November: A Time to be Thankful

Abstract

Here in the United States, coming up at the end of this month, we have a day set aside on the calendar, and recognized by the appropriate authorities, during which we eat as much food as possible and watch football on television all day. Of course, that was not quite the intent with which the holiday was established. Families get together, the usual routine of work and traffic stops, and people celebrate as a group, often sharing what they have with their neighbors and friends. The real purpose of the day of Thanksgiving is to allow each of us to reflect on what it is in life for which we are thankful.Other countries of the world have similar festivals and days set aside for giving thanks. Most cultures have developed this type of celebration to commemorate the successful harvest of crops, being grateful for the bounty brought forth and so, naturally, the timing is often dependent on geographical and climatologic conditions. Coming toward the end of the year here in North America, Thanksgiving also traditionally marks the start of a month-long holiday season that culminates in the beginning of a New Year. So, what better time is there to reflect back on the past year and give thanks for what we have and what has been received?Orthodontists are a very fortunate group of individuals in general. We work under good conditions with mostly healthy and active patients who are happy and grateful to accept the help and guidance we provide. We make people look better and feel better. Most of our treatments are successful. The people with whom we work and live share in and spread the enthusiasm that we all convey. We can be creative, artistic, and intellectual all at the same time. Orthodontists get paid well and, in turn, are usually active in their communities and assume leadership positions at some level of society. There is certainly much for which to be thankful.For me, entering and proceeding through my orthodontic educational experience 25 years ago, I had the seemingly unrealistic dream that someday I could be Editor of a major orthodontic journal. Admittedly, I don't think I truly understood what exactly the editor's duties were. I thought that the editor actually wrote, read, rewrote, and controlled everything that appeared in a journal. And, now that I am actually here with that title, I realize that they CAN do that, but they shouldn't do that. It is not MY journal; it is YOURS. The Editor is in reality the one who is just a gatekeeper, the last say in a long line of important contributors that make a journal what it is. So, it is without a doubt for those people, all of you who contribute in some way to The Angle Orthodontist, for whom I am truly thankful.The Angle Orthodontist is on track to receive 1000 new submissions by the end of 2012. Articles come in electronically from authors throughout the world at a rate of almost 3 per day, 20 per week! Since I have become editor, Bob Isaacson has been working behind the scenes to take in all those submissions, making sure they meet the guidelines and requirements before they are passed on for review. There are currently four Assistant Editors who, along with myself, find appropriate reviewers to assess the content of these submissions. Every article will be evaluated by 2, 3, or sometimes more of these experts. The Assistant Editors interpret and add their opinions to those of the referees and, using those recommendations, we are able to make an educated decision on each paper. I take the responsibility but these are really not my determinations alone. I am so thankful for all the help I receive from this huge group of voluntary contributors.We should all be thankful to those who have gone before us to open up access to The Angle Orthodontist, providing unlimited and instantaneously delivered scientific information online: most notably, Bob Isaacson and his wife Delores, but also with the help of the Angle Board and hundreds of contributors to The Angle Heritage Fundraising Campaign that made all of this possible. And, while I'm on the subject, you too might want to donate to the continued and future health of the journal by visiting www.angle.org.So, as we close out another record-breaking year here at The Angle Orthodontist, I want to take this opportunity to once again say “THANK YOU” to all the readers, authors, editors, reviewers, and contributors who have made the phenomenal success of the journal possible. I look forward to the upcoming New Year, 2013, with enthusiastic anticipation.