PM&R Represents a New Frontier for the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

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Welcome to PM&R! It is with both great honor and high anticipation that I pen this editor's message for the inaugural issue. Historically, medical society journals express the essence of the specialty they represent, act as a vehicle to communicate that specialty's diversity both within and outside of the organization, and serve as a centrum—supporting the structure and growth of the medical community as a whole. The birth and evolution of PM&R match these qualities perfectly. This journal is the culmination of the hindsight, insight, and foresight of a large cohort of American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) leaders. It represents a new vigor and a new phase for an organization that, as I write this, is experiencing a regeneration of structure and function.

For those unfamiliar with me, let me provide a brief background. My “day job” is as a Clinical Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington in the beautiful (and currently rainy) Pacific Northwest. I spend the majority of my time in the clinical environment evaluating and treating patients; as such, I do not represent the essence of a true research scientist. So why did I accept the challenge of becoming chief editor of this exciting new medical journal? First, I have had experience, success, and enjoyment in designing and growing a startup medical publication with another (nonphysiatry) organization. Second, I have a keen awareness of the current evolution of AAPM&R (including the new council models scheme) and understand the role that PM&R can have in engaging, galvanizing, and energizing the membership. And third, I have a singular agenda—to advance the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation through dissemination of high-quality science and information to our membership and beyond.

I am also privileged to be working with an outstanding editorial team that shares this same vision, and I would like to introduce some of them to you. Cathy Mendelsohn, Managing Editor, is in command of the editorial office located at AAPM&R headquarters in Chicago. She brings a vast experience, insight, and pragmatism toward maintaining smooth running of the day-to-day editorial operations and provides the necessary resources for the authors and editors. There are 8 Senior Editors: 6 from the United States—Venu Akuthota, MD (University of Colorado), David Chen, MD (Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago), Michael Fredericson, MD (Stanford University), Heidi Prather, DO (Washington University School of Medicine), Elizabeth Sandel, MD (Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Foundation Rehabilitation Center and Hospital), and Ross Zafonte, DO (Harvard University)—and 2 international members—Jianan Li, MD (Nanjing Medical University, China), and Gerold Stucki, MD (University Hospital Munich, Germany). These high-ranking editors were all chosen because of their advanced levels of academic and professional achievements, expertise in specific areas of clinical physiatry, and enthusiasm for this venture. The Associate Editorial board is composed of 57 editors representing the diversity of the specialty and related medical and allied professionals.

And I am happy to report that AAPM&R has partnered with Elsevier to publish PM&R. Although PM&R is society owned, in this day and age of heavy competition (for both editorial content and advertising revenue) between intraspecialty and interspecialty journals, associating with a major well-established publishing company is critical to both our short-term success and long-term viability.

Not surprisingly, I have personally fielded many questions regarding the “breakup” of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and AAPM&R. Let me state for the record that I was not directly involved with nor privy to the negotiations regarding the future of Archives as it relates to this academy. My oft-repeated response regarding “looking ahead, not behind” exemplifies a quotation by a former U.S. General, George C. Marshall (1880−1959), who once said, “When a thing is done, it's done. Don't look back. Look forward to your next objective.” That being said, let me outline for you what we as an editorial team expect and plan to deliver to you, AAPM&R members and other readers of this journal.

First, PM&R will be published monthly, with 2 supplement issues per year. At present, 1 supplement will be the Abstracts for the AAPM&R Annual Assembly and the other, the familiar annual topical Study Guide (although there are preliminary plans to revitalize and evolve the Study Guide).

Second, the monthly editorial content of the journal will include the following: original research articles (with an emphasis on clinical research and translational science), various categories of clinical reviews (comprehensive current concepts reviews, focused reviews, and critical reviews [such as systematic reviews]), point/counterpoint debates on contemporary topics in physical medicine and rehabilitation, case presentations, commentaries and perspectives, emerging issues and clinical pearls, and letters. Of course, all scientific articles will be evidence-based.

Third, on a rotating basis, we will present contemporary ethical/legal commentaries, practice management issues, or statistical topics—features that we hope will be unique, interesting and practical. These 3 columns will be coordinated by 3 Associate Editors: Kristi Kirschner, MD (ethical/legal), Gregory Worsowicz, MD (practice management), and Patrick Heagerty, PhD (statistics). I look forward to their contributions and guidance.

Finally, in 2009, I have invited guest perspectives from several AAPM&R past presidents and other leaders within and outside of our organization. The first of this series appears in this issue with a piece by Ernie Johnson, MD, AAPM&R past president and former chairman of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at The Ohio State University. Through a personal perspective of his career, Dr. Johnson weaves a story that ends with his unqualified enthusiasm for PM&R!

Since the announcement of this new journal, there has been varied speculation that AAPM&R was developing a purely musculoskeletal journal, catering to a growing trend in physiatry. Unequivocally, that has not and will not be the plan under my watch. The uniqueness of PM&R will rest in its clinical focus, but the editorial content will span the breadth of physiatry. Our aim is that in each issue, there will be articles of direct interest and value for everyone, and if the reader is so intrigued, then hopefully he or she will read outside his or her box. This journal, PM&R, represents a diverse community of physicians-neurorehabilitationists, musculoskeletal practitioners, pediatric rehabilitation physicians, neuroelectrophysiologists (you get the picture)—but with a common thread among them, a principle that ties all physiatrists, preservation of function. This unity was the impetus for the journal's tagline (or subtitle), “The journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation.” (Taglines are not used by the National Library of Medicine when journals are indexed and generally do not become part of journal taxonomy, but as descriptors, they have the ability to forge an identity for the journal as well as the members in the society that it represents.)

The past 12 months of preparation have been filled with hard work, some anxiety, and definitely exhilaration. I owe a great deal of thanks to the editors, reviewers, and authors who have supported this fledgling journal. It is always exciting to see the fruits of one's labors and indeed, every new journal's life starts with “Issue #1” on its first cover. But there is no room for complacency. I have set goals for this journal, which I will broadly present as:

In conclusion, I want to thank you for your understanding in this transition, and I urge you to embrace PM&R, as it is your new journal. I will lead to the best of my ability, and I assure you that the entire editorial team is committed to producing a high-quality publication. PM&R will now be branded with AAPM&R. We have seen the “blue, red and white” journals; welcome now “The Purple Journal!” A color of strength, nobility, and mystery but also of creativity, awareness and balance (after all, derived from the mixture of red and blue). The Purple Journal has arrived. I look forward to your ongoing feedback.

• ⁎ Disclosure: nothing to disclose