EDITORIAL
WILLIAM L. WINTERS, JR., MD AND MIGUEL QUIÑONES, MD, ANNOUNCE THE TRANSITION OF EDITORSHIP OF THE METHODIST DEBAKEY CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL January 2016 marked the beginning of the 12th year of the Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal. With blessings from Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, it has grown from a conversation in the hall to a scholarly review journal for current cardiovascular subject matter coupled with a human interest focus on the arts, literature, and sciences. After more than a decade of stewardship, the time has come for a new influx of energy, creativity, and a renewed commitment to our loyal readers for a publication that explores the digital age while continuing time-honored print. To that end, Dr. Miguel Quiñones, Chairman of the Department of Cardiology, took the helm as editor-in-chief beginning in 2016. A Master of the American College of Cardiology, with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Echocardiography, Dr. Quiñones is no stranger to academic medicine. His achievements in echocardiography and clinical research, and as a clinician, mentor, and role model are unsurpassed. Experience on numerous editorial boards lends him substantial credibility as he becomes editor-in-chief of this publication, which he has served loyally for the past 11 years. To our current editorial board and reviewers, I owe unfettered appreciation and admiration for helping to bring this journal from nothing to something. I extend very special appreciation to Selma and Dr. Lois DeBakey for their support and their major efforts to educate me as editor-in-chief while helping the journal achieve accreditation by MedLine, PubMed, and EBSCO. Also, special gratitude to Shelley Norden Barnes, our copy editor and my alter ego. From day one, she has been the heartbeat of the Journal. Susan Daniels, joining the editorial staff two years ago as managing editor, has brought stability to the publication process. An introductory course in medical writing for our residency staff and faculty was initiated by her this year with high acclaim. No major change in the Journal will be immediately evident. But a strategic planning retreat was held in October 2015, the results of which will become apparent in forthcoming issues. I leave this post with considerable emotion but knowing full well it is in expert hands and will continue to thrive under Dr. Quiñones, his editorial staff, and his colleagues. William L. Winters, Jr., MD, MACC, MACP Founding editor-in-chief
In his passing of the torch as editor-inchief of the Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal, Dr. Winters expresses his gratitude to those who helped in the development, growth and success of this publication during its first decade, while minimizing his own contribution. For those of us fortunate enough to be part of the journal’s initial editorial board, we owe the greatest gratitude to Dr. Winters for single-handedly nurturing it and imprinting it with its current scholarly and holistic personality. When an institution such as Houston Methodist establishes a medical journal, it runs the risk of becoming self-serving by marketing its services or, in its search for content, becoming a vehicle for original research articles that have failed acceptance by higher-impact journals. The term, “throw-away journal” has been often used to describe these types of publications. Aware of this challenge, Dr. Winters insisted from the very beginning that the journal take a different approach and become a source of reviews written by subject experts who cover the gamut of relevant topics in cardiovascular medicine. The idea was simple and practical: to provide cardiovascular specialists with an informative and easy-to-read publication that keeps them updated in all areas of cardiovascular medicine, particularly those that are outside the scope of their practice. During the past 11 years, the journal has published issues dedicated to topics such as venous and neurovascular diseases, cardiovascular genomics, regenerative medicine, and cardiac tumors in addition to more common topics such as heart failure, cardiovascular imaging, hypertension, and minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery. Each issue also includes interesting case reports, various examples of pathology as seen by different imaging modalities, and, more recently, “Points to Remember”, a series of helpful tips pertaining to non cardiac conditions frequently seen in cardiac patients. The journal also publishes articles and editorials that touch on the human experience of physicians and patients. As it enters its second decade, the journal will continue to provide readers with a solid mix of excellent reviews, case studies and humanistic topics. We also plan to explore creative ways of using the Web to complement the journal’s educational mission through interactive case presentations and other activities. We are very interested in establishing a greater dialogue with our readership, and your comments and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to send us your ideas by email at [email protected]. We are looking forward to another decade of serving our readers. Miguel A. Quiñones, MD, MACC, FASE Editor-in-chief
2
houstonmethodist.org/debakey-journal
MDCVJ
|
XII (1) 2016
WILLIAM L. WINTERS, JR., MD AND MIGUEL QUIÑONES, MD, ANNOUNCE THE TRANSITION OF EDITORSHIP OF THE METHODIST DEBAKEY CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL January 2016 marked the beginning of the 12th year of the Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal. With blessings from Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, it has grown from a conversation in the hall to a scholarly review journal for current cardiovascular subject matter coupled with a human interest focus on the arts, literature, and sciences. After more than a decade of stewardship, the time has come for a new influx of energy, creativity, and a renewed commitment to our loyal readers for a publication that explores the digital age while continuing time-honored print. To that end, Dr. Miguel Quiñones, Chairman of the Department of Cardiology, took the helm as editor-in-chief beginning in 2016. A Master of the American College of Cardiology, with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Echocardiography, Dr. Quiñones is no stranger to academic medicine. His achievements in echocardiography and clinical research, and as a clinician, mentor, and role model are unsurpassed. Experience on numerous editorial boards lends him substantial credibility as he becomes editor-in-chief of this publication, which he has served loyally for the past 11 years. To our current editorial board and reviewers, I owe unfettered appreciation and admiration for helping to bring this journal from nothing to something. I extend very special appreciation to Selma and Dr. Lois DeBakey for their support and their major efforts to educate me as editor-in-chief while helping the journal achieve accreditation by MedLine, PubMed, and EBSCO. Also, special gratitude to Shelley Norden Barnes, our copy editor and my alter ego. From day one, she has been the heartbeat of the Journal. Susan Daniels, joining the editorial staff two years ago as managing editor, has brought stability to the publication process. An introductory course in medical writing for our residency staff and faculty was initiated by her this year with high acclaim. No major change in the Journal will be immediately evident. But a strategic planning retreat was held in October 2015, the results of which will become apparent in forthcoming issues. I leave this post with considerable emotion but knowing full well it is in expert hands and will continue to thrive under Dr. Quiñones, his editorial staff, and his colleagues. William L. Winters, Jr., MD, MACC, MACP Founding editor-in-chief
In his passing of the torch as editor-inchief of the Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal, Dr. Winters expresses his gratitude to those who helped in the development, growth and success of this publication during its first decade, while minimizing his own contribution. For those of us fortunate enough to be part of the journal’s initial editorial board, we owe the greatest gratitude to Dr. Winters for single-handedly nurturing it and imprinting it with its current scholarly and holistic personality. When an institution such as Houston Methodist establishes a medical journal, it runs the risk of becoming self-serving by marketing its services or, in its search for content, becoming a vehicle for original research articles that have failed acceptance by higher-impact journals. The term, “throw-away journal” has been often used to describe these types of publications. Aware of this challenge, Dr. Winters insisted from the very beginning that the journal take a different approach and become a source of reviews written by subject experts who cover the gamut of relevant topics in cardiovascular medicine. The idea was simple and practical: to provide cardiovascular specialists with an informative and easy-to-read publication that keeps them updated in all areas of cardiovascular medicine, particularly those that are outside the scope of their practice. During the past 11 years, the journal has published issues dedicated to topics such as venous and neurovascular diseases, cardiovascular genomics, regenerative medicine, and cardiac tumors in addition to more common topics such as heart failure, cardiovascular imaging, hypertension, and minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery. Each issue also includes interesting case reports, various examples of pathology as seen by different imaging modalities, and, more recently, “Points to Remember”, a series of helpful tips pertaining to non cardiac conditions frequently seen in cardiac patients. The journal also publishes articles and editorials that touch on the human experience of physicians and patients. As it enters its second decade, the journal will continue to provide readers with a solid mix of excellent reviews, case studies and humanistic topics. We also plan to explore creative ways of using the Web to complement the journal’s educational mission through interactive case presentations and other activities. We are very interested in establishing a greater dialogue with our readership, and your comments and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to send us your ideas by email at [email protected]. We are looking forward to another decade of serving our readers. Miguel A. Quiñones, MD, MACC, FASE Editor-in-chief
2
houstonmethodist.org/debakey-journal
MDCVJ
|
XII (1) 2016
