Year: 2019
Type: editorial
Abstract: JAMIA Open has achieved the major milestone of being published for 1 year. I invite you to explore a special collection of published articles that have been compiled to showcase the breadth of high quality research that filled our pages during the first year: https://academic.oup.com/jamiaopen/pages/year_one_highlights A first year as a journal is a major milestone, and one that would not be possible without your continued support. This anniversary for JAMIA Open coincides with a remembrance of Don Lindberg, who left us suddenly in late August 2019. Don was a major crusader for open access to biomedical research. He was firm in his view that access to knowledge was the core element to inspire innovation. The last few months have been filled with shared remembrances of Don. My first recollection of him was when I was an NLM-funded trainee who was scheduled to give a presentation at the annual training conference. I was beyond nervous and found myself sitting next to Don Lindberg in the session before my presentation, who engaged me in a conversation about my work and expressed that he would be certain to be there for my presentation (this did not necessarily calm my nerves any…). My presentation went well, and I remember seeing Don in the audience as a friendly face who took the time to understand my work. Years later, while working at the MBL in Woods Hole, I found myself again sitting next to Don. He remembered my presentation from years before and asked me how my work had progressed. I was stunned that he remembered who I was or my presentation. We discussed how my work had evolved and what I was working on now at MBL. As the years went by, I would often see him and his wife Mary at conferences, and I remember that he always took the time to ask me how my career was progressing and how I was doing. He took a genuine interest in my work and I observed that he engaged others in the same way, regardless of where they were in their career trajectory. Beyond a man who had vision that laid out the framework for how health care could advance in the digital age, he was one of the kindest individuals (with a great sense of humor) I have ever known. I think back fondly of my encounters with Don, and I am appreciative that I had the greatest fortune to know him. Even if you did not know him personally, Don’s impact on contemporary biomedicine was so profound that you likely owe much of your own success to him, as well. If you have ever used PubMed/MEDLINE, the databases from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (e.g., GenBank or PubChem), clinical trial data from ClinicalTrials.gov, or referenced information in MedlinePlus for family members, you have benefited from Don’s vision. He wholeheartedly supported the principles of open access to science, promoting access to resources like MEDLINE (still one of the largest bibliographic databases that is available for research purposes at no cost). PubMed Central was also created under his leadership and remains a global leader in ensuring access to all who may benefit from access to knowledge. As an Open Access journal, JAMIA Open is, by definition, a strong supporter of open access to science. But such a view would not have been possible without visionaries like Don. A major goal of Open Access is to support the ability for those outside the research community to access information. The engagement outside the research community should be viewed as an essential goal for biomedical research and health care. In the coming year, you will see enhancements to JAMIA Open publications that are designed to promote patient engagement. I hope you enjoy this latest issue of JAMIA Open and hope that you consider sending your best work. Please also take a moment to share your favorite articles through your favorite social media as we wait for our application to be considered for indexing in PubMed Central.
Source: JAMIA Open
Author: Indra Neil Sarkar
Institution: Brown University
Language: English
Subfield: Information Systems and Management
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,762
OpenAlex ID: W2982103572