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I must admit that I had doubts before taking over this journal as a relatively new entrant in the summer of 2013 because the field already had other venues for academic publishing. Simplistically, metabolic and bariatric surgery only comprises three main operations: restrictive, malabsorptive, or a combination of the two. However, as the number of surgeries continues to rise globally, we are learning new things about patient outcomes and results. We are learning how best to care for our patients who have operations in one part of the world and seek care now with us. We are seeing, first hand, long-term results from the modern era of bariatric and metabolic surgery. This Journal has been at its best because practicing professionals making everyday observations share their findings for others to ponder and consider. Even for the submissions we have had to deny publication, we take the time to tell the authors what we are looking for and how they might better communicate information in their next submissions. To that end, I need to thank our editorial board, my associate editors, our managing editor Jamie Devereaux, our Executive Editor Vicki Cohn, and our publisher Mary Ann Liebert.
I believe we are now the premier exchange platform of real-time information for anyone engaged in the care of the bariatric surgical patient. We continue to review every manuscript submission for rigorous methodology with the following reader responses in mind: (1) “I am going to try that next time”; (2) “What if…?”; and (3) “I want that for my patients.” Adding value in every issue. That is our distinction!
What are some near-term and long-term goals for our publication over the next decade? The editorial board, especially the Associate Editors, has kept tight control in the conduct and flow of the review process, with the goals of performing rigorous reviews in a short time. If a review is heading for delay, the articles are quickly reassigned so as never to create unnecessary waiting. We have steadily increased our pool of high-end reviewers and will be utilizing them more and more in the coming months.
I also look forward to the imminent day we are registered on every indexed site so people in the remotest areas will have access—and every issue has been crafted to attain that goal. Until that day, we continue to toil and sweat over this Journal. As the Journal continues to reach libraries the world over and set ever-deeper roots in metabolic and bariatric surgery, it is important to mentor future board members and even the editor-in-chief. New leadership is always vital for keeping a Journal fresh. My two predecessors of this Journal have been great examples to me. But don't move too fast. I am still having fun doing this job.
Finally, I need to call attention to two great articles that have been among the most-downloaded since 2013 for what will prove to be of timeless value. They are “What Makes a Good Qualitative Research Article?” by Melanie Turk and Melissa Kalarchian, and “Conducting Proper Peer Review for a Journal” by Thomas W. Allen. These are two of a trio of review articles in the March 2014 issue that help authors and reviewers alike in judging the quality of articles. The results have been reflected in the increase of quality submissions every quarter.
So in closing, let me offer you a list of the most read articles in this Journal since 2013. * They turned out to be my favorites as well.
• “Nutritional Implications of Obesity: Before and After Bariatric Surgery” by Emanuele Lo Menzo, Alessandro Cappellani, Antonio Zanghì, Maria Di Vita, M. Berretta, and Samuel Szomstein
• “Laparoscopic Gastric Stapling Procedures as a Replacement to Gastric Banding in the 21st Century?” Moderator: Jaime Ponce; Participants: Michel Gagner and Paul O'Brien
• “Lithium Toxicity Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass” by Kate Walsh and Jason Volling
• “Management of Failed Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass” by Ahmad Ibrahim Elnahas, Timothy D. Jackson, and Dennis Hong
• “Behavioral Health Problems among Postsurgical Bariatric Patients: The Need for Continuing Behavioral Health Interventions” by Amelia B. Winsby and R. Paul Thomlinson
• “Predictors of Success after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy” by Ameer Gomberawalla, Thomas D. Willson, and Rami Lutfi
• “Understanding Eating and Exercise Behaviors in Post Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Patients: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study” by Sue Benson-Davies, Michael L. Davies, and Kendra Kattelmann
• “Laparoscopic Mini-Gastric Bypass is Equivalent to Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass” Moderator: David Kerrigan; Participants: Wei-Jei Lee, and Mathias A.L. Fobi
• “What Makes a Good Qualitative Research Article?” by Melanie Turk and Melissa Kalarchian
• “Conducting Proper Peer Review for a Journal” by Thomas W. Allen