mayo clinic proceedings celebrates its 75th year of service
TRANSCRIPT
Mayo Clinic Proceedings Celebrates Its 75th Year of Service
With the publication of this April 2000 issue of MayoClinic Proceedings, the journal begins its 75th year
of service. Who could have envisioned that this journal,which began as a weekly, 4-page, in-house publication onApril 26, 1926, would achieve its present stature? Currently, the journal has a monthly circulation of 120,000,and it is read-and quoted-worldwide.
Throughout its history, the Proceedings has had closephilosophical ties to its sponsor, Mayo Foundation. Farfrom attempting to dictate the contents of this journal, theFoundation's support has instead served as a philosophicalbeacon. An understanding of the form and substance of theMayo philosophy is perhaps best achieved by examiningthe Mayo emblem, the triple shield, liberally reproducedthroughout each issue of the Proceedings. The 3 shieldsrepresent the integrated contributions of clinical practice,research, and education in advancing health care. Thevalues represented by this symbol permeate daily life atMayo Foundation and the Proceedings. Mayo physiciansand scientists desire this; the patients in our care and thereaders of this journal demand it. Proceedings readerstell us-through voice, electronic, and written communications-that the quality of this journal is meaningfully influenced by translating Mayo Foundation values into thepages of each issue.
To understand better the values that we hold dear to thisjournal, it is beneficial to hear from those at Mayo Foundation responsible for directing the future of this organizationand the future of its clinical care, research, and education.To address this issue, readers of the April 2000 Proceedings are treated to 3 editorials by Foundation leaders.Michael B. Wood, MD, President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Mayo Foundation, discusses the Foundation'sdedication to its core values and its approach to addressingfuture growth. I Next, Thomas H. Berquist, MD, Directorfor Education, Mayo Foundation, presents the scope ofFoundation educational activities as well as the challengesand opportunities encountered in the modern educationenvironment.' Then, John C. Burnett, Jr, MD, Director forResearch, Mayo Clinic Rochester, describes the institu-
Dr Lanier is Editor·in-Chief of Mayo Clinic Proceedings and Consultant in the Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic Rochester,Rochester, Minn.
Address reprint requests and correspondence to William L. Lanier,MD, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 200 First st 5W, Rochester, MN55905.
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tion's rich heritage of collaborative biomedical researchand plans to encourage the collaborative model in 21stcentury Mayo-sponsored research.'
Although this journal has taken many features of itsphilosophy from the example of Mayo Foundation,progress within the journal is possible only when Proceedings philosophy is supported by action. In this regard, thejournal has benefited from a dedicated and talented staffand committed leadership. Among the current office staff,which now numbers 8 full- and part-time members, thesenior 5 members have a collective 8 decades of service tothis journal. Further, the Proceedings has benefited fromthe input of 7 different Editors-in-Chief.
The first physician Editor-in-Chief, Edwin D. Bayrd,MD, was appointed in 1964. He was responsible for overseeing the activities of the newly formed Editorial Boardand expanding the scope and influence of the journal. Sincethe term of Dr Bayrd, the journal has continually evolved,with each step reflecting, in some measure, the personalityand vision of the Editor-in-Chief at the time. In this issue, we are fortunate to hear from 5 of the 6 formerEditors-in-Chief." (The sixth, Alvin B. Hayles, MD, died in1988.) Through their words, you will learn much aboutthe history of this journal. Further, you can read betweenthe lines and appreciate their highly individual personalities and the values they emphasized while directing thejournal.
As the history of this publication (and its antecedentpublications) began long before the appointment of the firstEditor-in-Chief in 1964, techniques other than Editors'reminiscences are needed to comprehend fully the evolution of the journal. Fortunately, a more comprehensiveaccounting of the Proceedings' history is provided withinthe pages of this issue by Jane C. Lantz, Executive Editor ofthe Proceedings, and Carolyn Stickney Beck, PhD, of theMayo Center for Humanities in Medicine.'
The occasion of our 75th year of service is an opportunity both to examine the present and past of this journal andto look forward. What will be the future direction of thejournal? Obviously, it will be dictated not only by thevision of its leaders but also by the exigencies and demandsof the day. Hints of the direction of the journal can be madesimply by extrapolating from our past through our present.We have evolved from "a journal of reports by Mayophysicians for Mayo physicians" (circa April 1926) to "ajournal published by Mayo Foundation for physiciansworldwide." Not only has the journal's audience changed,
© 2000 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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so have its contributors. Authors from around the worldwho share the journal's vision currently seek out the Proceedings for publication of their work, and they will increasingly contribute to the journal's content in the future.Such a prediction requires little speculation. In 1999 andearly 2000, approximately half of the manuscripts submitted to this journal originated from authors not directlyaffiliated with Mayo Foundation.
I envision that the Proceedings will take a more activeleadership role in identifying issues of critical importanceto the future of health care. This will be accomplishedthrough reports of original research, editorials, commentaries, and reviews. Further, I predict that the messages delivered in our print journal will be disseminated to nontraditional audiences by the latest in communication techniques.We are seeing this evolution already. The current Proceedings will become increasingly available to all audiencesthrough the pages of our Web site and other repositories ofelectronic information. Further, the lay media, which haveaccess to this information, are spreading our messages aswell. For example, an article published in the February2000 issue" reached an audience of about 94 million within1 month after the article's publication (John J. Murphy,oral communication, March 2000).
This journal has the promise of a brilliant future. Worldwide, clinical advances and scientific discoveries are progressing at an unprecedented pace. Reports based on thiswork provide increasingly rich material for each Proceedings issue. Further, advances in communications technology and the willingness of this journal to refine its communication methods will improve exchanges among authorsand readers and will shorten the time from manuscriptreceipt to publication.
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At Mayo Clinic Proceedings, we have a passion forexcellence. We hope to inspire others to join our cause sothat together we can produce the best Proceedings ever.To some, such a statement may appear to be unbridledidealism; to others, it is an attainable vision. At MayoFoundation and the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the two. As CharlesH. Mayo, MD, said of the Mayo experience, "If we excel inanything, it is in our capacity for translating idealism intoaction." This concept has served us well in the past, and itwill help guide our path into the future.
The beginning of our 75th year is a time of celebrationand anticipation for those of us who contribute to, lead, andread this journal. Our expectations are great. As we lookforward, we are ever mindful of the loyal support of ourauthors and readers. For those individuals, I would like tooffer a heartfelt "thank-you" as well as an invitation toshare in our future growth.
William L. Lanier, MD
REFERENCESI. Wood MB. Mayo Foundation at the tum ofthe 21st century: adapting
to change but consistent in values. Mayo Clin Proc. 2000;75:333334.
2. Berquist TH. Education in the 21st century: challenges and opportunities. Mayo Clin Proc. 2000;75:335-336.
3. Burnett JC Jr. Biomedical research at the Mayo Clinic: a tradition ofcollaboration and a vision for year 2000 and beyond. Mayo ClinProc.2000;75:337-339.
4. Bayrd ED, Juergens JL, Siekert RG, Palumbo PJ, Prakash DBS.Reflections from past editors. Mayo Clin Proc. 2000;75:340-343.
5. LantzJC, Beck CS. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: from internal newsletterto international journal. Mayo Clin Proc. 2000;75:329-330.
6. Maruta T, Colligan RC, Malinchoc M, Offord KP. Optimists vspessimists: survival rate among medical patients over a 3D-yearperiod. Mayo Clin Proc. 2000;75:140-143.
For personal use. Mass reproduce only with permission from Mayo Clinic Proceedings.