JAMA Ophthalmology

Abstract

The world of ophthalmology is fortunate to have had the scholarly leadershipofDanielAlbert,MD,MS, as oneof the longestserving editors of JAMAOphthalmology, formerly theArchives of Ophthalmology. It is an honor and a privilege for me to followDr Albert as the next (and ninth) editor of JAMAOphthalmology. Far beyond just a new editor in chief, this July 2013 issue begins the transition to a major redesign coordinated with JAMA and the 9 specialty journals, including JAMA Ophthalmology, that represent The JAMA Network. As a result of these changes, and the tightbondofThe JAMANetwork structurally and conceptually, the imprimatur of JAMA,with itshigh impact factor of 30andhopefully growing, and its ability to reachmillions of people in print, on theweb, or through digital media, provides an intangible benefit to JAMA Ophthalmology not available previously to it or other peerreviewed journals inophthalmology.Readers, authors, and reviewers can learnmore about the revolutionary changes in an editorial accompanying the July 1, 2013, issue of JAMA.1 JAMA Ophthalmology’s vision will continue to be, simply, to have the best peer-reviewed publications in ophthalmology. To do so, the journal must focus on getting some of the best people in ophthalmology to serve on the editorial board. The deputy editors, Roy Beck, MD, PhD, and Michael Kass, MD, and the associate editor, Frederick Ferris, MD, will lead an editorial board dedicated to keeping JAMA Ophthalmology the strongandessential journal that it hasbeen for more than 100 years. The ophthalmology community shouldexpect theeditorial board to reachout toauthorsofmajor clinical trials, basic discovery, early translation, comparative effectiveness, and dissemination of clinical research that arecritical toophthalmology research, education, clinical care, and public health. In this age of instantaneous communication, authors and readers should note that all major content is now posted online, ahead of print, saving months from time of acceptance to time of publication. Some additional upcoming changes to JAMAOphthalmologywill need some time to implement, but not toomuch time. Readers should expect new content starting in 2014. This contentwill bemeant to enhance the cuttingedge clinical research publications. Readers should anticipate expanded sections on viewpoints and perspectives that discuss howonemight consider applying new evidence from clinical trials intoeverydaypractice.An illustriousgroupofcontributingwriters fromtheophthalmicbranchesof theUSFood andDrugAdministration, theNational InstitutesofHealth, and theCochraneCollaborationwill provide commentariesof contemporary interest to the community-based and academicbasedclinicians. Popular sections, including continuingmedical education and clinical challenges, will continue to be available. It’s not just the content thatmay lookdifferent andunique inJAMAOphthalmologyover thenext fewyears;oneof thenext importantchallenges forpeer-reviewed journalswillbe therole of the web and digital media. The JAMA Network, including JAMA Ophthalmology, is ready to use the evolving power of these digital platforms and identify ways to apply it (for example, see theMay20,2013,Facebookpostingand linkedvideo onprimaryopen-angleglaucoma2), recognizing thatdailyhabits for obtaining medical knowledge involve more than reading the print edition of medical journals. In the end, the best peer-reviewed content and the finest digitalmedia areonlyof value if the coreprinciplesof the journal and its editorial board remaindedicated tomaintaining scientific integrity, concern for patient and human subject risks, andethical behavior thatdefine JAMAOphthalmology. Tohelp achieve this goal, the journal will maintain an advisory committee of leaders from around the world, independent of the editorial board, whose charge will be to ensure that the journal is true to its mission. On behalf of The JAMA Network, welcome to the beginningof thenextdecadeof JAMAOphthalmology.We invite our readers, reviewers,andauthorstocontactthejournalatanytime aswestrivetobethe indispensablesourceofophthalmicknowledge through authoritative peer review in the 21st century.