Abstract
To be a successful scholar in wilderness medicine, one must take risks. Just like reaching for the next handhold on a rock climb, descending deeper on SCUBA gear, or traveling to a far-off place to collect research samples from those of another culture, these risks challenge ourselves and define who we are. The past Editors of Wilderness and Environmental Medicine journal have all taken these steps. Paul Auerbach, Oswald Oelz, and William Robinson envisioned a medical field where none had been defined prior. Bob Norris said that he ventured outside of his personal comfort zone 10 years ago when he took over as Editor-in-Chief. And we, as the new Editors, will face our own challenges.
It is with great respect that I assume the Editor-in-Chief position of the Wilderness and Environmental Medicine journal. A copy of WEM Volume 10 from the 1990s still sits on my office shelf, with its classic green cover and pencil sketched tree-on-a-mountain image. The Journal drew me into the science and practice of wilderness medicine and is a large part of where I am today. The names that lead the articles of those issues are, to a large degree, the same folks who I still see at Wilderness Medicine Society conferences and who are still actively contributing to the Journal. Their enthusiasm is an illustration of their dedication to the field of wilderness medicine and a testament to the profound impact that the specialty has on all of us.
I am joined by two excellent Associate Editors—Drs Tracy Cushing and Linda Keyes. Tracy has completed a Wilderness Medicine Fellowship at Harvard University and has an interest in altitude medicine and search and rescue. Linda has a long history of high altitude and pregnancy research. Both have an impressive history and experience with the Wilderness Medical Society and will contribute greatly to the new leadership. A number of new section editors will be joining the Journal; please welcome them and their efforts. Jonna Barry will continue her tireless and meticulous work on every issue.
We are fortunate to assume our new roles at a time when submissions are at a record high, as is the Journal's impact factor. We will strive to remain the preeminent journal of wilderness medicine. Our goals are to further grow the number of high-quality submissions, increase our readership, expand our pool of peer reviewers and continue to provide our readers with the most advanced, upcoming and cutting-edge research in the field of wilderness medicine. We look forward to serving the interests of you, the readers, and the members of the Wilderness Medical Society.