Abstract
The editorial board meeting met this past month for the first face-to-face meeting of the entire board, since the beginning of the pandemic. With the past years of having only online virtual meetings, it was refreshing to revisit the “old” days of having an actual in-person meeting, being able to compare the differences between them. The negatives included having to have the board travel into a single city, taking the time off of busy work-schedules, and many of our members having to adjust to a different time zone, given that our board is truly international. The hassle of packing a bag, waking up to catch transportation to make their flights, and being exposed to airports, crowds of people, and being on time for any connections, was something that many of us do not miss about being in-person, when travel is involved.
Trying to look at the positives, I can only describe it as “magic”. I am not going to be able to appropriately articulate the summation of the entire interaction of the board, and the creative ideas that organically formed by the in-person interactions, which were so sorely missed from virtual meetings. The experience was not only refreshing and reminiscent of the pre-pandemic time, it brought out the best in each participant, since it was so special to be talking to our colleagues in real-time, where the nuances of our personalities and subtle facial expressions, were an added value to a personal interaction. Rather than having one person speak at one time, we had the ability to posture, gesture, make expressions, and interrupt each other, but in a positive way to add to the current statements. The productivity of this meeting was magical and more productive than a virtual meeting.
Perhaps it was so special, since it was more unique. Perhaps if we went back to in-person meetings constantly, we would lose some of the uniqueness, and it would revert back to just a standard productive meeting, that might turn into a bit of a hassle with taking more time off. Clearly virtual meetings are less disruptive to our own personal time and work, and our family life. As we move into the future, we will definitely try to incorporate some in-person meetings, based on our recent experience.
As the Global Spine Journal moves into the new year, we hope our readers will see the changes, improvements, and new ideas which have come out of our recent strategic meeting. I remain excited about the future of the journal, and how we can further reach our community, continuing to disseminate the best in spinal evidence, knowledge, and improve patient care.