The Beginning of a New Journal

Abstract

Look with favor upon a bold beginning. —Virgil, Georgics As you know, the Red Journal that you’re reading is the premier clinical journal in radiation oncology. In the past decade, under the leadership of Dr. James D. Cox, the quality of scientific papers in the Red Journal has increased, and the impact factor has risen steadily as a result. The increasing number of manuscripts submitted has forced the editors at the Red Journal to reduce word limits and reject many papers of value. Given this situation, the ASTRO Board of Directors (BOD) spent several years deliberating and recently concluded that the discipline of radiation oncology would benefit from a new journal that focuses on the practice of radiation oncology. In late 2009, ASTRO announced an editor selection search and named an Editor Selection Task Force made up of private-practice and academic practitioners. The Task Force reviewed all applications (more than 20) and interviewed a small group of candidates. After a rigorous, deliberative process, the Task Force nominated me for this position, and in early 2010, the BOD confirmed the nomination. I am humbled, honored, and excited to be the first editorin-chief of this new journal. In the following paragraphs, I briefly describe the structure and content of the new journal and update you on the progress made to date. The new journal will be titled Practical Radiation Oncology (PRO) and will be owned by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) in the same way that American Society of Clinical Oncology owns the Journal of Clinical Oncology. I will be joined by a group of approximately 12 radiation oncologists and physicists who will act as senior editors for PRO. I am happy to report that this group has been assembled, and work on the journal has already begun in earnest. I want to thank publicly the senior editors in advance for their work on behalf of PRO. The group has significant experience in radiation oncology and related disciplines and is quite diverse with respect to disease expertise, radiation techniques, and geographic location. The senior editors will assist with soliciting and refereeing