In the February 2007 issue of Advances in Skin & Wound Care, we reflected on the journal's 20th anniversary of publication. As we near the close of 2007, I would like to thank our readers for their unwavering loyalty and support for the past 2 decades. After all, it is the readers who interpret the thought and content of our ever-expanding journal articles and apply the relevant clinical research to their patients to prevent and heal wounds. Our readers respond to surveys and write letters and e-mails with opinions on relevant journal content that contribute to the direction of the journal.
In addition to acknowledging our dedicated readers, I would like to pay tribute to our transdisciplinary Editorial Board and extremely dedicated Peer Review Panel. Without their rigorous peer review of submitted manuscripts, the journal would not have thrived or reached this point in our maturation. The start of 2007 marked the journal's expansion to 12 issues per year, and our peer reviewers have shown even more dedication as their call to duty has also increased. And I must individually recognize those who have been serving at the helm of our editorial leadership team: Elizabeth A. Ayello, PhD, RN, APRN,BC, CWOCN, FAPWCA, FAAN, Clinical Associate Editor; R. Gary Sibbald, BSc, MD, FRCPC (Med) (Derm), FAPWCA, MEd, Clinical Associate Editor; and Cathy Thomas Hess, BSN, RN, CWOCN, Clinical Consultant.
Moreover, Advances in Skin & Wound Care owes a great debt of gratitude to our publishing company- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins-for providing the infrastructure, form, and function for the journal and a solid platform for growth. It is especially important to acknowledge the quiet professionals working behind the scenes to orchestrate a complex interaction between authors, peer reviewers, and myself. The editorial staff is the driving force behind the day-to-day activities that make the journal thrive. Leading the front end of the process is Barbara Miller, Senior Editorial Coordinator, who is responsible for managing the flow of manuscripts through the use of our new online management tool, dubbed Editorial Manager. This process facilitates the electronic submission, peer review, revisions, and final acceptance of manuscripts for publication. Lisa Cromartie, Editorial Coordinator, has also been invaluable to the process. Their job is often like herding cats! They carefully shepherd the manuscripts to the next step in the process. At the journal's management level, Kathleen A. Greer, Senior Managing Editor, and Theresa M. Steltzer, Executive Publisher, play a significant role in the editorial and business activities of Advances in Skin & Wound Care. They juggle multiple responsibilities and collaborate with supporting organizations. Before their leadership, Susan Doan-Johnson was the driving force behind the journal's evolution and growth for many years. Her contributions have been an invaluable asset to the health of the journal today.
The journal's success over the past 20 years has been significantly impacted by the evolution of the wound care industry and the manufacturers of wound care products. In my opinion, manufacturers have the same high-quality goals that we as clinicians covet-simply, excellence in wound care. Numerous corporations and the wound care community make considerable investments in research and development to help bring leading-edge products to the point of service for both clinicians and patients. Within those corporations are well-respected thought and content leaders, who are often clinicians. They serve as a liaison between the corporations and clinicians who may be decision makers in their organization or, more likely, managing wound care at the point of service. Wound care manufacturers provide unrestricted educational resources in the learning environment, through printed material, as in our journal, and through sponsoring continuing medical education programs at conferences. Any real or perceived conflicts of interest that may arise from any of these relationships are vetted through a highly experienced and well-staffed, continuing medical education component of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. I encourage attendees to our annual Clinical Symposium on Advances in Skin & Wound Care in Nashville, TN, to visit the many different exhibits that serve to enhance our wound care education.
In my musings about the epoch of the journal over the past 20 years, I would be remiss not to remember its origins. The embodiment of the publication is attributed to the late Dr Roberta S. Abruzzese, the founder and original Editor-in-Chief of our journal, formally known as Decubitus. I remember her kindness and patience as she mentored me and other would-be authors. In her honor, the Roberta S. Abruzzese Publishing Award from Advances in Skin & Wound Care will be awarded for the second year at this year's symposium in Nashville. It is a tribute to Dr Abruzzese's commitment to excellence in clinical practice and her drive to advance the practice of the wound care specialty, particularly through education and the literature.
The journal has made other significant advancements by being one of the first journals to offer a Peer Reviewer of the Year award, which recognizes thoughtful, mentoring peer reviewers, who genuinely enhance the quality of the published paper. Recently, society has placed much more emphasis on ethical and professional behavior and transactions. Nowhere is this more important than in a peer-reviewed research journal. Our decisions must be transparent, ethical, and unbiased because ultimately our decisions affect patient care. With that in mind, Advances in Skin & Wound Care was also one of the first journals, to the best of my knowledge, to actually appoint an ethics editor or an ombudsman to manage conflict in the editorial process. I am happy to say that Dr David Musick has served us well in this role.
Finally, in our efforts to advance the journal in its editorial process, we would like to invite those wishing to participate as peer reviewers to submit their credentials to our editorial offices for consideration as we plan to expand our peer-review panel. Please e-mail your curriculum vitae to [email protected].
Congratulations to the journal for reaching its 20th birthday!
Richard "Sal" Salcido, MD
Suggested Reading
Salcido R. Advancing wound care technology. Adv Skin Wound Care 2007;20:128-9.
Salcido R. An ombudsman for Advances. Adv Skin Wound Care 2003;16:52-4.
Salcido R. A new policy on letters to the editor. Adv Skin Wound Care 2003;16:4-5.
Salcido R. Authorship: an occasional source of wounds. Adv Skin Wound Care 2002;15:198-9.
Salcido RS, Ayello EA, Sibbald RG, Hess CT. Happy 20th anniversary! linking the past, the present, and the future. Adv Skin Wound Care 2007;20:67-71.
Salcido R. The Quiet Professionals of Advances. Adv Skin Wound Care 2002;15:6.
Clarification
In my editorial titled "Beyond Certification for Wound Care Practitioners" (August 2007), there were errors that I would like to clarify for those who may aspire to achieve the credentials offered by the American Academy of Wound Management (AAWM) and the National Alliance of Wound Care (NAWC). In regard to the AAWM, the article should have stated: "The AAWM (http://www.aawm.org) has been certifying health care professionals as a Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) since 1999. Furthermore, in addition to a bachelor's degree all CWS candidates must possess a minimum of 3 years of documented wound care experience. The credential is a Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) not a Certified Wound Care Specialists (CWS). The AAWM also announces the development of a new wound care credential, the Certified Wound Care Associate (CWCA). This designation is open to all health care clinicians with a minimum of 3 years of wound care experience."
It was stated that the NAWC (http://www.nawccb.org) also offers the Wound Care Certification credential, with licensed practical nurses representing the largest group of those certified through this organization. Although the NAWC highly values its LPN/LVN membership, its certificant population is actually quite different than what was reported in my editorial. That population actually includes 16% LPN/LVNs, with the largest remaining percentage being made up of RN/APNs, followed by therapists, physicians, and physician assistants.
-Richard "Sal" Salcido, MD