ANNIVERSARY EDITORIALS
THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY
It is April 15 and I, the Editor of the Journal, cannot find the words to write an editorial for this 20th Anniversary Issue, an assignment given to me many months ago by our Publisher, Lou Le Jacq. I feel like the author I am badgering because he is late with the article he promised to send 6 months ago. Bill Roberts, in his tribute to me, states that I have written no editorials in my capacity as Editor. Actually, I wrote two, one for the Inaugural Issue in 1958 and one for the 10th Anniversary Issue in 1968. It is fitting that the third one is for this 20th Anniversary Issue. When I became President of the American College of Cardiology in 1956, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees asked me to explore the need for a new journal on the heart to be sponsored by the College and then to find the best available publisher and editor. The need for such a journal for the clinical cardiologist was clearly established. After a long search, a publisher was found, the Yorke Medical Group, with which the College has maintained one of the closest, longest and most successful relations in medical publishing history. When it came to appointing an editor, the Board of Trustees made clear its choice-Simon Dack-a choice I could not readily accept because I had had only limited experience as Editor of the Transactions of the American College of Cardiology. But the Board insisted, and there I was in 1957, Editor-in-Chief of a fledgling journal with the task of organizing its Editorial Board and soliciting appropriate original articles. The first issue was published 1 year later. I hope the College’s faith in me has been justified. The College and its official Journal have come a long way together in the past 20 years in achieving their respective goals. I believe that we have both fulfilled our two most important functions: “to provide postgraduate education and a forum for dissemination of ideas and knowledge in cardiology.” As Editor, my aim has been
to provide such dissemination of new knowledge in a style and format that is understandable and appropriate for the clinician, the investigator and the educator. This requires a proper mix of clinical and experimental research papers and review articles that bring up to date what the clinician must know about cardiology. I have tried to encourage the expression of different points of view, the traditional as well as the nonconformist, and to be receptive to new ideas and disciplines in cardiology. As indicated in Gene Braunwald’s editorial, with such a policy the Journal will continue to have an important impact on the practice of cardiology. In my continued tenure as Editor of the Journal, I hope that my determination and zeal to blend basic and clinical research with clinical practice, the new and innovative with the old and traditional, will not waiver and that the pages of the Journal will remain the place where “the basic scientist can talk to the clinician.” The Journal must be a forum for the investigator as well as the practitioner and educator in cardiology. In this respect, both the College and the Publisher have allowed me complete independence to exercise my best judgment in the selection of manuscripts. I will continue to do so as fairly and responsibly as I can. Bill Roberts quotes from one of my reports to the Editorial Board stating that “ . . . the growth and success of the Journal are not due to the efforts of just one man.” This is true. The Journal could not have succeeded without the help and support of the Associate Editors, my four capable and devoted Assistant Editors, the Editorial Consultants and all the reviewers for the Journal. Lou Le Jacq, our publisher, has been a true friend of the College and has always honored a request from me when I have told him it’s for the good of the Journal. I have had complete support from every President, Officer and Trustee of the College, and from its Executive Director, Bill Nelligan, who has strength-
July 1978
The American Journal of CARDIOLOGY
Volume 42
3
ANNIVERSARY
EDITORIALS
To my colleagues and the illustrious editors of other heart journals who have written the accompanying editorials and tributes for this occasion, I am grateful for your kind words, some of which I have considered editing and deleting. On second thought, I shall keep my blue pencil in the drawer and graciously accept your accolades. Thank you each and every one for contributing to this issue of the Journal. I pledge my continued dedication to serve the Journal as its Editor.
ened the close relations among the Editor, the Publisher and the College. And, of course, there is the ever-dedicated Ruth Ohman, my hardworking Executive Editor and “boss,” who sees that I mind my P’s and Q’s and whose skilled professionalism makes my amateurish editing look polished. The Publications Committee, chaired previously by John Ross and now by William Roberts, has been transformed into an efficient watchdog and oversight committee whose helpful recommendations have contributed to significant improvements in the Journal in the past 7 years. Both men have been of extraordinary help to me. No busy practitioner, consultant and teacher in cardiology could have served successfully as Editor of this Journal without the understanding and support of his family. To my wife Jacqueline and to our children, Jerilyn and Leonard, my deep love and gratitude for your encouragement and support despite the many hours I have taken from you.
4
July 1978
The American
Journal
of CARDlOLOGY
Vdume
Simon Dack, MD, FACC Editor-in-Chief The American Journal of Cardiology
42
THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY
It is April 15 and I, the Editor of the Journal, cannot find the words to write an editorial for this 20th Anniversary Issue, an assignment given to me many months ago by our Publisher, Lou Le Jacq. I feel like the author I am badgering because he is late with the article he promised to send 6 months ago. Bill Roberts, in his tribute to me, states that I have written no editorials in my capacity as Editor. Actually, I wrote two, one for the Inaugural Issue in 1958 and one for the 10th Anniversary Issue in 1968. It is fitting that the third one is for this 20th Anniversary Issue. When I became President of the American College of Cardiology in 1956, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees asked me to explore the need for a new journal on the heart to be sponsored by the College and then to find the best available publisher and editor. The need for such a journal for the clinical cardiologist was clearly established. After a long search, a publisher was found, the Yorke Medical Group, with which the College has maintained one of the closest, longest and most successful relations in medical publishing history. When it came to appointing an editor, the Board of Trustees made clear its choice-Simon Dack-a choice I could not readily accept because I had had only limited experience as Editor of the Transactions of the American College of Cardiology. But the Board insisted, and there I was in 1957, Editor-in-Chief of a fledgling journal with the task of organizing its Editorial Board and soliciting appropriate original articles. The first issue was published 1 year later. I hope the College’s faith in me has been justified. The College and its official Journal have come a long way together in the past 20 years in achieving their respective goals. I believe that we have both fulfilled our two most important functions: “to provide postgraduate education and a forum for dissemination of ideas and knowledge in cardiology.” As Editor, my aim has been
to provide such dissemination of new knowledge in a style and format that is understandable and appropriate for the clinician, the investigator and the educator. This requires a proper mix of clinical and experimental research papers and review articles that bring up to date what the clinician must know about cardiology. I have tried to encourage the expression of different points of view, the traditional as well as the nonconformist, and to be receptive to new ideas and disciplines in cardiology. As indicated in Gene Braunwald’s editorial, with such a policy the Journal will continue to have an important impact on the practice of cardiology. In my continued tenure as Editor of the Journal, I hope that my determination and zeal to blend basic and clinical research with clinical practice, the new and innovative with the old and traditional, will not waiver and that the pages of the Journal will remain the place where “the basic scientist can talk to the clinician.” The Journal must be a forum for the investigator as well as the practitioner and educator in cardiology. In this respect, both the College and the Publisher have allowed me complete independence to exercise my best judgment in the selection of manuscripts. I will continue to do so as fairly and responsibly as I can. Bill Roberts quotes from one of my reports to the Editorial Board stating that “ . . . the growth and success of the Journal are not due to the efforts of just one man.” This is true. The Journal could not have succeeded without the help and support of the Associate Editors, my four capable and devoted Assistant Editors, the Editorial Consultants and all the reviewers for the Journal. Lou Le Jacq, our publisher, has been a true friend of the College and has always honored a request from me when I have told him it’s for the good of the Journal. I have had complete support from every President, Officer and Trustee of the College, and from its Executive Director, Bill Nelligan, who has strength-
July 1978
The American Journal of CARDIOLOGY
Volume 42
3
ANNIVERSARY
EDITORIALS
To my colleagues and the illustrious editors of other heart journals who have written the accompanying editorials and tributes for this occasion, I am grateful for your kind words, some of which I have considered editing and deleting. On second thought, I shall keep my blue pencil in the drawer and graciously accept your accolades. Thank you each and every one for contributing to this issue of the Journal. I pledge my continued dedication to serve the Journal as its Editor.
ened the close relations among the Editor, the Publisher and the College. And, of course, there is the ever-dedicated Ruth Ohman, my hardworking Executive Editor and “boss,” who sees that I mind my P’s and Q’s and whose skilled professionalism makes my amateurish editing look polished. The Publications Committee, chaired previously by John Ross and now by William Roberts, has been transformed into an efficient watchdog and oversight committee whose helpful recommendations have contributed to significant improvements in the Journal in the past 7 years. Both men have been of extraordinary help to me. No busy practitioner, consultant and teacher in cardiology could have served successfully as Editor of this Journal without the understanding and support of his family. To my wife Jacqueline and to our children, Jerilyn and Leonard, my deep love and gratitude for your encouragement and support despite the many hours I have taken from you.
4
July 1978
The American
Journal
of CARDlOLOGY
Vdume
Simon Dack, MD, FACC Editor-in-Chief The American Journal of Cardiology
42
