We are projecting an 8.4% increase in submission volume comparing 2003 with 2002 (2285 vs. 2085). In four years, the volume of submissions will have increased by approximately 30%. Our page allocation has steadily increased to keep up with volume. This decision was reasonable considering the fact that increased volume was accompanied by even better papers! Without changing our acceptance rate, therefore, the journal has grown in size. Over the past year, however, we have maintained our page allocation of about 500 pages per month and plan to maintain this level over the next year. Manuscripts continue to be received worldwide, from approximately 50 countries. Although the JCEM receives only 27% of its papers from the United States, it still heads the list, followed by Italy (11%), United Kingdom (8.6%), Japan (7.2%), and Germany (5.3%). Europe dominated the region from which most papers were received (51%), followed by North America (30%), Asia (11%), and other regions (8%).

Along with the papers themselves, peer review is the process that defines the quality of a journal. One of the major priorities of the Journal, therefore, is to provide impartial, rigorous, constructive, and prompt review of all papers. Virtually all papers that are eventually accepted by the JCEM are revised. The peer review process often leads to a second revision before a paper is ultimately accepted. Although the many papers that undergo a second revision add to the length of time in review, those papers are invariably improved further. To shorten the overall review time, we require that the second revision be resubmitted within 2 months (the first revision is given a 3-month resubmission period). In exceptional circumstances, we will grant a reasonable extension to these time limits. To expedite the review process further, I am pleased to announce that the JCEM will be converting to an all-electronic review format in 2004. Papers will be submitted electronically, reviews will be conducted on-line, and all correspondence will be handled by e-mail. Following the lead of Endocrinology, our sister journal that converted to this format in 2003, we envision that the time in review will be shortened substantially in the coming year.

In 2003, the JCEM published a total of 812 original articles (including 14 Rapid Communications). In addition, 43 Letters to the Editor were published. There were 91 Special Features divided into the following categories: Editorials (30), Clinical Reviews (10), Perspectives (4), Consensus Statement (2), Clinical Case Seminars (16), Controversies in Endocrinology (1), Images in Endocrinology (1), Workforce Study (1), Cardiovascular Endocrinology (20), Genetics of Endocrine Disease (1), Endocrine Mechanisms of Disease (1), Extensive Personal Experience (2), and Hot Topics (1). All special feature articles undergo peer review. We welcome your suggestions for special features. It is this section of the journal that gives our readers valuable perspectives in areas that are timely and topical.

Endocrine Care continues to be a popular section of JCEM. Articles selected for this section of the Journal are those that the Editors have deemed to be of exceptional interest to the practicing endocrinologist. In this section are found Clinical Trials. We are pleased to note that the number of clinical trials published in JCEM has doubled in comparison with just a few years ago. With the next issue, the JCEM will introduce a new feature, the Patient Education Page. This initiative comes from The Endocrine Society’s Hormone Foundation. Every month, a short 1-page description of an endocrine disease or facet thereof will be printed in a form that is readily accessible to patients. The page can be copied and used as waiting room material. In this way, we hope to provide accurate, timely, and understandable information to the patients we serve.

The theme of the 2004 Endocrine Society Meeting is Obesity. In keeping with tradition, the JCEM will showcase this important endocrine problem in the June issue. Approximately 20 Special Features will be published in that issue. In addition, there will be a special section devoted to original articles on obesity.

My Associate Editors and I have been working together as a team for the past 4 years. It is to them that we owe great thanks. To my colleagues in this endeavor, Andy Arnold, Beverly Biller, John Challis, David Cooper, Jeff Flier, Barry Goldstein, Janet Hall, Bob Kreisberg, Paul Ladenson, Sharon Oberfield (Deputy Editor), and Elizabeth Shane, thank you. You have provided an invaluable service to The Endocrine Society and to the Journal as you work literally every day to perform your responsibilities with care, commitment, and great skill.

I am delighted to announce that the Search Committee of the Publications Committee of The Endocrine Society has selected Paul Ladenson as the new Editor of JCEM. Dr. Ladenson is John Eager Howard Professor of Medicine and Director, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. His term begins in January 2005. While serving as Associate Editor of the journal, Paul has developed a keen understanding of JCEM and will surely follow me with continued successful efforts to improve it.

The JCEM works as well as it does because of Patricia Meravy, Managing Editor. With complete grasp of all Journal operations, Patricia successfully manages to oversee the complex journal operations with a dedication that cannot be measured on any human scale. She directs a hardworking staff of editorial assistants to whom we are also grateful: Michelle Castro, Ali Gailunas, Jeniffer Moroney, and Kim Richardson.

Finally, we thank members of our Editorial Board, who regularly review for the JCEM. We welcome our new members: Gerhard Bauman, Robert Casper, Patrick Catalano, Hilary Critchley, Samuel Dagogo-Jack, David DeKretser, Robert Eckel, Sergio Fazio, Sebastiano Filetti, Steve Franks, John Gerich, David Guzick, Robert Henry, Kevan Herold, Andrew Hoffman, Lourdes Ibanez, Harald Jueppner, John Kanis, Laurence Katznelson, Jean Marc Kaufman, Lawrence Kirschner, Annie Kung, Hang Lee, Theodore Mazzone, D. Michael Nelson, Long Ngo, Ralk Paschke, Lawrence Raisz, Stuart Ralston, Robert Recker, Scott Rivkees, Douglas Ross, Martin Schlumberger, Stephen Smith, Brooke Swearingen, Eve Van Cauter, Lee Weinstein, Wilmar Wiersinga, Thomas Wilson. The Editorial Board for 2004 is represented by 14 countries outside the United States. This international representation now constitutes 21% of the entire Board, a 50% increase over 2003. The entire current roster of Editorial Board members is listed on the masthead of this issue. We also express our thanks to The Endocrine Society Members who review for the journal on an ad hoc basis. You add great strength to the review process. We are also grateful to you who read the journal and who submit your best work to us. These are the ingredients of success.

Although the clock is winding down on our tenure, my Associate Editors and I, as well as the entire Journal Staff, are winding up to continue to bring you even more stimulating papers and commentary on our field. Our mission continues to be that you eagerly look forward to receiving your issue of JCEM every month: month after month after month.



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FIG. 1. John P. Bilezikian, M.D.

 




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