Building upon the past, looking toward the future

Citation

Birnbaum, D. and Decker, M. (2016), "Building upon the past, looking toward the future", International Journal of Health Governance, Vol. 21 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHG-03-2016-0022

Building upon the past, looking toward the future

Article Type: Editorial From: International Journal of Health Governance, Volume 21, Issue 2.

In our Vol. 21 No. 1 Editorial, we explained the journal’s present transitions and introduced our expanding cadre of regional editors. In this editorial, we discuss the changes being made in the editorial advisory board and how our background as epidemiologists shapes our future intentions for the Journal.

Epidemiology is typically defined as the study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations. Beyond this standard definition, however, epidemiology can be viewed as an engine for knowledge translation. It draws on theory, knowledge and experience from many fields; applies rules for logical inquiry and critical appraisal; and transforms data into information to inform decisions at the population (policy and governance) as well as the individual (clinical decision support) levels. It can inform about emerging new conditions; assess new approaches for healthcare; and evaluate existing or alternative approaches to promote, protect and restore health. In coming issues, the editors plan to bring you a wide variety of topics across this spectrum.

In order to select which topics and which papers on those topics could be the most useful to the journal’s subscribers, we rely upon advice from both the Journal’s regional editors and the editorial advisory board. Changes have been made to the way advisory board members are listed on the journal’s website – now highlighting members’ academic degrees and country of location – and to composition of the board. We are still in the process of adding new members, but have been making additions based on three criteria. First, we want to ensure the board provides world-wide coverage across all major regions. Second, we want to ensure the board includes representation of all major perspectives (organizational leadership, clinical practice leadership, public health leadership, patient and public viewpoints). Third, we want editorial board members who can bring the wisdom achieved by having extensive experience as well as expert knowledge in their field.

One of several topics to be discussed at the upcoming editorial advisory board will be how to encourage more feedback from all readers … whether a letter-to-the-editor column might be valuable, or simply encouraging readers to send us their ideas or respond to polls, or some other mechanism. Another topic will be to discuss upcoming conferences at which attendance by the co-editors or regional editors might be beneficial to identify promising potential authors. If you have thoughts on these or other topics that you had like to share with us, please do mail or email them to the publisher so that we can add them to the board’s agenda.

David Birnbaum and Michael Decker