Editorial introductions

Abstract

Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine was launched in 1995. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of pulmonary medicine is divided into nine sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Journal's Editors in Chief and Section Editors for this issue. EDITORS IN CHIEF Robert BaughmanRobert BaughmanDr Robert Baughman is Professor of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati, USA. After completing undergraduate training at Yale University, USA, he received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, USA. He joined the Internal Medicine staff at the University of Cincinnati after completing both an internal medicine residency and fellowship training in pulmonary diseases at the University of Cincinnati. His major research interests include the treatment of sarcoidosis and bronchoalveolar lavage. Along with his long-time collaborator Dr Elyse Lower, he has developed several novel treatments for sarcoidosis, including methotrexate, thalidomide, leflunomide, and infliximab. Current studies include treatments for sarcoidosis associated fatigue and pulmonary hypertension due to sarcoidosis. Dr Baughman's publications include over 200 original papers and over 70 review articles and/or book chapters. He is on the editorial board of several journals and co-Editor of the journals Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine and Sarcoidosis, Interstitial Lung Disease, and Vasculitis. In addition, Dr Baughman is the editor of books on sarcoidosis, interstitial lung disease, and interstitial lung disease associated pulmonary hypertension. Marjolein DrentMarjolein DrentDr Marjolein Drent is Professor of Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the Faculty of Heath, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands, and Pulmonologist at the ILD Center of Excellence St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, Netherlands. Her oration was entitled: ‘Breathtaking inspirations’. After she finished her training as a physical therapist, she received her medical degree from the Catholic University of Nijmegen, Netherlands. Her major research interests include sarcoidosis, ILD, drug-induced ILD and quality of life related topics. She is a co-editor, member of the editorial board and guest editor of several international journals, as well as editor of ILD Care Today. She has (co-) authored over 400 papers and book chapters. She is the co-editor of several ILD related e-learning modules. She is president emeritus of WASOG (World Association of Sarcoidosis and other Granulomatous diseases). She is a member of the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) Scientific Advisory Board. She is the founder and chair of the ILD Care (interstitial lung diseases including sarcoidosis and lung diseases related to occupation and environment management and research) Foundation. She is an honorary member of Sarcoidose.nl (Dutch Sarcoidosis Society) and co-founder and a member of the advisory board of the Dutch Pulmonary Fibrosis Society. In 2012, she was nominated for the World Sarcoidosis Person of the Year Award for her tireless research work in defining the psychological burden faced by patients and their families. Dublin, Ireland. She is ambassador for Compassion for Care and the youth smoking prevention foundation. She was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau by Royal Decree. This royal honour was awarded in 2016 by the deputy mayor of Ede, Netherlands. SECTION EDITORS Sadia BenzaquenSadia BenzaquenSadia Benzaquen, MD, FACP, FCCP, ATSF, DAABIP is the Chairman of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy at Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA. He is a Professor of Medicine at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA. He is an expert in the interventional pulmonology field with extensive research and publications in lung cancer, pleural disease and ILD. Sara TomassettiSara TomassettiSara Tomassetti is currently Associate Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Florence University, Italy, and Head of Interventional Pulmonology Unit at Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy. She has extensive experience in all aspects of interstitial lung diaseses and interventional pulmonology, including cryobiopsy. She is a faculty member of the European Respiratory Society, and BOND National member for Italy of the European Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology. From a clinical research perspective, she has been the primary investigator (PI) of several sponsored and investigator initiated clinical trials on diagnosis and treatemnt of ineterstiatial lung diseases and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. She publishes on clinical research aspects of interstitial lung diseases and interventional pulmonology. She regularly reviews research and clinical manuscripts for international journals.