Abstract
Dear JVDI Subscribers, Authors, Reviewers, and Editorial Board members:
As you have been aware for some time, I will be leaving the Editor-in-Chief position of our flagship journal this year. Indeed, this November 2014 issue is the last volume of JVDI to be edited by me. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all contributing authors, readers, reviewers, and editorial board members for walking the long 11-year journey with me at the helm of the journal. What a journey it has been! We went from soliciting and receiving reviews by fax, through the use of e-mail for solicitations and returns, to a full-fledged online submission and review portal; from exclusive hardcopy printing to electronic publishing; from hardcopy-only archives to digitalized electronic copies of all volumes dating back to the first volume published in 1989; from a mostly U.S. journal to a truly international journal. Your steadfast support and encouragement were critical factors in helping me endure the rigors of the position for 11 years and moving us far along the path of growth and improvement.
I bid you farewell, while having absolute confidence that our journal is in very good hands and will continue to grow. Indeed, my successor in the Editor-in-Chief position, Grant Maxie, brings to the table decades of editing and publishing experience; we are so fortunate to have convinced him to serve as our new Editor-in-Chief. Furthermore, our outstanding editorial assistant, Holly M. Farrell, will continue to serve in the role she has played so well for the past 7 years. I trust that all of you will give Grant, Holly, and the entire editorial team the same level of support you have accorded me over the past 11 years. I wish the incoming Editor-in-Chief great success as he settles in to move JVDI to higher heights. Thanks to all of you and farewell.