Changing of the Guard.

Abstract

This summer, Endocrine Reviews, the Endocrine Society journal that boasts the highest impact factor, transitions to new leadership. It is a time for changing of the guard, a time to look back to evaluate our progress and assess the changes that have occurred in publishing that will impact the journal in the future. We write as the outgoing Associate Editors, led by E. Chester “Chip” Ridgway, for the past 5 years and share the exciting news that in the past 3 years the impact factor for Endocrine Reviews has increased from 14.873 to 19.35 to 21.059, expanding its lead as the most highly ranked endocrine journal. We look forward to transitioning to a new leadership that will have new approaches and perspectives in the continuing quest topreserve this traditionof excellence, but also to continue to improve the journal. Built on the foundation of leadership developed by many over the past four decades, Endocrine Reviews has been the “go to” place for comprehensive, authoritative, up-to-date, and critical analyses of endocrine topics by the experts in the field. As the definition of “hormone” has expanded and evolved during this time, the journal has embraced the breadth and depth of endocrine science and medicine. As an Associate Editor when R. Paul Robertson was Editor-in-Chief (EIC), Chip assimilated the strategies to identify and evaluate potential manuscripts of interest and value for the readership of Endocrine Reviews. When he became the EIC himself, he identified a diverse set of Associate Editors with their own areas of expertise, but each with a broad understanding of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism. Importantly, this group spanned the spectrum from basic science to translational science to clinical research. In addition, he chose people who advocated enthusiastically for their positions. Before our monthly meetings, each Associate Editor read all of the proposals, reviewed the expertise of the authors, and examined the relevance of topics within the portfolio of the pipeline of pending manuscripts. We also compiled the current literature on the topic and determined whether other recent reviews were available and whether the topic fit within an overall goal of translating basic science advances to the clinic to ultimately impact on human health. Chip complemented the Associate Editors’ expertise with a strong group of Advisory Board members who gave their input on each manuscript topic online before each meeting. The preparation of the Associate Editors guaranteed that each of us had done our homework to critically evaluate each manuscript submission. And after sometimes vigorous discussion mediated with Chip’s effortless leadership, we reached consensus on the approval or rejection of manuscript outlines. Chip ensured that each manuscript was treated fairly and consistently and that each Associate Editor found the optimal reviewers to ensure that the final product was worthy of the excellence passed down through the years for publication in Endocrine Reviews. In reflecting on the breadth and depth of topics presented over the past 5 years, we see the evolution of the scope of endocrinology, the impact of new science and medicine, new techniques and approaches to understanding normal physiology and pathophysiology, with a major focus on translating new scientific advances towards clinical application. In the wake of Chip’s sudden passing last August, we banded together to continue this well-oiled process of review, as well as new initiatives to reach out to top scientists in the field to bring their reviews to the journal. Chip had started the tradition of publishing the Scientific Statements solicited by the Endocrine Society, including the landmark manuscript on “Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals.” Transitions are essential to help our journals evolve, and the new EIC, Len Wartofsky, with the new Associate Editors and International Advisory Board, will bring fresh ideas and approaches to Endocrine Reviews, embracing