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EDITORIAL |
Index Terms: Editorials • RadioGraphics (journal)
RadioGraphics’ Only Mission Is Education
As we reach the midpoint of RadioGraphics Volume 24, readers will note some significant format changes that will make the Journal even more relevant to the practices of our specialty and subspecialties. The mission statement and journal objectives (found on the first page of the table of contents of each issue) have been recrafted to better reflect the major mission of the Journal: education and continuing medical education (CME) in radiology. RadioGraphics has been and is "The Journal of Continuing Medical Education in Radiology." As such, over 375,000 hours of category 1 credit have been awarded to RSNA members and CME participants since inception of the RadioGraphics CME feature over 13 years ago in January 1991. To facilitate searching and selection of articles, all of the CME exercises (both print and electronic) in an issue are now listed on the Journal’s back cover. We hope this CME-specific table of contents will appeal to readers who wish to search an issue quickly for CME articles and participate.
Expanded Search Capability on the Journey of Lifelong Learning Relevant to Maintenance of Certification
In fulfillment of its mission, the RSNA prides itself in producing the best in quality educational materials for radiologists, both at its annual meeting and also during the year through the Education Resources Catalog and InteractED (http://www.rsna.org/education/interactive/index.html). In keeping with these goals, RadioGraphics has implemented and is developing new initiatives concerning "lifelong learning" relevant to "maintenance of certification" (MOC), topics that are being widely discussed. A major tool that supports these efforts is the expanded search capability that was added to RadioGraphics Online. Since September 2003, readers can search RadioGraphics by self-selected key words and by imaging subspecialty. A content-based coding system (by organ system and modality) was adopted by the RSNA, and this system is being used by all segments of the Society involved in education. All RadioGraphics articles are coded with the new system, and, as of this July 2004 issue, the content codes appear next to the title of each article in the table of contents of both the print and electronic versions of the Journal. Electronic search of RadioGraphics content by code is very easy. As mentioned in my January 2004 editorial (1), all RadioGraphics articles from 1999 to the present are archived and can be found on the RadioGraphics Online home page in a section titled "RadioGraphics Collections" (http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/collections). A reader can go to this section; select a subspecialty, modality, or area of interest; and obtain a list of titles and links to relevant articles from 1999 to the present. A reader can also sign up for electronic alerts (ETOCs) whereby he or she will receive an e-mail with notification of new articles in areas of interest. With the new content codes and improved search capability, one can tailor a curriculum of CME that meets individual needs and requirements.
Within the next year, RSNA postmeeting educational materials (including RadioGraphics CME articles and InteractED educational materials) will be organized and bundled into "self-assessment modules" (SAMs) covering specific subspecialty topics that will be searchable and that form another part of the curriculum of the RSNA’s Lifelong Learning/Maintenance of Certification initiatives. These modules will be driven by an individual’s own perceptions of needs for improvement. Pretests for evaluation and posttests for CME credit will be available online, and credit earned will be automatically stored in the RSNA’s CME Credit Repository for future reporting.
New Education Section in RadioGraphics
Because education is the main mission of RadioGraphics, it is important to emphasize not only the quality content of articles and CME presented in the Journal each month, but also the techniques of education that are so important to adult learning. In support of this effort, RadioGraphics will feature a new section, devoted to the techniques of adult learning, entitled "Education Techniques for Lifelong Learning." The articles by Dr Jannette Collins (2,3) in this issue are the first of this important venture for RadioGraphics. I am indebted to Dr Collins for a great beginning. More articles will follow, and the section will appear as material becomes available. I encourage all authors interested in educational methodology and techniques in imaging to consider contributing to this section.
Editorial Board Changes
As with all journals, editorial boards change from time to time, reflecting the evolving nature of our profession and individuals, who take on new and important responsibilities. Richard Geise, PhD, has been a member of the RadioGraphics editorial board since 2000, as Associate Editor for Imaging and Therapeutic Technology. Rich has done a masterful job in the coordination of this section that includes the important AAPM/RSNA Physics Tutorial for Residents. As of this issue, Rich is retiring from the editorial board and the section on Imaging and Therapeutic Technology will be retired as well. The plan for this section from its inception in 1994 was to showcase new technology in our specialty. With further progress in the specialty, it seems appropriate to place articles on new technology into the appropriate subspecialty areas for the sake of more cohesive presentation. The responsibility for coordinating the AAPM tutorials published in the Journal will transfer to Dr Russ Ritenour, who chairs and organizes the area of imaging physics for RadioGraphics. My sincerest thanks go to Rich Geise for his leadership and vision for this section over the past several years, and I wish him the best in his new professional endeavors. Dr Robert Sagerman, who has chaired the radiation oncology section of the Journal since 1998, will also be retiring. Bob has done a superb job in coordinating this area of our specialty for RadioGraphics broad readership, and I will miss his wisdom and support. Dr James Marks, from St Louis, will replace Bob in this role, and I know he will continue the fine traditions and directions that Bob has set for us.
I am excited by this changing environment and the changes and additions in the Journal that are beginning with this issue. In the coming months, more will be forthcoming from the RSNA concerning RSNA education in support of lifelong learning and maintenance of certification, so stay tuned!
References
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