A fond adieu and reflections on nine years at the helm of the Journal: 2005-2013

Abstract

This editorial marks the conclusion of my final (five-year) term after nine years at the helm of the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia (the Journal). I assumed this role as your fifth Editor-in-Chief in January 2005. It has been an honour and, at the same time, a rather humbling experience to have served in the footsteps of former Editors-in-Chief: Dr. Roderick Gordon (1954-1982), Dr. Douglas Craig (19831988), Dr. David Bevan (1989-2000), and Dr. Jean Francois Hardy (2001-2004). I take this opportunity to reflect on various accomplishments and some of the challenges of the past nine years. I shall also recognize the many outstanding individuals whose unwavering support and unparalleled teamwork have been instrumental in enhancing the relevance and importance of the Journal for the benefit of our readers, in growing our international presence, and in fostering our realization of the vision and mission of the Journal. None of the accomplishments of the past nine years would have been possible without such a remarkable team of expert and dedicated editors, board members (former and present), guest reviewers, and dedicated authors with their precious manuscripts. I especially thank Dr. Francois Donati who has been a superb Deputy Editor-in-Chief and a visionary Section Editor for continuing professional development (CPD) features of the Journal. Dr. Donati will step down from his role at the end of this year. I am deeply appreciative of the sage advice of our Associate Editors, Dr. David Mazer and Dr. Scott Beattie, whose expertise in scientific publication in critical care medicine, cardiac anesthesia, and outcomes-based research has greatly enriched the Journal. I sincerely thank our biostatistician, Dr. Penelope Brasher, for her dedication and remarkably insightful statistical reviews that go to the core of ensuring accurate and transparent scientific reporting. I extend my warm and sincerest thanks to all of our board members who have consistently gone above and beyond in support of the mission: Drs. Steven Backman, Andrew Baker, Gregory Bryson, Davy Cheng, Mark Crawford, Alain Deschamps, Pierre Drolet, Hilary Grocott, Gregory Hare, Keyvan Karkouti, Bradley Kerr, Etienne de Medicis, Patricia Morley-Forster, Roanne Preston, Ban Tsui, and Alexis Turgeon. I acknowledge and thank guest editors, Drs. Paul Hebert and David Moher, for their shared wisdom and advice over the years. I also recognize the unique contributions of Dr. Alan Merry (New Zealand), Drs. Robert Sladen and Adrian Gelb (United States), Dr. Christian Werner (Germany), and Dr. Benoit Plaud (France), who have enriched our editorial board enormously. To our many guest reviewers (a list of over 200!), I extend a very special thanks for being such important contributors to our peer review system. We owe a world of thanks to our Editorial Assistant, Ms. Carolyn Gillis, who is the heart and soul of managing our editorial peer review process. Ms. Gillis communicates daily with Vision and Mission of the Journal: ‘‘Excellence in research and knowledge translation in anesthesia, pain, perioperative medicine and critical care’’ Vision et mission du Journal: «Excellence en recherche et en transfert des connaissances liees a l’exercice clinique de l’anesthesie, du controle de la douleur, de la medecine perioperatoire et des soins intensifs»