Letter from the Editor

back to December 2011 JACO issue

Letter from the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. B. Gundersen

This concludes our 8th year of publication and we have attracted some great sponsors, writers, editors and friends; as well as a host of new readers. We have had a very good collaborative effort and have been able to improve the lives of our patients and the awareness of the public. This is the primary part of our mission as a journal.

As always at this time of year, I like to express appreciation to all those who work with us here from the editorial boards to our technical support staff. I extend to each of them my most profound thanks. Especially this year, I thank my editor, Jim Demetrious, who will be retiring as editor at this time. He has done a terrific job for us and made our product a thing of beauty and something of which we can all be proud. He has agreed to stay on as a special editor for the coming years. Companion to that is the anticipation and excitement I feel with this first issue of our new Editor, Stan Bacso. As you will see, he can carry on the traditions Jim set and has unique insight and commitment to taking giant steps for us. I am pleased to have him with us.

You will also notice that I have asked several of our board members to take on a new role as members of the Editorial Advisory Board. These are all friends whose efforts and dedication have helped us identify others to serve with us. I have asked them to continue in an advisory capacity now to help expand our editorial ranks. We can expect to see our editorial board take on a variety of specialties. This will ultimately help us to become more in-line with trends in the health care delivery systems throughout the world.

In this regard, I hope to expand the concept feature called “Ask the Doctor” wherein we offer to receive email questions regarding particular concerns, issues, or patient conditions. Each question will be assigned to a member of the advisory board depending upon his or her particular expertise and the question and answer will be published in the next issue. We will begin to develop this in the next few months.

As our participation increases from the standpoint of readership, sponsors, editors and advisors, we have an obligation to increase the quality of our work. We consider that a responsibility for the privilege of working in the effort. More contribution is necessary from every level. As you read this issue, I invite you to ponder ways you can contribute. Think about what is needed and what you can offer personally. When you have a good idea, email me and let’s play it out. It will enrich your life when you give of yourself in ways you may not have thought of before. As you read the work of others in this issue, remember that each has been down this similar road of offering some time to help. Collectively, it becomes a thing of beauty and it belongs to each of us as individuals and to all of us as a group. As with all things, giving of yourself makes life better.

I appreciate your reading this and welcome your input. I wish the very best for you and your family and hope the seeds born from this information may help provide you prosperity and joy.

Bruce