20 Years Old and Going Strong

Abstract

Richard L. Sowell, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Editor Emeritus (1996–2007), Professor and Dean, WellStar College of Health and Human Services, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA. Congratulations to the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (JANAC) on its 20th anniversary. The significant contributions made by JANAC over the past 20 years are a testimony to the vision and hard work nurses have provided in responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. JANAC from its earliest conception has brought a unique perspective to the fight against AIDS. It is the perspective of nurses who are direct care providers, nurses who are researchers, nurses who are educators, and nurses who are policy advocates. JANAC, as the only nursing journal to exclusively address HIV-related issues, continues to provide an outlet for the voices of nurses in AIDS Care—voices that have influenced the course of the pandemic—voices that attest to the role of nurses as the underpinning of health and health care delivery. It was my privilege to have been a part of JANAC’s evolution and growth during 13 years of the journal’s 20-year history. It does not seem possible that it was more than 13 years ago when Cliff Morrison, ANAC president, asked me to serve as the assistant editor for JANAC. I had no idea that 2 years later, in 1996, I would become the editor of JANAC for the next 11 years. I could not have guessed JANAC would become a major part of my professional life for over a decade as well as provide the opportunity to work with some of the most dynamic nurses in the world. If you look back through the pages of JANAC noting the individuals who have served on the editorial board, who have been peer reviewers, and who have been our authors, you cannot help but be impressed. Many of the names seen in pages of JANAC are those of individuals who have shaped the history of the pandemic. What a privilege to have worked with these leaders. The growth of JANAC into a highly respected international AIDS journal is a source of satisfaction