Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in Transition: 15 Years of Innovation and Excellence Paves the Way for a Bright Future.

Abstract

Under the leadership of Thomas T. Yoshikawa, MD, the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAG) has seen remarkable growth in the breadth of its innovative clinical publications and its worldwide influence. The Journal's international influence is clearly reflected in the continued growth of submissions from outside the United States, which now represent close to half of all manuscripts and letters submitted for review. Cutting-edge clinical research on most of the major problems encountered in caring for older persons have been addressed in depth over the last 15 years. JAGS has led in such areas as the clinical management of frail older adults with geriatric syndromes and multimorbidity across a variety of clinical settings, evaluating and managing persons with cognitive decline, and mitigating potential functional decline with exercise and other rehabilitative interventions, to name a few areas. Dr. Yoshikawa has also overseen the transition of JAGS into a truly multidisciplinary publication with new associate editors, sections, and publications that reflect the interprofessional nature of geriatrics. Sections on nursing and pharmacology highlight the critical importance of these disciplines to the field. In publishing its series on Models of Care, Quality Improvement, and Program Dissemination, JAGS has shown true leadership by shining a light on the future at a time when the entire healthcare system is in rapid flux. In its brief reports on clinical research and research methodology, JAGS has published research that will affect clinical care long into the future. JAGS publications on appropriate care at the end of life, palliative care, ethics, and ethnogeriatrics have emphasized the importance of person-centered care for decades while the healthcare system has struggled with this concept. Dr. Yoshikawa has personally reviewed thousands of letters to the editor that have responded to published research, reported new research, and presented interesting case reports. His dedication to this section of JAGS has enabled many authors to publish their work and thoughts on the field that otherwise would not have been widely disseminated. In complementing Dr. Yoshikawa's leadership, the JAGS executive, associate, and section editors have led as role models for the diversity of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) membership and the topics published, and without JAGS highly devoted core of reviewers, the Journal would not be the quality it is today. A special note of thanks is due the Yoshikawa family and Flory Ferns-James. With a relatively small budget, they have managed to provide extraordinary service to the field. For a decade and a half they have served, led, and supported the field and its growth. For years to come, their stewardship of our Journal will be the criterion standard by which those of us who follow will be measured. Applegate and colleagues now pick up the mantle from the Yoshikawa era. Our first goal is to maintain the course and growth that JAGS has enjoyed in the last decade. We will focus on evolutionary change rather than major reengineering. We are aware that new leadership that focuses on large-scale immediate change often precipitates disastrous unintended consequences. This is especially true because we inherit a successful journal. Therefore, it is our intent to retain a majority of the current editors and board. At the same time, any change in leadership is a time for strategic reexamination and innovation. Involvement of the next generation of geriatrics health professionals and taking advantage of new opportunities presented by integrating social media into scientific publication will be critical to success. Subsequent editorials will focus on our evolving strategy, and we will soon begin a process of soliciting broad input on directions for our future. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Author Contributions: Both authors contributed to the drafting and writing of the editorial. Sponsor's Role: None.