In Praise of Janus

It is with great pride and a certain amount of trepidation that I pen my first editorial for the journal. I follow in the footsteps of two great educators: Drs. Richard Bakemeier and Joe O’Donnell. Each in their own inimitable way has been responsible for the growth of the journal and its recognition as the source for thoughtful presentations and reflections in the field of cancer education. At this time of transition, I am reminded of the Roman god Janus who is the god of gates and doors, beginnings and endings, of transitions. He is represented by a double face, each looking in opposite directions—one to the past and one to the future. The month of January is named in his honor since it is a time to look at past accomplishments and to look to the future and set new goals. The journal was founded in 1986 by Dr. Richard F. Bakemeier and his Editorial Associate and wife, Alice Holyoke Bakemeier, RN, MS, the former editor of The Diabetes Educator. The first issue of the journal ran 57 pages and contained six articles, four book reviews, three letters, and one editorial. Four of these articles presented the status of training at the NCI, ACS, and UICC. The lead article was written by Dr. Margaret Hay Edwards on the development of education and training programs at the National Cancer Institute from 1938 to 1982. Dr. Edwards had a long and distinguished history in cancer education, and it is in her name that the AACE’s most prestigious honor is named. In his inaugural editorial, Dr. Bakemeier cited the challenges faced in cancer treatment and education as well as the future role for the Journal of Cancer Education. He cited the then prevalent “pessimism among both professionals and the public about the chances for cure or at least high quality life after a diagnosis of cancer.” Dr. Bakemeier cited the need to develop more responsive educational programs for primary care providers, the need for graduate curriculum time devoted to oncology, and a call for transdisciplinary cancer education. He opined that this new publication, the Journal of Cancer Education, “will facilitate the dissemination of proven, successful cancer education methods and will stimulate the development of innovative approaches to the cancer education needs of learners at all levels.” It is now 27 years later, and some of these goals have been achieved while others will require constant and continual attention. A factor responsible for much of our success has been the journal. Conceived at a time when there were limited opportunities for us to publish results of our efforts in cancer education programs, the journal has and will continue to provide an outlet for us to disseminate our findings and provoke thought. Dr. Joe O’Donnell inherited a strong, adolescent journal and fathered it through to a vibrant young adulthood. He has not only remained true to the founding principles of the journal, but carefully nurtured its intellectual growth. The journal has grown both in size and stature. Each issue now runs approximately 200 pages and contains over two dozen research articles. In addition to recounting pedagogical adventures, it also includes thoughtful and thought-provoking pieces in the Reflections section. Of course, the highlight of every issue is Joe’s editorial. It is through these missives that he has demonstrated to us the multidimensionality of cancer education. That the reporting of cancer education programs is far more than hypotheses and confidence intervals and that we must think outside the box and, often, outside our limited comfort zones. That we need to interpret and apply findings from fields as diverse as philosophy, history, business, and any other field that explores and presents new cognitive concepts. Where else can you read an Editorial that cites a poem on intelligence, a treatise on the art of medicine, and a Dr. Seuss book? Joe is a true thought leader. We will all miss his insights, and you will all learn how to tolerate or ignore mine. So... what lies ahead for the journal? Even though I am not a physician, I will do my utmost to uphold the Hippocratic Oath and “abstain from doing harm.” The journal will continue to publish high-quality articles on the philosophy and practice of cancer education. It will also continue and A. M. Michalek (*) Health Policy, D’Youville College, Buffalo, NY, USA e-mail: Arthur.Michalek@RoswellPark.org