Abstract
2020 may be the one year that many are glad to bring to a close but there is one aspect that will be missed as we conclude, congratulate, and thank Dr Susan Elmore for her 6 years of outstanding leadership as the Editor-in-Chief of Toxicologic Pathology. It is impossible to include all of Dr Elmore’s contributions to the journal over her tenure in this short article, but a few highlights will give you a sense of these. The editorial process has been refined and streamlined with the appointment, training, and ongoing communications with the journal’s editorial staff and board members to produce an industry-leading time in review with world-leading experts in this field. This combination of agility and expertise has led to an enormous number of high-impact and cutting-edge articles and special issues such as those on the peripheral nervous system, nanotechnology, and medical devices to name a few (plus many more coming). There are now clear lines of communication and procedures between STP committees such as the Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee, the INHAND committees, and Tox Path Forum which produce the guidance documents and best practices that define our profession. Agreements and procedures with our sister societies, the British Society of Toxicologic Pathology and the European Society of Toxicologic Pathology, are in place to make this a truly international journal. Multiple, behind-the-scenes production procedures and technologies with our publisher, Sage Publishing, and our professional editorial staff have been implemented to produce both paper and online versions of the journal that are graphically appealing to read and visually stunning to view. A podcast production team has been built from the ground up that is informative, entertaining, and user-friendly to our mobile customers. Procedures, templates, and SOPs to capture the hard work and educational wisdom of presentations from the Annual Symposium have been created, which include the very popular Pathology Potpourri. Dr Elmore has accomplished all of this and much more while simultaneously leading in her own full-time practice of toxicologic pathology at the NIEHS National Toxicology Program which includes authorship and contributions to dozens of highly cited scholarly articles.
True great leadership is something that must be done not only with words but also with deeds.
Dr Elmore’s leadership is not just like a general barking orders at the troops, rather it is one where she has demonstrated a cheerful willingness to be in the trenches working side-by-side with all colleagues to produce scholarship of the highest quality. There are countless examples of her effort and encouragement to others and I am certain that I speak for all the authors, editors, staff members from the journal, multiple executive committees of the STP, BSTP, and ESTP, and colleagues around the world that her leadership will be missed. The journal’s first female Editor-in-Chief has served as inspiration to a whole new generation of up-and-coming toxicologic pathologists. I am deeply honored and humbled to follow in her footsteps and I am well aware of the high bar on excellence that has been established for the journal. So, we have no intention of letting her go so easily and certainly I hope that she is willing to continue on as a senior advisor and mentor to the editorial board and myself. You have our most sincere thank you, Susan, for a job well done.
Our Society is now entering its 50th year, and while much has been accomplished over the last half century, there is still much to do. The practice of toxicologic pathology continues to evolve in both breadth and depth, and the complexity and importance of our work has never been more urgent. Our colleagues serve as critical guardians on the safe use of drugs, vaccines, chemicals, devices, and more which continue to propagate around the world. This journal is unwaveringly dedicated to aiding this critical mission through publication of timely and relevant articles. The editorial staff and I are here to help promote your voice and your expertise in this regard. We are open to new ideas, publication techniques, and scholarly projects for the greater benefit of Toxicologic Pathology and encourage you to contact us at any time if we may be of assistance. Best wishes to all for a safe and productive 2021.
