The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 93, No. 1 1
Copyright © 2008 by The Endocrine Society
A New Look for JCEM’s Enduring Vision
Paul W. Ladenson, M.D., Editor-in-Chief
By the time readers reach this page, they will have noticed some big changes in the design of JCEM. The cover and typography have been streamlined; the table of contents now contains mini-abstracts previewing each paper’s contents; and the Endocrinology and Metabolism News has been expanded.
The Journal’s vision, however, remains unaltered: to be the one journal every clinical endocrinologist knows they must read every month. JCEM remains the most influential source of important new knowledge about clinical endocrinology, as illustrated by the continued increase in manuscripts submissions, which rose another four percent in 2007, and by the citations of JCEM papers by other published articles, which exceed substantially all other endocrine journals (see below).
The Journal’s editors and reviewers have been working hard to satisfy our two most important constituencies: our authors and our readers. For authors submitting papers in 2007, the mean time to first decision has been only 23 days, and the average time to acceptance is approaching three months, after which papers appear online within days. A new, even faster track is being introduced this month, Endocrine Trials Express, an innovation to encourage submission of prospective clinical trials testing significant enhancements in diagnosis and treatment of endocrine and metabolic disorders. If submission by this pathway is approved by the Editor, a first decision will be rendered within two weeks, and if authors of attractive reports are promptly responsive to reviewers, electronic publication is possible within one month. JCEM’s editors and editorial board will be scouring ClinicalTrials.gov and meeting poster sessions to solicit potential clinical trial manuscripts for submission by this new fast track.
For our readers, JCEM has demonstrated that Clinical really is our middle name. In the past year, we have published four clinical guidelines, articulated by the Endocrine Society and others. In addition to 358 Endocrine Care original articles, we’ve delivered 105 clinically oriented special articles, including our new, highly popular Approach to the Patient and Update features. We’ve also become more selective. Now, fewer than one of four submitted original articles meet our high standards. The Journal’s content is more consistently excellent, and the publication itself is more manageable physically and intellectually.
In the coming year, the Journal, in parallel with the strategic goals of The Endocrine Society, aims to enhance its contributions to publishing key discoveries and insightful reviews and commentaries related to diabetes, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, and obesity. The rising tide of these disorders demands the attention of all clinical endocrinologists and investigators to increase understanding of the genetic predilections, pathophysiological expression, early recognition, and effective management of metabolic scourges that threaten health globally. In response, the Society has approved the appointment of Steven Kahn as a second Deputy Editor of JCEM with a portfolio for pursuit of initiatives and content addressing these metabolic disorders. Another Associate Editor with expertise in this realm will be added as well.
The editors have many to thank for JCEM’s success. Our editorial board is amazingly dedicated, the Society has been consistently supportive, and our professional staff is outstanding. More than all this, our authors and readers have been incredibly loyal to the Journal’s vision. We thank those that have written, submitted, reviewed, and read the important work in JCEM—and yes, those who care enough to complain when, they believe, we’ve slid off course.
With best wishes for 2008,
Received November 20, 2007.
Accepted November 20, 2007.
