Changing for the Better

Abstract

One of my uncles maintained a perpetual pot of soup to which he would add some new foods each day, constantly creating a fresh taste from the same batch of soup. Although the analogy cannot be stretched too far, in a sense Pediatrics in Review (PIR) is like that marvelous soup in that the journal, while maintaining its basic character, evolves over time to meet the needs of our readers and our ultimate consumers, children around the world.The basic “stock” in our soup pot is the body of content specifications of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), which provides a core of knowledge objectives encompassing the fundamentals of today’s pediatric medicine. Using this material to guide us, and teaming with the PREP Self-Assessment, we are able to meet our major objectives of keeping readers current in pediatric knowledge and preparing them for the cognitive portion of the ABP’s Maintenance of Certification program. The PREP Curriculum is a learning system that covers the spectrum of pediatric medicine every 5 years.The meat and potatoes are the review articles and shorter “In Brief” pieces, augmented by the different flavors of “Index of Suspicion,” “Back to Basics,” “Visual Diagnosis,” and other special sections.Some newer ingredients have been added. In 2006, we expanded our capability by offering some articles in an online-only format. This additional publishing space has allowed presentation of important and interesting topics outside of the core content, such as assessing the potential for violence in adolescents, a practical approach to quality improvement in the office, and telemedicine. The telemedicine article also demonstrated the capability of online articles for providing striking audiovisual enhancement of the text.Another new flavor in 2006 was a section that informs readers of therapies outside of the mainstream that may be affecting their patients. Our colleagues at the University of Alberta have created this series in conjunction with the Provisional Section on Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Topics already covered include probiotics, Echinacea, peppermint oil, and garlic.Beginning with this issue, we highlight successful programs for children resulting from outreach of pediatric residents into the community. In collaboration with the Community Pediatric Training Initiative of the AAP and with support from the Anne E. Dyson Foundation, this series may inspire others to further the cause of community pediatrics. Our first report features a unique program that uses bicycles to make children more active physically while teaching them skills and self-reliance.PIR’s link with residents continues, as they write the “Focus on Diagnosis” articles and submit many of our “Index of Suspicion” cases, including the case that results from their annual case-writing contest. A grant from Ross allows distribution of PIR to all residents in the United States.Our international perspective is maintained by contributions from authors in many countries and through our international editions. We published a commentary by an Italian pediatrician on Italy’s intensive program of preparticipation screening of athletes (November 2006), and we are exploring other such observations by our colleagues worldwide.I would like to extend my thanks to the many individuals who have made this PIR soup so nourishing and tasty, including our Associate Editors Drs Tina Cheng and Joseph Zenel; section editors Drs Henry Adam, Janet Serwint, and Laura Ibsen; editorial board members; editorial assistant Sydney Sutherland; Luann Zanzola and Kerry O’Rourke at the AAP; Medical Copy Editor Deborah Kuhlman; the people at Cadmus and Highwire publishers; and our Consulting and Founding Editor Robert J. Haggerty.