Abstract
It has been an absolute privilege and a highlight of my career to have served as the Editor of Cephalalgia. I was humbled having inherited a journal that had enjoyed much success under the stewardship of a short and preeminent group of Editors who built a journal of international repute. Not for a moment did I forget the singular focus that is required to protect the journal’s integrity and ensure its success. This required the care not to tinker with what has made the journal successful while making judicious changes to move it forward. Over the past seven years, the journal has changed its publisher, its look and feel, and entered the digital age with a new app for Android and Apple operating systems. Submission rates have steadily increased and there has been a proliferation of high quality papers from particular regions around the world, especially Asia. Despite the increase in the number of manuscripts, the average time from submission to decision steadily decreased to its current 26 days, and the average time from final decision to online publication is 21 days. Importantly, the impact factor has steadily increased by almost 30% since 2009 to its current 4.891. Cephalalgia now ranks 21/192 (1st quartile) in the clinical Neurology category of journals and 46/252 (1st quartile) among all neuroscience journals.
None of the journal’s success would be possible if not for its custodians – an incredible group of associate editors. It has been a true honor to have served on this editorial board alongside the world’s finest experts in every aspect of the field. Their expertise, guidance, wisdom, and support has been indispensable. Their creativity also led to new features that have enjoyed critical acclaim from our readers, including the special issues appearing twice each year. I owe them a huge debt of gratitude.
I also cannot thank enough our expert colleagues from around the globe who dedicate and volunteer their time and expertise to provide peer reviews. It’s been an inspiration to see the countless hours and tremendous attention to detail that experts will devote to reviewing a manuscript with the return on their investment being the knowledge that they have responsibly safeguarded the integrity of the scientific literature and advanced knowledge in the field.
Considerable work and effort goes on behind the scenes to ensure a polished finished product. The production team at Sage know their business – and work with purpose, creativity, and professionalism at all times. As my colleagues on the editorial board and authors who submit to our journal will all attest to, Wendy Krank, who has been my managing editor and right hand since I became editor, is the little engine that always could. She has cradled and cared for the journal with a singular focus, is uniquely resourceful, and seemingly immediately available, night or day, every day, with the answers necessary to move the process along.
As I transition out of my role, I couldn’t be more confident and assured of the journal’s continued success knowing that the journal will pass into the hands of Professor Arne May. Professor May is an internationally recognized clinician and scientist in the field of headache who has served as the journal’s associate editor during my tenure. His intimate knowledge of the journal and the field, extensive editorial experience, and integrity and professionalism will ensure the journal’s continued success.
Finally, I thank the readers and authors for their submissions, support and constructive feedback over the years – if not for you, there would be no journal.