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JRS editor-in-chief reflects on first year at helm
Moving forward, the journal aims to get more high-quality manuscripts into print more rapidly.
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 J. Bradley Randleman |
In 2010, when George O. Waring III, MD, FACS, stepped down from his position as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Refractive Surgery for 21 years, then-associate editor J. Bradley Randleman, MD, did not know that he would ultimately be named as successor.
A year later, Ocular Surgery News asks Dr. Randleman about the transition and the future of the monthly peer-reviewed forum for original research, review and evaluation of refractive and lens-based surgical procedures.
Ocular Surgery News: How did you feel stepping into the editor-in-chief position?
Dr. Randleman: To say I was surprised when the relevant parties asked me to step into the editor position would be an understatement. I knew George was stepping down. I felt it was a great loss for JRS and did not envy whoever followed him in the position. I did have experience serving as an associate editor since 2008, so I fortunately had some basic working knowledge of the process, and George, having been my mentor during my residency, fellowship, and for my early writing and journal work, was a great support for me during my first months on the job. The transition was a rapid one, and it took me a few months to get my head back above water and move forward with our new initiatives for JRS.
OSN: Looking back, how would you say your first year went? Was there a particular high or low point?
Dr. Randleman: The first year has been incredible. I’m still in the honeymoon period with the position, so I can’t say I’ve had a low point yet. The highlights have been seeing a couple of key initiatives get under way, namely improving the quality of our accepted manuscripts and changing the perception of JRS.
We are improving manuscript quality by getting authors to be more concise in their message. This has many ripple effects, including improving the manuscript itself, getting more manuscripts in print and getting them to our readership more rapidly.
Most importantly, we are changing the perception of JRS from something focused primarily on corneal refractive procedures to the understanding among our authors and readers that JRS is truly an all-encompassing journal concerned with all refractive surgical techniques, technologies and strategies. This includes all aspects of lens-based surgery. If you look at each issue from 2011, you will find lens-based refractive surgery articles, with special emphasis in August on femtosecond cataract procedures, intraocular astigmatism management in September, and the October issue really encompassing each area of refractive surgery.
OSN: Do you feel any differently now about the position than when you first started?
Dr. Randleman: I certainly have a better understanding of the entire process, from manuscript submission to acceptance and publication. It really takes a team of dedicated individuals, including our staff, reviewers and associate editors, to fully evaluate each manuscript before it reaches our readership.
OSN: What direction will JRS take in 2012?
Dr. Randleman: I’m really looking forward to 2012. I feel more prepared for the upcoming year than I was for 2011. Our bottom line goal at JRS is to get an increasing number of higher-quality manuscripts to print faster than we did last year. We are already on target to accomplish this improvement and have set the stage to get even better in the future. We want our authors and readers to know that we will be accepting and printing the highest-quality manuscripts encompassing all aspects of refractive surgery, and we will be making articles available online and in print faster than ever before.
Two new initiatives we plan to implement in 2012 are an enhanced review article section and a new translational science section, targeting more basic science articles that have direct relevance to our clinical practice now or in the near future. We are very excited about these sections and anticipate that they will further enhance the quality of JRS and help us attain our goals. – by Daniel R. Morgan
Editor’s note: The Journal of Refractive Surgery is the official journal of the International Society of Refractive Surgery, a partner of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. It is a monthly peer-reviewed forum for original research, review and evaluation of refractive and lens-based surgical procedures. Practical, clinically valuable articles provide readers with the most up-to-date information regarding advances in the field of refractive surgery. It is published by SLACK Incorporated, the publisher of Ocular Surgery News.
Reference:
- Randleman JB. The value of brevity. J Refract Surg. 2011;27(3):159.
- J. Bradley Randleman, MD, can be reached at Emory University Department of Ophthalmology, 875 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30342; 404-778-2264; email: jrandle@emory.edu.
- Disclosure: Dr. Randleman is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Refractive Surgery.
