“It is a good thing, perhaps, to write for the amusement of the public, but it is a far higher and nobler thing to write for their instruction—their profit— their actual and tangible benefit.”
—Mark Twain, How to Cure a Cold
Mark Twain said it well when he described the goal of his writing. As Editor, my goal is to make sure The Journal of Family Practice offers tangible benefits—that it addresses your concerns and eases your decisions. But no editor can meet Twain’s challenge without insight into readers’ minds.
I invite your reaction to JFP—not just about what you like, but also about how you think JFP can be improved. Whether your comments are about the rigor of an article, its application to practice, the layout, or your thoughts about a new feature, I am deeply interested in your feedback.
Sounding Board. For those who hanker to influence JFP’s direction, I am assembling a group of readers who are willing to act as a sounding board for potential articles, new features, and editorial direction. What clinical questions do you have? What problems do you face? Do you have suggestions for Clinical Inquiries or POEMs? I envision this “virtual editorial board” providing responses to monthly e-mail queries and occasional faxes. Perhaps we may meet informally at the AAFP Annual Scientific Assembly or in a more formal focus group. My goal for JFP is to better meet our readers’ needs, never to sell you something you don’t want.
Editorial Board. Would you like to be an Editorial Board advisor? I am reformulating our traditional academic journal structure. I will strive to balance the guidance we depend on from academic physicians with that of physicians in the trenches, to assure that JFP publishes not only the best in evidence-based medicine, but information that immediately applies to practice.
If you are interested in helping the Journal, drop me an e-mail at JFP@fammed.uc.edu with your name, background, and contact information. Let me know a bit about your interests and thoughts. I want to learn more about you and how we can help you in the care of your patients.
Let me leave you with these words from Twain:
“It were not best that we should all think alike; it is difference of opinion that makes horse-races.”
—Mark Twain, Pudd’nhead Wilson
