Disease-A-Month
Volume 53, Issue 1 , Pages 5-7, January 2007

Note from the Publisher

U.S. Health Sciences Journals, Elsevier

Article Outline

 

“Either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.”

Benjamin Franklin

Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1738

Over the past five years, Janis Orlowski, M.D., has certainly honored Benjamin Franklin in her editorship of Disease-a-Month, not to mention her active role in the field of medicine and contributions to the medical profession. Many Disease-a-Month readers came to know her through the personal and insightful foreword she penned to introduce each month’s review article. Behind the scenes she was personally inviting manuscript submissions, editing content and shepherding authors. Yet she still found time in her daily routine to dedicate herself to clinical nephrology and transplantation and act as Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Washington Hospital. Certainly, none of these could be classified as a small task.

Readers should also know the quality and content of Disease-a-Month review articles are outstanding due in large part to her hand-selecting contributors. She brought readers thorough review articles on important topics including: Biological Terrorism,1 the Hematology of Malnutrition,2 Metal Exposure,3 Gastrointestinal Disorders,4 Tuberculosis,5 and many other articles to inform and educate medical professionals. The topics mentioned and previously published issues can be accessed on www.diseaseamonth.com.

When she assumed the role of Editor-in-Chief in 2001, the Journal’s impact factor was 0.282 and the Journal ranked 92 of 112 in the Medicine, General and Internal category, according to the ISI Journal Citation Reports® published by Thomson Scientific. The most recent report (published in 2005) lists the Journal’s impact factor at 1.618 it is now ranked 32 of 105 journals in the category.

Yet all of the above only relates to her professional contributions. Authors and editors who work with her are consistently impressed with her professionalism and thoughtful demeanor. On a personal level, she is not only an excellent editor but she is the kind of person you hope accepts your lunch invitation. I have consistently looked forward to our conversations about the Journal and sincerely enjoy working with her.

At the end of 2006, she will be stepping down as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal. At this point it might seem appropriate to say she will be greatly missed. However, it is the good fortune of the Journal and publisher that she will continue to guide its course as a member of the editorial board.

Not to be overshadowed, I am quite pleased to introduce the new Editor-in-Chief of Disease-a-Month, Jerrold B. Leikin, M.D. Dr. Leikin is the Director of Toxicology at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH) at OMEGA Corporate and Occupational Health Services. Dr. Leikin received his undergraduate educational foundation at the University of Iowa, and his medical training at Chicago Medical School. He completed a dual residency in Internal Medicine/Emergency Medicine at Evanston Hospital and Northwestern Memorial Hospital in 1984. At the time, Toxicology was emerging as an important medical subspecialty and he completed a preceptorship/fellowship in Medical Toxicology and University of Illinois Hospital/Cook County Hospital in 1987. A progressive and patient-focused background in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine & Medical Toxicology brought him to the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare-OMEGA group based at Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, Illinois. He is currently a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine (Northwestern University) as well as a Professor of Medicine, Pharmacology and Health Systems Management at Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois. Radiation, environmental, toxicological and occupational exposures are issues he confronts in daily practice and remain specific areas of interest. The breadth of his experience as well as his passion for primary care, ensures that Disease-a-Month will continue to address the most important medical issues in the field.

He also contributes to the advancement of medical knowledge through writing, research, and lecture. He has written for Disease-a-Month in addition to an exhaustive number of articles in other journals.6, 7, 8, 9, 10 He has written numerous chapters, books, and was the Senior Editor for the Poisoning and Toxicology Handbook series,11 AMA Complete Medical Encyclopedia,12 and the AMA Handbook of First Aid and Emergency Care.13 He has been an active editorial board member and is a former colleague of Dr. Orlowski at Rush Medical Center in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Leikin will be sharing his vision for the Journal in upcoming editorials. Be sure to look for some changes to the Journal in the coming year. In the meantime, read his first foreword as editor featured in this issue.14

Back to Article Outline

References 

  1. Franz DR, Zajtchuk R. Biological terrorism: Understanding the threat, preparation, and medical response. Dis Mon. 2002;48:493–564
  2. Jacobs P, Wood L. Hematology of malnutrition, part one. Dis Mon. 2003;49:555–618
  3. Krantz A, Dorevitch S. Metal exposure and common chronic diseases: a guide for the clinician. Dis Mon. 2004;50:215–262
  4. Ellen C, Ebert MD, Eric Elton MD. Gastrointestinal Disorders. Dis Mon. 2005;51:615–684
  5. Lazarus AA. Tuberculosis. Dis Mon. 2006;52:403–458
  6. Krenzelok EP, Leikin JB. Approach to the poisoned patient. Dis Mon. 1996;42:514–607
  7. Leikin JB, Aks SE, Andrews S, et al. Environmental Injuries. Dis Mon. 1997;43:813–916
  8. Leikin JB, Davis A, Klodd DA, et al. Occupational exposure. Dis Mon. 2000;46:240–322
  9. Leikin JB, Thorratt RS. Selected topics related to occupational exposures. Dis Mon. 2000;46:551–565
  10. Leikin JB, McFee RB, Walter FG, et al. A primer for nuclear terrorism. Dis Mon. 2003;49:485–516
  11. Leikin JB. Poisoning and Toxicology Handbook series. Hudson (OH): Lexi-Comp, 2002.
  12. American Medical Association. In:  Leikin JB editors. Complete Medical Encyclopedia. New York (NY): Random House; 2003;
  13. American Medical Association. In:  Leikin JB editors. Handbook of First Aid and Emergency Care. New York (NY): Random House; 2000;
  14. Leikin JB. Foreward. Dis Mon. 2006;53:9

PII: S0011-5029(06)00149-0

doi:10.1016/j.disamonth.2006.12.003

Disease-A-Month
Volume 53, Issue 1 , Pages 5-7, January 2007

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