C.Niek van Dijk.
“The principal aim is to advance the worldwide dissemination of knowledge and research in orthopaedic sports medicine and traumatology, arthroscopy, surgery and degenerative joint disease. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for our patients.” – C. Niek van Dijk, MD
The above quote was published in the Journal of ISAKOS (JISAKOS) press release by then-publisher, BMJ Group, in June 2015. That was the year we announced that ISAKOS was starting its own journal. It was the year I had the honour to become its Editor-in-Chief (EIC). It's hard to believe that this June, 8 years have gone by since then, and I can't help but to be proud. Proud of what we have achieved with our team. We started JISAKOS with only invited reviews and we transformed into an open-access peer-reviewed journal that is now indexed in Medline and PubMed and about to receive our first impact factor.
Our unique article mix makes us prominent and potentially better than our competitors. Specifically, the state-of-the-art (SOTA) article cycle makes JISAKOS stand out in relation to other journals in our field. Each JISAKOS SOTA review provides an analysis of the present state of diagnosis and treatment, the “pros and cons” of various alternatives, and future possibilities for the field on a specific topic written by three top experts from three different continents providing a global perspective of future directions and highlighting regional differences in diagnosis and treatment.
From the start, our motto was “The first choice is on quality.” It is the governing principle for all the decisions we make, whether it is the choice for Editorial Board members, the choice for reviewers, the choice of article types, the layout of the articles, but also and most importantly the manuscripts we publish. And I am proud we never had to compromise our motto.
When we started with JISAKOS not everyone was convinced of the need of yet another journal in our field. But that scepticism has disappeared, and the journal has already grown to become one of the important Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Traumatology journals. And I truly believe that with the growing involvement of the ISAKOS committee members—all of whom are experts in their field—and the fact that we are now an open-access journal, JISAKOS will soon grow to become the strongest and best journal in our field. On the one hand, we publish original research, systematic reviews, and current concepts but also case reports, the Classic, and video techniques. And on the other hand, we have the global network—and these highly active ISAKOS committees with top-level experts—to be able to do what others can't and that is our SOTA, and our theme issues, each of which is commissioned. With our editorial team, we spot hot, controversial, or new topics and invite authors for both SOTA and current concept reviews. As for the theme issues, we ask the ISAKOS Committees to come with their proposals. They have the experts and drive to do it. Together with the best publisher, Elsevier, it is a recipe for success.
As for my own role, I have decided to move on from my position as EIC in mid-2023. It has been a great privilege to work with you all and to help the journal grow from a concept journal into what it is today. It is important to hand over one's responsibilities at the correct moment, and I believe that this moment has arrived. Each organization can benefit from new leadership. It is not for nothing that ISAKOS presidents serve for a max of 2 years. ISAKOS leaders serve for a maximum of 8 years in the presidential line. In June 2023, for me, it will be 8 years as JISAKOS EIC and I will be happy to leave my shoes for a new EIC with new and fresh ideas. I am convinced that JISAKOS will benefit from it.
And finally, I want to thank you all, our readers, authors, and reviewers for your input, energy, and work for our journal. Its progress over the years would not have been possible without your ideas, support, and assistance, as well as those of the Journal of ISAKOS Board of Trustees (JIBOT), Editorial Board, Committees, Sue Reimbold and her dedicated crew in the ISAKOS Office, our publisher BMJ and currently Elsevier, and Stephen Welch our publishing consultant. A special thank you to Leendert Blankevoort, our managing Editor: without his support I would not have survived.
Thank you, ISAKOS, for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I wish you all to be well and remain healthy and I look forward to read your submissions.
Disclosures
I have no disclosures in relation to my Editorial “Time for a Change”
Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 21, 2023
Received in revised form:
December 13,
2022
Received:
October 30,
2022
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Copyright
© 2023 The Author. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine.
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