Jacob Sosna, MD

Jacob Sosna, MD
Director, 3D Imaging Laboratory
Director, Experimental CT Laboratory
Senior Lecturer, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center
Jerusalem, Israel
Part-Time Lecturer, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Harvard Medical School, Boston
2006 RSNA William R. Eyler Editorial Fellow

During my two weeks in the Radiology office in Richmond, Virginia, I saw the immense effort that Dr. Proto exerts to ensure quality. I functioned as a deputy editor with a variety of chores. I intentionally reviewed manuscripts mainly outside of my own subspecialty (abdominal imaging). This enabled me to focus my evaluation on the study design, scientific presentation, and importance of findings in each paper, and limited the risk of bias due to “technical” subspecialty-related issues.

I was also presented with real-time ethical issues and was asked for my opinion on possible redundant data presented in a submitted manuscript that had significant similarities to a previously published article.

During my day stay with Dr. Olmsted at the RadioGraphics editorial office in Bethesda, Maryland, I was introduced to the selection process of materials for publication, with the yearly cycle starting and ending at the annual RSNA meeting in November. One of my surprises was the vast amount of online resources published by the RSNA, including SAM modules and online CME exams. I think that every practicing radiologist needs to be familiar with these resources, which have immense practical value.

During my visit to the Oak Brook, Illinois, Publication Department, I saw the final steps of turning a document into a printed article. The copy editors pay attention to every fine detail, ensuring that quality reaches the level of perfection. Once the manuscript is ready to be printed, it is sent to the printing company, where it is printed within a few days.

If I had to summarize the fellowship in one phrase, I would say that I learned the importance of thoroughness and of striving for perfection in publication. This experience is not limited to a single specialty, but rather has wide application in all the medical disciplines. After returning to Israel, I immediately began to take steps that would enable me to share my experience with my peers. I have already started to assemble a course in publishing at the Hebrew University–Hadassah Medical School. This course would be aimed at the assembly and review process in publishing and not at the level of research, which is rightfully addressed in other venues. The transition from research to publication needs to be learned, especially by young academics. I also plan to give a dedicated Radiology Journalism session at the Israeli Radiological Association annual meeting.

I thank Drs. Proto and Olmsted for their kind and friendly hospitality and for making me work hard during the fellowship. I also thank Debbie Hogan, Cindy Rogers, and Roberta Arnold for their special attention during the visits to Richmond, Bethesda, and Oak Brook. I think that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that would benefit every academic radiologist.

Deborah Levine, MD

Deborah Levine, MD
Associate Professor of Radiology
Director, Obstetric & Gynecologic Ultrasound
Co-Chief, Ultrasound Associate
Chief, Academic Affairs
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
2005 RSNA William R. Eyler Editorial Fellow

This fellowship was a wonderful opportunity, and I highly recommend it to radiologists interested in medical journalism. As academic careers get busier, it is increasingly difficult to take time to pursue an interest that is slightly peripheral to the standard career path. This fellowship allowed for a break in the normal routine and the protected time to experience what it is like to be an editor of a preeminent medical journal.

My visit to the Richmond, Virginia, office of Radiology headquarters was clearly the highlight of the fellowship. Working with Dr. Proto was wonderful! His attention to detail is laudable. I came to the editorial fellowship with the understanding that Radiology has high standards, and that quality is an important aspect of everything that is published. What I didn’t realize was the amount of the editor’s time that goes into the publication of every manuscript. The editor spends time not just reading the reviews and the article, but also making specific suggestions for improving the manuscript, reviewing the manuscript again once it is resubmitted, and reviewing it again once the image proofs are available. This quality comes at the price of the authors’ time for revisions and the editor’s time to attend to detail. Dr. Proto made it clear to me that it is the editor’s individual decision to spend this time, but the excellence of the finished product speaks for the benefit of that extra effort.

One important and interesting topic that came up repeatedly was ethics. Both Dr. Proto and Dr. Olmsted openly shared with me the ethical issues that arose during my stay: Authors may not agree with the decision made by an editor, authors are often frustrated when their manuscript is rejected, or when there are delays in publication, and responses to reviewers’ and editors’ comments can be misinterpreted and taken out of context. I was shown examples of recent emails from the editors, which politely and thoroughly addressed the authors’ concerns. These emails demonstrated that the editor took the time to review the issue and to ensure that the author was treated fairly. I was impressed with both the measured approach that the editors take to these issues and the respect both of these editors showed the authors and the reviewers in this process.

I also spent a day at the Cadmus facility in Richmond, Virginia, where I witnessed the actual printing of journals. Seeing the presses during the printing process was a truly unique experience. This gave me an appreciation for the work that goes into formatting the pages for printing, and the issues involved in printing images of high quality.

In the Oak Brook, Illinois, office of the RSNA Publications Department, I had a whirlwind tour of the production process. The time line was carefully explained to me. The many layers of editing, and the time it takes to ensure that manuscripts are of the best quality prior to print were described.

At the RadioGraphics office I spent time with Dr. Olmsted discussing the differences between the Radiology and RadioGraphics processes. RadioGraphics is different because the publication cycle is keyed to the RSNA annual meeting. Dr. Olmsted also discussed with me the RSNA Education Portal. As Maintenance of Certification and Self-assessment Modules become more important for radiologists requiring recertification, I can see this Web site becoming increasingly important.

What impressed me most about this fellowship was the respect that everyone involved, from the editor to the support staff, have for their co-workers, for the readers, for the authors, and for the reviewers. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to spend time with the Radiology and RadioGraphics staff. I will be able to use the knowledge I gained in my future writing, reviewing, mentoring, and editing.

Harris L. Cohen, MD, FACR

Harris L. Cohen, MD, FACR
Professor of Radiology
Director, Division of Body Imaging
Chief, Pediatric Body Imaging
Vice Chairman (Research Affairs)
Stony Brook University-School of Medicine
2004 RSNA Editorial Fellow

I thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in learning about and experiencing aspects of the editing and production of scientific and educational journals.

I have always been interested in journalism, education and the power of the written word. Over years in academic radiology, I became interested in the workings of the great radiology journals, including Radiology and RadioGraphics, journals that are key factors in world-wide radiologist education and information exchange and that serve as central elements to progress within the specialty and beyond. The RSNA publications' mission of uniformity, clarity and accuracy has also been my own writing goal. As an editor of the American College of Radiology's Syllabus series, I had an immediate need for general and specific information and advice on editing (including electronic editing through the Internet), manuscript review, image production and methods of work scheduling, which I hoped to gain from leaders in the field. I hoped to move my skills to a higher level.

I certainly learned a lot during the fellowship. I accomplished what I desired but know it is a continuing process. I believe I have linked to a group of people that includes the staffs of Radiology and RadioGraphics—headed by Drs Anthony Proto and William Olmsted, respectively—as well as the publications staff at the RSNA offices in Oak Brook, Illinois, and past editorial fellows.

I met a large group of highly skilled individuals who lovingly perform the intricate task of producing on a monthly or bimonthly basis outstanding scientific and educational works from the vast materials produced by the national and international radiologic communities. As a fellow, particularly in the 2 weeks at Radiology's Richmond, Virginia, offices (in a restored early 1910s office building used in the filming of HBO's Iron Jawed Angels), one learns by seeing and doing. Most authors are unaware of the tremendous number of details that make up the review and editorial process, which includes an ever present need for fairness, impartiality and proper ethical conduct by editors, reviewers and authors themselves. Much of the scientific material is enhanced by the review process efforts, including insightful comments of many volunteer expert reviewers. The responsibility of putting it all together is in the hands of the editor-in-chief, who is aided by various deputy and associate editors and experts in statistics. The fellow gets to see and hear Solomonesque or perhaps Prototypical decisions made when there are differences of opinion among reviewer, authors and editors. The fellow gets to see all the processes of the office and gets to participate in many of them him- or herself, from reviewer choices (dependent on specialty or other interest and review quality and speed track record) to manuscript review (for acceptance, rejection, acceptance with recommended revisions, or other categorizations) to review of revised manuscripts (with the need to confirm that all editor or reviewer concerns have been properly dealt with) to final review (as a last step to make sure the final article will be correct, with all images readable and understandable and with all the paper's i's dotted and t's crossed). It is impressive to see everyone's efforts to "do the right thing" for authors and readers alike. It is wonderful to be part of the process. One gains a deeper understanding of one's own writing and editing. One also gains an understanding of how to advise and mentor junior attending staff, fellows, and residents on scientific writing.

The Richmond, Virginia, experience includes a day spent at the Cadmus Communications printing plant, which is also located in Richmond and where the entire printing process can be viewed. You get to spend time in the work areas of the printing plant. If you liked class trips when you went to school, you will love the day at the Cadmus plant.

During 2 days spent in Bethesda, Maryland, Dr Olmsted reviews the workings of RadioGraphics and its educational mission, as well as RSNA educational materials, which are part of his RSNA charge. His enthusiasm is infectious.

During three days spent in Oak Brook, Illinois, at RSNA headquarters, some of the more global aspects of publication are reviewed. Time is spent with editors, image specialists, individuals in charge of scheduling (since, for example, the staff of Radiology are working on 3 different issues of the journal in various forms of completion at any given time), experts in RSNA's Internet efforts including those for Radiology and RadioGraphics, and experts in marketing and sales.

One aside: When the Oak Brook office says to take a local taxi or limousine service rather than an airport taxi they are right, since the airport taxis are allowed to place a surcharge on trips to Oak Brook. I did not understand this before I went. Now I do.

In summary, the people one meets are knowledgeable and universally nice. One gets to see pros at work. One gets to be an apprentice editor for 2 weeks. In addition, one gets fed quite often. What more could one ask for?

Giuseppe Guglielmi, MD

Giuseppe Guglielmi, MD
Associate Professor of Radiology
Scientific Institute Hospital "CSS"
San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
2003 RSNA Editorial Fellow

The RSNA Editorial Fellowship experience, from both a personal and a working point of view, was excellent. The fellows receive a complete and exhaustive overview of all the processes pertaining to medical scientific publication. All details are covered, including editorial processes, revision of a manuscript, blinded process of manuscript reviewing, manuscript editing, figures, design, layout of the journal, advertisement, online journals, and communication. All this information is disseminated during the month of fellowship at the Radiology and the RadioGraphics editorial offices and at RSNA headquarters. In particular, Dr Proto and Dr Olmsted — with their charisma and enthusiasm — positively influence the fellow, who is very busy in the daily editorial work. In fact, the opportunity to be actively involved in each Editor's working day was very important to me; I was able to take an active part in the editorial process and not be just a passive spectator.

Another important aspect of the RSNA editorial fellowship is that the fellow can then be an educator among academic institutions and educational programs. He or she can pass along the knowledge related to the art of medical writing to other, young colleagues interested in the editorial process. I think that RSNA should encourage all the editorial fellows to transmit the knowledge they gained to other radiologists in their own country.

Christoforos Stoupis, MD

Christoforos Stoupis, MD
Staff Radiologist
University of Berne, Switzerland
2002 RSNA Editorial Fellow

The RSNA Editorial Fellowship program is a wonderful educational opportunity for those who have strong interest in publishing and editorial processing. I truly recommend it, especially for international radiologists. For me it was a mixture of education and fun with a blend of apprenticeship and surprise.

I applied for the fellowship because I wanted to learn more about the publication process and to understand the editorial process. Having finished my fellowship, I now can say that my expectations have been fulfilled, and that I wish I had known years ago those things that I now have learned.

At the Radiology editorial office, the fellow is very active and involved in every step of the daily work. I had the opportunity to have direct mentorship with Dr. Proto, and I was pleased to be accepted as a member of the editorial office family. I gratefully appreciate the time that Dr. Proto and his wonderful crew spent with me at the office.

I truly respect the dedication of the staff in Richmond, Virginia, with their honesty and loyalty to the journal. I was surprised at the amount of work such a small group of people could achieve. I was involved in every step of the editorial process: reviewing current manuscripts, tracking the manuscripts, and evaluating the revisions that had been requested from the authors. I learned how I could be a better author, make my manuscripts stronger, and be fair in my reviewing. I got many insights into the editorial work, decision-making, and ethics of publication. The additional one-day trip to Cadmus printing facilities provided me with information regarding printing deadlines, options, costs, and image quality in the final step of printing a journal.

At the editorial office of RadioGraphics, I had the great opportunity to work with Dr. Olmsted and his staff. They handle different topics than do the Radiology office staff, dealing more with the continuing education and teaching activities. I learned how to make manuscripts from pictorial exhibits and how to emphasize the teaching points for the residents and young fellows. I participated in interesting meetings with Dr Olmsted and his staff, in which we discussed the future of radiology and the potential of educational Internet activities that would enable American and international fellows to have access to teaching files and review articles.

At the RSNA headquarters, I enjoyed the discussions and the meetings I had with the staff who work on advertising and electronic publication, as well as with the crew that prepares the articles for the final version before printing. I was involved in the preparation of the annual RSNA meeting, also. I was provided with lots of detailed information regarding the policy of publication of the RSNA, and I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to attend the meetings and discussions at the headquarters.

In the end, I believe that this fellowship was a mutually beneficial process. I can now say that I can teach my residents and the young fellows how to prepare their manuscripts before publication, how to convey them, and what they themselves and the editor need to know. Finally, I want to thank all the staff members for their dedication to RSNA. I deeply appreciate their help and time they spent with me. To other radiologists who are interested in this fellowship, I truly recommend it; it was a great experience and a lot of fun.

Theodore T. Miller, MD

Theodore T. Miller, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Radiology
North Shore University Hospital
2001 RSNA Editorial Fellow

I applied for the RSNA Editorial Fellowship because I wanted to gain an understanding of and appreciation for the process of bringing an issue of Radiology to publication, including editorial processes such as reviewing manuscripts and deciding to accept, reject, or reconsider a manuscript, as well as publication processes such as manuscript editing, design and layout of the journal, and printing of the journal itself. My interest in these areas arose from the fact that I am a researcher and author, as well as an active reviewer for several journals, and wanted to know what goes on "behind the scenes."

I think that the prospective fellow should have a strong interest in the editorial process, though someone with a primary interest in publishing could also find the fellowship rewarding because issues of electronic publishing and copyright transfer are relevant. Nonetheless, I do not think that this fellowship is for someone who is an occasional manuscript reviewer or who does not have a strong interest in the editorial process, since the majority of the fellowship is spent at the Radiology Editorial Office.

The published announcement of the fellowship does not go into detail about the responsibilities of the fellow. When I applied, I assumed that I would be acting as the editor's apprentice, which was true at the Radiology Editorial Office; the fellow has a very active and involved role in the editorial process during the visit to Richmond, Va. The experiences in Oak Brook, Ill, and Bethesda, Md, are as enriching and informative as that in Richmond, but they are more passive since the Fellow observes the various stages of manuscript preparation while visiting the RSNA Publications Office in Oak Brook and discusses issues of electronic communications and continuing medical education at the RadioGraphics Editorial Office in Bethesda.

I do not think that the visits to the three offices need to be completed back-to-back, but they should be scheduled fairly close to one another in order to provide some continuity of information. Although it is not crucial, I also recommend that the fellowship begin in Oak Brook (I believe I am the only fellow who did it that way) because the fellow gains an overview of the entire publication process there, and staff at the editorial offices often refer to people at and processes that take place in "the home office."

Kimberly Applegate, MD, MS

Kimberly Applegate, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Radiology
Indiana University
2000 RSNA Editorial Fellow

The RSNA Editorial Fellowship program is a wonderful educational opportunity that I recommend with great enthusiasm. The structure of the RSNA Editorial Fellowship is highly organized, comprehensive, and fun. It is part apprenticeship and part site visit. There are detailed itineraries, scheduled meetings at each site, structured time for questions and feedback, and a binder or two of information about each site's work processes and selected references from the publishing literature.

The editorial fellowship allowed me to understand the editorial process from the time a manuscript arrives in the Radiology or RadioGraphics office to its publication in a journal issue. It is a complex process involving many people and skills. I have great respect for these dedicated people who perform many tasks unseen by readers of our journals. In doing this fellowship, I wanted to become a more knowledgeable editor, manuscript reviewer, author, and reader of the radiology literature. Along the way, I learned a number of other interesting things about research, ethics, journalism, the practice of radiology, and the potential of electronic media being incorporated into the publication of Radiology and RadioGraphics.

This fellowship was an enriching experience in many ways. I learned a great deal from each segment of the experience, as well as from my non-North American co-Fellow, Dr Stephan Grampp. One of the things I most enjoyed was the opportunity to have direct mentorship from dedicated, outstanding editors in Drs Anthony Proto and William Olmsted. Dr Proto provided many insights into the editorial work and decision making, the ethics of publication, and personal communications in dealing with authors, reviewers, and office staff. He involved us in his day-to-day work when questions from reviewers and authors came into the office. He would ask what we would do in a certain situations while maintaining confidentiality. While at the Radiology editorial office, in Richmond, Va, I took a "field trip" to the Cadmus printing facility. It was invaluable in that it helped me to understand better the reasons for certain publication practices, printing schedules, costs, and current trends in practice from hard copy to electronic manipulation of the figures, tables, and graphics.

While at the RadioGraphics editorial office, I observed Dr Olmsted's boundless enthusiasm for the journal. He described the selection of educational material at the RSNA meeting, how manuscripts are processed, and differences between the goals, format, and production of RadioGraphics and those of Radiology.

At the RSNA headquarters, I enjoyed demonstrations and discussions about the advertising, electronic publishing, copyrights, figure and table sizing/formatting, and copyediting issues of journal publication. The managing editors discussed their philosophy and roles in interacting with the Radiology and RadioGraphics editorial offices. I valued the exchange of information and sharing of ideas in a very open format, and the professional attitudes and extensive experience of the RSNA staff. Now, I have a deep appreciation for the editorial publication process for Radiology and RadioGraphics.

Stephan Grampp, MD, PhD

Stephan Grampp, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Radiology
University of Vienna
2000 RSNA Editorial Fellow

The fellowship—with time spent at the Radiology Editorial Office in Richmond, Va; the RadioGraphics Editorial Office in Washington, DC; and the RSNA Publications Office in Oak Brook, Ill—is an extensive learning experience. It has the character of a short apprenticeship in that it allows the fellow to get to know the workings of a scientific journal and a scientific organization, as well as the daily requirements in the life of a scientific Editor and editorial staff.

During the different visits, the fellow spends time with the staff and scientific editors of both journals and with the staff at the RSNA Publications Office. Specifically, the fellows learns or gets to do the following:

• Review different kinds of papers such as original research papers, review articles, and technical notes
• Review papers from all radiological subspecialties
• The system of paper filing and tracking
• Answers to reviewers' requests
• Check if appropriate changes were done by the authors upon request
• Nonscientific workings of an editorial office
• Space requirements of an article and the journals in total
• Principle of the impact factor
• Specific techniques of reducing turnaround times in the review and printing process
• Requirements for a figure and its appropriate space in a printed article (layout)
• Correct placement of markers within a figure to support the illustration of important details as well as the correct use of captions
• Printing facilities/factory
• Choice of printing materials
• Technical principles of printing and production tracking
• Distribution and shipping process
• Legal aspects of copyright and permission
• Aspects of advertising and marketing
• Inside view of the oncoming requirements of online journals and online education together with the CME online system

Douglas S. Katz, MD

Douglas S. Katz, MD
Director, Body CT and Vice Chair for Clinical Research and Education
Winthrop-University Hospital
Associate Professor of Clinical Radiology
The State University of New York at Stony Brook
1999 RSNA Editorial Fellow

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR POTENTIAL RSNA EDITORIAL FELLOWS

What will the fellow's role be in the Radiology Editorial Office?
The editorial fellow will function at the Deputy Editor level for 2 weeks. This is a working—not an observatory—fellowship. He or she will perform many functions including original reviews of manuscripts, deputy reviews of manuscripts with conflicting verdicts in the original cycle of peer review, and surveys of manuscripts in later cycles to check for completeness of author revisions. The fellow will learn to rapidly and effectively assess multiple manuscripts in a single several-hour session. The fellow will participate in daily manuscript meetings with the Editor, where final verdicts are rendered on manuscripts at the completion of peer review. The fellow will spend multiple sessions with the Editor and the Editorial Office staff, learning the complex processes of manuscript tracking and journal preparation. Detailed instruction is provided on journal construction-a process that is usually a large "black box" to individual authors—including individual issue construction, ordering of articles, and figure preparation and layout. Mechanisms for equitable and timely peer review and for reviewer assignment and tracking are also covered. The new online submission and review process will be explained, as well. The fellow will also spend a day at the local Cadmus Professional Communications publishing facility to view actual journal production. The fellow will also be provided with relevant written materials (here at Radiology and throughout the fellowship), which can be reviewed at his/her leisure in the future.

As an RSNA Editorial Fellow, will I really learn what is involved in being an Editor of a major medical journal?
Most certainly. Even experienced authors and reviewers truly have no idea what it is like to run a major medical journal. The fellow will learn that it is analogous to being the conductor of an orchestra—numerous contributions from authors, reviewers, and journal production and editing staff must be coordinated in a harmonious, fair, and cool-headed manner while using precise timing and while under great pressure. To stretch the analogy a bit further, the Editor's job is even more challenging than a conductor's because, unlike the orchestra conductor, the Editor has to coordinate all of these contributions as they come from around the world, not just from one room. The Editor doesn't really get a chance to step off the podium—the cycles of manuscript submission, peer review, and journal production are constantly in motion. The fellow will also be given extraordinary exposure—in confidence—to the decisions facing the Editors of Radiology and RadioGraphics on a daily basis, and every aspect of the operations of the Editorial Offices and the RSNA Publications Office will be open and visible to the fellow during the fellowship.

What will the editorial fellow learn at the RadioGraphics Office?
The fellow will be able to compare and contrast the operations of the two journals, which have very different missions and production cycles. The fellow will also learn that many of the same skills of medical journalism readily carry over from one journal to the other. As at Radiology, the Editor and Editorial staff at RadioGraphics will spend significant time in one-on-one tutorial sessions, covering all aspects of the functioning of the Editorial Office. Additionally, as at Radiology, ethical issues in radiology journalism (and medical journalism in general) will be discussed.

What parts of journal production will be covered in the RSNA Publication Office?
This is the biggest "black box," and the experience is eye opening—again, even experienced authors and reviewers have absolutely no idea how involved the process of journal production is. The fellow will gain insight into why it takes months for articles to go from initial submission to publication. Every step along the way is demonstrated to the fellow by the Publication Office staff. In particular, the fellow will spend time with the manuscript editors, who have an especially demanding job of conveying each author's message while crafting the journal each month with uniformity, clarity, and accuracy. The fellow will learn about topics such as levels of editing. Online medical journalism, which is increasing in importance and is evolving, will also be reviewed in detail.

What are some unexpected things that the editorial fellow will learn during the course of the fellowship?
The fellow will learn that running a major medical journal takes numerous skill sets that authors and reviewers don't think about, especially supreme organizational skills. He/she will learn that there are innumerable layers of editing, review, and coordination that go into each issue and that are hidden from the reader. The fellow will also learn that manuscripts on topics outside of the fellow's particular area(s) of subspecialty expertise are nearly as readily critiqued and reviewed. The fellow will also gain new appreciation as an individual author and reviewer when his/her work is submitted for possible publication. The fellow may also be surprised at how much of a contribution he/she can make. The Fellowship is a two-way, not a one-way street—the Editors and their editorial staffs and the RSNA Publications Office staff are also always learning and appreciate the thoughts and opinions of the fellows.

What are some additional academic and educational benefits for the editorial fellow that may result from the fellowship?
The RSNA Editorial Fellowship is a unique experience that ultimately benefits radiology as a specialty. There are few opportunities to gain this type of experience in medical journalism. The fellow will be able to share his/her newly acquired knowledge and skills with members of his/her department (and in some cases at a regional and national level, especially if the fellow is from outside North America) and can serve as the "in-house" or regional consultant and editor. The fellow may also opt to do a research project on radiologic journalism with Radiology and/or RadioGraphics, as have previous fellows, which may lead to presentation at meetings such as the International Peer Review Congress. The fellow will also be well prepared to carry out future tasks as requested by the Editors, such as editorial preparation and deputy review.

Hans-Joachim Wagner, MD, PhD

Hans-Joachim Wagner, MD, PhD
Professor of Interventional Radiology
Charité, University Hospital
Berlin, Germany
1999 RSNA Editorial Fellow

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM A FORMER FELLOW REGARDING THE RSNA EDITORIAL FELLOWSHIP

For whom might the editorial fellowship be of interest?
Radiologists who have an interest in administrative journalistic activities—for example, reviewing scientific manuscripts and serving as Editor of radiological scientific journals—are best suited for the fellowship. The underlying idea is to give interested radiologists a better insight and a better understanding of the editorial process involved in publishing two of the major radiological journals: Radiology and RadioGraphics. Ideally, the candidate already has some experience reviewing scientific and educational manuscripts.

However, the editorial fellowship goes far beyond the prospects of reviewing. During the fellowship, the participant will be closely involved in the editorial process of publishing Radiology and RadioGraphics. The 2 weeks spent at the Editorial Office of Radiology and the week spent at the Editorial Office of RadioGraphics will teach the fellow basic principles of reviewing manuscripts, selecting manuscripts for publication, and blending articles together for a particular issue.

The week spent at the RSNA Publications Office is probably the most unexpected and astonishing portion of the fellowship. The copyediting aspect of publication of radiological articles is largely not understood by the authors or by the reviewers. It is most interesting to gain insight in this process and everything else involved to create from accepted manuscripts a printed copy of the journal. The last week of the fellowship spent at the Annual Meeting of the RSNA provides deeper knowledge of the committee work, for example, meeting with members of the editorial board and meeting with the journal reviewers in order to get feedback and new ideas.

In what ways is the editorial fellowship worthwhile for international radiologists?
To the best of my knowledge, there is no comparable journalistic fellowship in radiology available in other countries. Furthermore, most editors of radiological journals worldwide are not trained for their job. The RSNA Editorial Fellowship is a wonderful and unique opportunity to gain information on medical journal activities on a professional level. This allows future or potential editors of radiological journals to slowly grow into this important and demanding position. The experiences from the editorial fellowship can be transferred to the home country of the fellow. This not only leads to personal benefits, but it improves the journal activities of the country. Especially in this regard, I recommend the fellowship.

Is the editorial fellowship worth spending 4 to 5 weeks away from the home department?
Most definitely. Many possible candidates might fear the rather long time away from the department. However, as stated above, the rewards of the fellowship—which means heavy work, especially at the Radiology Editorial Office—are so manifold and of such a degree that these will probably be some of the most intensive weeks in the life of a radiologist.

Donald P. Frush, MD

Donald P. Frush, MD
Associate Professor of Radiology
Chief, Division of Pediatric Radiology
Duke University Medical Center
1998 RSNA Editorial Fellow

There were a great many questions I had when applying for the RSNA Editorial Fellowship. I was in a somewhat unique position because it was the 1st year the fellowship was offered. Some of these questions dealt with the logistics of the 1-month experience, many of which have been refined over the past several years. These logistics included length of time and agendas in individual offices and other facilities. These details were, from the very beginning of this first fellowship, well addressed. The days were busy but balanced and well paced. I also had some more looming uncertainties about what was expected of me and what I should expect from the fellowship. I was anxious about how these expectations would compare with my eventual experiences and what I would learn. Here is what happened, perhaps more distilled and salient given the intervening years that have passed since my own fellowship.

I expected the fellowship to be challenging, with long days and a myriad of focused events. My experience was that the RSNA editorial process was comprehensive, well orchestrated, and surprisingly efficient. I was both physically and mentally tired at the end of many days but always felt that I had learned a great deal.

I expected the fellowship to be provocative, with a questioning and critical nature. What I learned was a tremendous appreciation of the complexities of the editorial process and the professional, deliberate, and considerate strategies for dealing with contentious issues. Many of these issues were situational, such as with an individual author or reviewer, and some were long-standing, such as with manuscript processing times. Nothing was trivialized or ignored. Discussions were open and frank, and I was made to feel in every way part of the inner workings of the organization. I did not feel like information was being withheld or altered in any way. At times these discussions were surprising, other times sobering, but there was always a tremendous and enduring sense of satisfaction.

I was expecting to see many aspects of the editorial and publication process, some of which I did not believe were important or interesting. However, I gained an honest appreciation of the necessary role that each aspect of the editorial and publication process provides for the end product, the advancement of science. The time in those areas I thought I would be least interested in actually ended up being some of the most valuable.

I expected to meet dozens of individuals and would not have been surprised if many of these meetings were only a casual acknowledgment of my presence. What I found was that everyone I met was a committed and hard-working part of the system and welcomed the chance to share his or her experience and expertise with me. Universally, people who deservedly held their roles in highest regard surrounded me. These are good people. Their commitment, I think, is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that many of these people have been doing this for a very long time.

I expected this experience to have a great deal of personal benefit, including making me a better reviewer, a better writer, and in many ways a liaison between departmental and institutional individuals and editorial staffs. I felt selfish about this, as I recognized this fellowship would require a lot of sacrifice by both my colleagues and my family. My own concerns about the time away were solely my concerns, and I was well supported. The month passed very quickly and was a rich and comprehensive experience.

Finally, I expected to establish and develop a greater relationship with the organization, in particularly the editorial offices of Radiology and RadioGraphics. What I found, and the greatest tribute to the experience, were a great many friendships.

Wilfred C. G. Peh, MD, FRCP, FRCR

Wilfred C. G. Peh, MD, FRCP, FRCR
Clinical Professor and Academic Head
Department of Diagnostic Radiology
Singapore General Hospital
1998 RSNA Editorial Fellow

Like Donald Frush, my co-Editorial Fellow, I was treading in untested waters when I applied for the inaugural RSNA Editorial Fellowship. This was then a new creation with no clear guidelines, and its full scope was unknown. The fellowship has since evolved, with our input and the contributions of subsequent fellows.

The RSNA Editorial Fellowship was established at a most opportune time for me. I had been in academic radiology for about 6 years, had a decent number of publications under my belt, was actively involved in research projects, and had quite a lot of experience presenting at most if not all of the major international and regional meetings. I had just been appointed founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Hong Kong College of Radiologists (JHKCR). The first issue had been published and the second issue was in press when I began my fellowship.

Starting up a new journal was very hard work and a most unique and challenging experience that not many radiologists have the opportunity to receive. Although I had been reviewing manuscripts and sat on the editorial boards of a few journals, actually running a journal is a completely different kettle of fish. Talking to the chief editors and visiting the editorial offices of the few established nonradiologic medical journals in Hong Kong and Singapore helped me a lot. However, nothing beat having the uninterrupted and undisturbed period of being immersed in the daily operations of two major radiologic journals, Radiology and RadioGraphics, and spending time at the RSNA Publications Department at Oak Brook, Ill, during the 3 weeks prior to the RSNA Annual Meeting and Scientific Assembly.

Both Radiology and RadioGraphics have differing roles and missions. Their editors, A. V. Proto and W. W. Olmsted, also have markedly different personal styles. Having spent time with both of them at close quarters, I realized that what they did have in common was their total commitment to their respective journals and their deep sense of mission and responsibility to the readers, authors, and our specialty as a whole. I realised that just being a top researcher or prolific writer is not enough for journal editorship; one needs vision and, definitely, passion. Selecting a suitable editor for a journal is therefore not an easy task.

Besides reviewing and editing manuscripts, I was also interested in all aspects of manuscript processing and the publication process, as I was keen to adopt some of these processes to improve the JHKCR. I gained a lot of insight through lively discussions not only with the journal editors but also with publications staff in charge of areas such as the management, operations, manuscript tracking, manuscript editing, illustrations, production, and advertising. Although I left Hong Kong to return home to Singapore in 2000, JHKCR benefited greatly from the changes that I implemented after the RSNA Editorial Fellowship, and the knowledge gained will help improve journals that I am currently editing, namely, SGH Proceedings (of which I am Editor) and the Singapore Medical Journal (of which I am Deputy Editor).

Besides the points I have mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, what I have gained is an insight about the workings of two top-notch journals. I have been able to correct misconceptions voiced by many of my colleagues and acquaintances regarding the RSNA publications, acting as an informal roving ambassador of sorts. My fellowship has inspired me to form a regional association of academic radiologists, and we conducted the First Regional Workshop on Medical Writing for Radiologists, in Singapore in January 2002. To my pleasant surprise, we discovered a wide interest in learning, as well as a need to learn, to write effectively among radiologists in the South and Southeast Asian region, and we will be organising our second regional workshop, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in October 2002. The third workshop is planned for April 2003 in Sri Lanka.

Who will benefit from this fellowship? It is definitely not for a novice or someone who wants to learn how to write or review. The candidate should have a proven track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals and have experience in manuscript reviewing. Such a candidate would normally be considered an expert or at least a rising star in his or her chosen subspecialty and should have presented, preferably in both oral and exhibit formats, at international scientific meetings. Ideally, the candidate will be able to contribute during the fellowship period and continue to develop his or her abilities following the fellowship. It is hoped this fellowship will act to identify and nurture future leaders in academic radiology, who will be able to better serve our community, at home and internationally.