Editor ial
Editorial
ar Layar
Where does AJHP go next?
I
n his remarks upon receiving the Donald E. Francke Medal (see page 460 in this issue of the Journal), Andrew Lofts Gray1 reflected on the importance of AJHP to himself and his colleagues during the dark days of apartheid in South Africa. Gray’s recollections provide perspective on the rich history and value of the Journal, which has published numerous landmark articles over its 72-year history. That content has included articles on advanced medication-use systems, studies on effective approaches to enhancing the quality and safety of patient care, evidence to support pharmacists’ roles as care providers, proceedings of visionary consensus conferences, discussions of professional and ethical imperatives in pharmacy practice, ASHP professional standards, and thought-provoking editorials. A desire to serve the best interests of patients is the underpinning of the articles published in AJHP. In his first editorial after being appointed the Journal’s editor-in-chief, my immediate predecessor, C. Richard Talley,2 acknowledged the long shadow of accomplishment cast by former chief editors Donald E. Francke and George P. Provost. That shadow was lengthened by the contributions of Talley himself and his predecessor, William A. Zellmer. It is both an honor and extremely humbling to follow in the footsteps of those men. Like them, I am fortunate to work with a gifted editorial staff who work to ensure that the pages of the Journal contain only high-quality content. The previous editors of AJHP established and built upon a culture of excellence that will serve the Journal well as it strives to ensure the publication’s continued relevance and impact in the 21st-century healthcare system. Given the Journal’s many contributions to the biomedical literature, one could find it daunting to assume responsibility, as I do now, for taking AJHP to the next level. However, today’s complex and rapidly changing healthcare environment presents a fertile source of Journal content and a heightened need to inform AJHP readers and stimulate thinking and dialogue about complex issues. Although it is impossible to predict with certainty what will be the most salient and pressing issues of tomorrow, in the near term readers should expect to see in these pages discussions of topics such as pharmacists’ roles in ambulatory care, precision medicine, “big data” initiatives, specialty pharmaceuticals, multihospital systems, and leadership innovations. To help ensure the Journal’s relevance Copyright © 2015, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. All rights reserved. 1079-2082/15/0302-0437.
to all ASHP members, the editors will actively solicit feedback to help shape future content. Thoughtful and well-reasoned editorials will continue to play a critical role as AJHP tackles the most difficult issues in 21st-century healthcare. This editorial page provides a space to contemplate complex topics, pose difficult questions, and envision a better future. The 900-plus editorials published in AJHP have offered important insights and, in many cases, stimulated passionate dialogue. In the next year, I expect the editorial page to address the implications of specialty pharmacy, the impact of medication costs on patient outcomes, and whether pharmacists have a role in lethal injections. I will measure my success as an editor, in no small part, by readers’ desire to look to the editorial section when each new issue of the Journal is posted online or arrives in the mail. AJHP today is more than just a print publication. Consider the Web-based version, augmented reality, AJHP Voices, and the soon to be released AJHP Residents Edition. The integration of technology must carry on such that the Journal’s content continues to be offered on platforms that meet readers’ evolving preferences. The ease with which audio-visual tools and other resources can be integrated into digital and print publications presents new opportunities for the Journal to contribute to dynamic conversations about the important issues of the day. Social media can help heighten awareness about content and provide additional venues for discussion. One of the Journal’s greatest challenges will be to keep up with technological innovations that seemed unimaginable a few years ago and then to employ them in ways that ensure that AJHP continues to meet the needs of readers, authors, and peer reviewers. The healthcare landscape is vastly different than it was in decades past, ASHP members’ practices have expanded far beyond hospital walls, information exchange has advanced, and the editor’s name on the Journal’s masthead has changed. Yet the core mission of AJHP remains the same: These pages exist to support readers’ patient care activities by presenting the latest evidence, showcasing best practices, providing thoughtful perspectives, and provoking new questions. 1. Gray LA. Starting from the bottom. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2015; 72:460-5. 2. Talley CR. Transition. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1992; 49:2447.
Daniel J. Cobaugh The author has declared no potential conflicts of interest. DOI 10.2146/ajhp150084 Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 72 Mar 15, 2015
437
Copyright of American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy is the property of American Society of Health System Pharmacists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
Editorial
ar Layar
Where does AJHP go next?
I
n his remarks upon receiving the Donald E. Francke Medal (see page 460 in this issue of the Journal), Andrew Lofts Gray1 reflected on the importance of AJHP to himself and his colleagues during the dark days of apartheid in South Africa. Gray’s recollections provide perspective on the rich history and value of the Journal, which has published numerous landmark articles over its 72-year history. That content has included articles on advanced medication-use systems, studies on effective approaches to enhancing the quality and safety of patient care, evidence to support pharmacists’ roles as care providers, proceedings of visionary consensus conferences, discussions of professional and ethical imperatives in pharmacy practice, ASHP professional standards, and thought-provoking editorials. A desire to serve the best interests of patients is the underpinning of the articles published in AJHP. In his first editorial after being appointed the Journal’s editor-in-chief, my immediate predecessor, C. Richard Talley,2 acknowledged the long shadow of accomplishment cast by former chief editors Donald E. Francke and George P. Provost. That shadow was lengthened by the contributions of Talley himself and his predecessor, William A. Zellmer. It is both an honor and extremely humbling to follow in the footsteps of those men. Like them, I am fortunate to work with a gifted editorial staff who work to ensure that the pages of the Journal contain only high-quality content. The previous editors of AJHP established and built upon a culture of excellence that will serve the Journal well as it strives to ensure the publication’s continued relevance and impact in the 21st-century healthcare system. Given the Journal’s many contributions to the biomedical literature, one could find it daunting to assume responsibility, as I do now, for taking AJHP to the next level. However, today’s complex and rapidly changing healthcare environment presents a fertile source of Journal content and a heightened need to inform AJHP readers and stimulate thinking and dialogue about complex issues. Although it is impossible to predict with certainty what will be the most salient and pressing issues of tomorrow, in the near term readers should expect to see in these pages discussions of topics such as pharmacists’ roles in ambulatory care, precision medicine, “big data” initiatives, specialty pharmaceuticals, multihospital systems, and leadership innovations. To help ensure the Journal’s relevance Copyright © 2015, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. All rights reserved. 1079-2082/15/0302-0437.
to all ASHP members, the editors will actively solicit feedback to help shape future content. Thoughtful and well-reasoned editorials will continue to play a critical role as AJHP tackles the most difficult issues in 21st-century healthcare. This editorial page provides a space to contemplate complex topics, pose difficult questions, and envision a better future. The 900-plus editorials published in AJHP have offered important insights and, in many cases, stimulated passionate dialogue. In the next year, I expect the editorial page to address the implications of specialty pharmacy, the impact of medication costs on patient outcomes, and whether pharmacists have a role in lethal injections. I will measure my success as an editor, in no small part, by readers’ desire to look to the editorial section when each new issue of the Journal is posted online or arrives in the mail. AJHP today is more than just a print publication. Consider the Web-based version, augmented reality, AJHP Voices, and the soon to be released AJHP Residents Edition. The integration of technology must carry on such that the Journal’s content continues to be offered on platforms that meet readers’ evolving preferences. The ease with which audio-visual tools and other resources can be integrated into digital and print publications presents new opportunities for the Journal to contribute to dynamic conversations about the important issues of the day. Social media can help heighten awareness about content and provide additional venues for discussion. One of the Journal’s greatest challenges will be to keep up with technological innovations that seemed unimaginable a few years ago and then to employ them in ways that ensure that AJHP continues to meet the needs of readers, authors, and peer reviewers. The healthcare landscape is vastly different than it was in decades past, ASHP members’ practices have expanded far beyond hospital walls, information exchange has advanced, and the editor’s name on the Journal’s masthead has changed. Yet the core mission of AJHP remains the same: These pages exist to support readers’ patient care activities by presenting the latest evidence, showcasing best practices, providing thoughtful perspectives, and provoking new questions. 1. Gray LA. Starting from the bottom. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2015; 72:460-5. 2. Talley CR. Transition. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1992; 49:2447.
Daniel J. Cobaugh The author has declared no potential conflicts of interest. DOI 10.2146/ajhp150084 Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 72 Mar 15, 2015
437
Copyright of American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy is the property of American Society of Health System Pharmacists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
