To keep pace with IJOA’s increasing popularity, 2010 sees significant modification to its editorial structure. Since its launch in 1991, IJOA has had two Co-Editors. With the numbers of submissions increasing four-fold, it has become difficult both to handle submissions promptly and to provide our readers with up-to-date information. Consequently, we are expanding the editorial structure, with one Editor-in-Chief, Robin Russell, working with three Associated Editors and an Editorial Board of international experts. This, combined with Elsevier’s electronic editorial system introduced in 2008, will, we hope, reduce editorial response times and expedite publication of accepted papers.
To affirm its international reputation, we are pleased to announce that Warwick Ngan Kee and Philip Popham join Lawrence Tsen as Associate Editors, providing the journal with a senior editorial team from four continents. Warwick hales from New Zealand and is now Professor in the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has a truly pre-eminent international reputation in the field of obstetric anaesthesia. Phil is an Englishman now working at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, where he is Director of Research. He has been a skilled and committed editorial board member and frequent contributor to IJOA over the years. We are delighted that Warwick and Phil have agreed to take on editorial roles; their input will undoubtedly ensure IJOA’s continued success.
Another change to the editorial structure for 2010 sees Gordon Lyons take on the position of Language Editor. This invaluable duty puts the finishing touches to accepted manuscripts before they are sent to the typesetters, ensuring that later proof corrections can be kept to a minimum. Gordon is well known for his numerous scientific publications, as past President of the Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association and as an international leader in the field of obstetric anaesthesia. We are, therefore, delighted that he has joined out team.
On a somewhat sadder note, the third issue of this volume of IJOA will be the first in which Felicity Reynolds no longer has a major role in the editorial process. Felicity was a founding Editor of IJOA, serving between 1991 and 1996, and in her position as Editor Emeritus continued to play a key role for the next 14 years. Every article accepted for publication by the Editors passed across her desk and was invariably improved. We will certainly miss her eye for detail and excellent prose which so often improved the clarity of a scientific paper. We wish her well as she spends more time with her family.
You may have noticed that the last two editions of IJOA have been a little thicker than usual. The increasing number of submissions has resulted in a large number of manuscripts accepted for publication. To avoid an excessive publication delay, extra pages have been added, thanks to funding from both the OAA and Elsevier, to whom we are extremely grateful. Furthermore, IJOA is to increase its permanent page count by 10% from this year.
Finally, the IJOA Guide for Authors has undergone major revision. The new version can be found at the back of this issue and on our website (www.ees.elsevier.com/ijoa). Authors considering submission are advised to study these guidelines to avoid delay in processing manuscripts. The section on the ethics of publishing and consent has been significantly revised. Please note that written consent is now required for all case reports. Word counts for all manuscripts have been introduced so that we can publish more papers with greater efficiency.
As we move into 2010 we are confident that the restructuring of the editorial process will lead to further success. On behalf of everyone at IJOA we wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.
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