Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Time to Say Goodbye …

2011; Elsevier BV; Volume: 89; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.11.017

1537-6605

Cynthia C. Morton,

BRCA gene mutations in cancer

It is bittersweet to pass on the editorship of The American Journal of Human Genetics. Six years ago I wrote to say hello1Morton C.C. You say goodbye and I say hello.Am. J. Hum. Genet. 2006; 78: 1Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (1) Google Scholar and began to live a dream I had dared to dream. Little did I know about the privilege and honor that this would entail, and I am truly grateful to have had this opportunity. It was always with great pride that I was able to say, “I am the Editor of The American Journal of Human Genetics,” and it will be with an eternally indebted spirit that I will soon say, “Once upon a time, I was the Editor of The American Journal of Human Genetics.” I learned early in life that all rewards are not earned, and I will always have that feeling about this position. A thank you is due to many. First, I want thank Robin Williamson, who served as Deputy Editor. Her devotion from day one to make The Journal the best it could be in every way and to serve the community of authors was superlative. Kathryn Bungartz joined us as Science Editor, then as Deputy Editor for the last few months, further enhancing The Journal in so many ways and devoting herself also in service to our authors. Robin and Kathryn provided additional editorial advice beginning in 2007 through the Publications Workshop that they organized and hosted biennially at the ASHG meeting. Two Editorial Assistants, Suzanne Peterson followed by Jameson Aubut, dutifully answered the phone and emails and provided administrative support. Kathryn Garber cleverly wrote This Month in Genetics and This Month in Our Sister Journals. Arno Motulsky and Joann Boughman made special contributions as Perspectives Editor and Society News Editor, respectively. Associate Editors (including the first international Associate Editors) provided valuable and timely advice. So what happened during these very short six years? You may recall that we changed the cover and celebrated several 60ths. One of my favorite covers was the first in January 2006—Mendel's peas. I hope you enjoyed those that followed, representing largely the creative genius of Robin Williamson. Since the inception of The Journal in 1949, there have been only four cover designs, and all were featured on the cover of The Journal in recognition of its 60th anniversary. That issue included reminiscences from six AJHG Editors:2The editors' recollections on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the American Journal of Human Genetics.Am. J. Hum. Genet. 2009; 85: 321-327Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Google Scholar Motulsky, Comings, Epstein, Byers, Warren, and Morton. We also celebrated the 60-year anniversaries of The Society and of the meeting. Kurt Hirschhorn, President of ASHG in 1969, shared his memories about The Society,3Hirschhorn K. A short history of the American Society of Human Genetics.Am. J. Hum. Genet. 2008; 83: 307-310Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (4) Google Scholar and Bronya Keats and Terry Hassold wrote about recollections of the meetings.4Keats B.J.B. Hassold T.J. Recollections from 60 ASHG meetings.Am. J. Hum. Genet. 2011; 87: 580-592Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (3) Google Scholar These contributions preserve in perpetuity aspects of the special society that we all cherish. The Journal moved from The University of Chicago Press (UCP) to Cell Press with the January 2008 issue. It was a difficult decision to leave UCP after 40 years of friendship, but was time for AJHG to have a greater global presence. Our partnership with Cell Press has been nothing short of terrific, and I would like to extend a very special thanks to Jim Krosschell, Keith Wollman, and Emilie Marcus. The Cell Press production staff, including Gabriel Peter-Harp, Kerry Evans, and Kalika Genelin, has been with us at every turn. They keep our new website current by posting new articles and author podcasts and updating the article collections. Transition to the next AJHG Editor, David Nelson, and Deputy Editor, Sara Cullinan, is already nearly complete. I am excited to see the new ideas and imprint they will make on AJHG, and I wish them the very best.