I am pleased to provide you with this year’s annual report. The Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group (JNSPG) published 53 issues this year (36 print and 12 electronic; four video supplements; and one print supplement). In 2019, we received 4,219 submissions for our three print journals and 678 for Neurosurgical Focus and Neurosurgical Focus: Video.
I would like to recognize the outstanding co-chairs who have performed so effectively during this past year: Drs. Bob Carter, Fred Barker, and Nicholas Bambakidis for Journal of Neurosurgery; Drs. Asdrubal Falavigna, Zo Ghogawala and Shekar Kurpad for Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine; and Drs. Howard Weiner and David Adelson for Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.
During 2019-20, we look forward to working closely with these co-chairs: Drs. Kevin Cockroft, Randy Jensen and Michael Vogelbaum for Journal of Neurosurgery; Drs. Michael Groff, Shekar Kurpad and Daniel Sciubba for Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine; and Drs. Douglas Brockmeyer and Cormac Maher for Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.
Dr. William Couldwell continues his excellent work with Neurosurgical Focus and Neurosurgical Focus: Video with the able assistance of Associate Editors, Drs. Aaron Cohen-Gadol and Jason Sheehan. His summary of Focus and Focus: Video are included in this report.
Here are some of the highlights from this past year:
- Continued enhancements of functionality on the JNSPG website.
- Launch of Neurosurgical Focus: Video in July 2019.
- Editor’s Choice articles featured on the AANS website.
- Rapid communication editorials on COVID-19 and its impact on the practice of neurosurgery. Each Editorial Board of JNSPG print journals published an editorial in this series.
- Approval and support from the AANS to launch JNS: Case Lessons journal with an active submission site expected in September 2020.
- Steady improvement in our Impact Factors and citation indices.
- Publication of specialized media team increasing online impact and presence: J Med Internet Res 2020 Mar 5 doi: 10:2196/17741.
- Second year roll-out of activities in our Strategic Plan: “Impactful Publishing: Growing Our Legacy – 2018 – 2023.”
- Maintaining our leadership status in social media posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
- Maintaining a viable and profitable business model of journal publishing.
I visit the editorial office in Charlottesville, Va., every quarter, typically for two full days, working directly with staff, discussing new initiatives and ways to improve efficiencies. The months I am not on site, I schedule video conferences with the staff. This has proven to be a very effective method to keep engaged with the editorial staff.
It is truly my privilege and honor to serve as your editor-in-chief, and I look forward to seeing all of you onscreen at our virtual meeting!
Sincerely,
James T. Rutka, MD, PhD
Editor-in-Chief