After 10 Years
Authors: Julie Ann Freischlag
Journal: JAMA Surgery (2014)

Ten years ago, I was given an opportunity by Catherine D. DeAngelis,MD, theeditor in chief of JAMA at the time, to carry on themission of theArchives of Surgery. I succeeded Claude H.OrganJr,MD,whohadbeen thesuccessful editorofArchives ofSurgery for 17years.Manychangeshaveoccurred in the journal over these past 10 years, including changing our name to JAMASurgery just last year.DrDeAngelis steppeddownaseditor in chief of JAMA after an impressive reign of 11 years, and Howard Bauchner, MD, is the new editor in chief of JAMA. Dr Organ died shortly after he stepped down from being editor of Archives of Surgery; however, his influence on me continued throughout my 10 years of service. Sometimes I felt as if he were cheering me on to make a difference whenever we launched a new initiative for the journal. Some of those new initiatives included taking the journal into the electronic era, with submissions and reviews performedentirely online, andpublishing all content online first, with the posting of new articles every week. We do podcasts andalsoonline interviewswithauthors as theydiscuss the importance of theirwork. Ourwebsite is vibrant, bringing attention to our featured articles. Our web editor Michael E. Zenilman, MD, even tweets our content these days. We have published some excellent videos and are always looking for more. Other accomplishments and features that we have added in the past 10 years include the Resident’s Forum, monthly Viewpoints, an increased number of Invited Commentaries, rolling yearly themes, and doubling the number of Clinical Challenges. We now publish 2 CME quizzes each month, one of which is online only. We have a new affiliation with the AssociationofVASurgeons,whichhappened just thispastyear, and we have kept a strong affiliation with the Pacific Coast SurgicalAssociation,withbothassociationsprovidinguswith excellentcontentarticles.Our impact factorhas increasedsome most every year, and this past year, it was 4.297, more than a whole point higher than 10 years ago. The number of submitted manuscripts has increased nearly 60%, from approximately 700manuscripts a year to approximately 1100. All this could not have happened without the leadership of the deputy editors Edward E. Cornwell, MD, Richard D. Schulick, MD, and Pamela A. Lipsett, MD, alongwith theweb editorMichaelE.Zenilman,MD. Inaddition, theeditorialboard, bothpast andpresent, hasbeenexcellent indoing reviewsand givingusdirectioneveryyearatourannualboardmeeting.Our editorial boardmeetings have beenvibrant and fun, and Iwill remember them fondly. However, themain reason whywe have been so successful is Terri Carter, who has been the managing editor for the whole 10 years that I have been editor. She has navigated the changes with poise and grace, and she has keptme on target. She is so efficient and has themost amazing emotional intelligence. I have learned somuch fromher.Weare good friends, and I will miss working with her. Every morning I would get her e-mails, along with the newly arrived manuscripts to be reviewed, and I always considered my early mornings as “working for Terri.” I alsoneed to thankall of the staff at JAMA; theyhavebeen so helpful to us. Through all our changes, they have always listened and had solutions. I believe that our mission is still relevant: “To promote the art and science of surgery by publishing relevant peer-reviewed clinical and basic science information to assist the surgeon inoptimizingpatient care. The Archives of Surgery [now known as JAMA Surgery] will also serve as a forum for the discussion of issues that involve ethics, teaching, surgical history, and socioeconomic concerns.” I look forward towatching the evolution of JAMASurgery under the leadership of the neweditorMelinaKibbe,MD. She will take the journal to an even better place with her innovative ideas and incredible energy. As I like to say tomy fellows, residents, and students, go forth and do great things! When I took over the journal 10 years ago, I thanked Dr Organ for all he had given to promote theArchives of Surgery, and I quoted Calvin Coolidge: “No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor is given by what he gave.” I want to thank Cathy, Howard, and all the JAMA staff (Terri, Eddie, Rich,Michael, and Pam), and all of the past and present editorial boardmembers and all of youwhohave submitted, published, and read articles in JAMASurgery forwhat you have given me over the past 10 years. I will be forever grateful. Mission accomplished.