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Editor’s Page

RadioGraphics’ Silver Anniversary: 25 Years of Excellence in Education

An exciting new project was launched in May 1981: The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) published a second major radiology journal, entitled RadioGraphics (Fig). For several years, the RSNA Board of Directors had looked for ways to preserve the excellent educational material presented at its annual meeting, especially in the scientific exhibits. Dr William J. Tuddenham, who subsequently became the first editor, and the Board of Directors conceived of a new journal devoted to radiology education and RadioGraphics was born. At first a quarterly publication, the Journal’s primary objective was to print a portion of the best scientific exhibits (now called education exhibits) presented at the annual RSNA meeting. In his first editorial, Dr Tuddenham reflected on RadioGraphics’ mission: "Most notably, an effort will be made to capture in the pages of RadioGraphics the pictorial appeal and sharply focused teaching value of selected scientific exhibits" (1). Under Dr Tuddenham’s leadership, the Journal grew over the next decade into a respected, valued publication. In 1984, RadioGraphics became a bimonthly publication, and in 1986 the Journal was included in Index Medicus. In the late 1980s, approximately 40 exhibits were published yearly in the Journal. All material was peer reviewed by the RadioGraphics editorial board and reviewers to ensure accuracy and the highest quality.

View larger version (67K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Covers for the first issue of RadioGraphics, published in May 1981 (left), and the January 2005 issue (right).

1990: Added AFIP Archives articles and Practice Corner editorials and published 45 exhibit articles within the 1200 pages allotted for a publication year, used more color images for educational value.

1991: Achieved inclusion in Current Contents, added a continuing medical education (CME) activity by which participants could earn one category 1 credit, started a new section infoRAD (Informatics in Radiology), published invited commentaries on selected articles.

1993: Added articles based on RSNA refresher courses and plenary sessions.

1996: Expanded the CME activities to four per issue, increased the annual page allotment to 1578 pages, published 65 major articles based on either exhibits or plenary sessions.

1998: Began online publication, increased the CME activities to six per issue.

1999: Added a seventh issue by publishing the first annual monograph issue in October, increased the number of major articles published to 86, solicited manuscripts for all exhibits selected for potential publication by RadioGraphics panels at the annual meeting.

2000: Increased the CME activities from six in every print issue to up to 11 per issue by offering additional CME exercises in the online version of the Journal.

2001: Expanded the AFIP section by adding an AFIP Best Cases feature.

2004: Began a new section on education techniques (Education Techniques for Lifelong Learning), published 118 education exhibits in 2070 pages, awarded 59,000 category 1 credits for RadioGraphics CME activities.

In support of the Journal’s mission and with the help and the much-appreciated continuous support of the RSNA Board of Directors and its Liaisons for Publications, RadioGraphics has almost doubled in size in the past 15 years and has more than doubled in educational content. Excellent peer-reviewed education in imaging continues to be RadioGraphics’ only goal. As its cover subtitle says, RadioGraphics is "THE journal of continuing medical education in radiology." In the past 15 years, CME and CME credit have become a major focus of the Journal. As mentioned, over 59,000 category 1 credits were awarded in 2004 for RadioGraphics CME exercises, and over 400,000 credits have been awarded since the inception of RadioGraphics CME activities in the early 1990s. RadioGraphics CME programs are found in both print and online versions of the Journal, and tests may be completed on hard-copy postcards or online through InteractED, the RSNA’s interactive educational Web site.

CME and CME credit have become increasingly important in all of our professional activities, including licensing and credentialing by state, local, and hospital authorities and agencies. In 2004–2005, the American Board of Radiology (ABR) has developed and instituted an extensive maintenance of certification (MOC) program in accordance with the principles and requirements of the American Board of Medical Specialists. CME and CME credit are an important part of the MOC program, in terms of general requirements for CME as well as for participation in self-assessment modules (SAMs). As part of the MOC program, the ABR is requiring that radiologists earn at least 500 hours of CME credit (250 of which must be category 1) over a 10-year period of recertification. Journal-based RadioGraphics CME activities will certainly contribute to radiologists’ efforts to satisfy this part of the MOC requirement. In addition, current RadioGraphics articles offered for CME credit will be bundled by subject and content code into SAMs that will be offered for self-assessment as well as for CME credit. Credits for completion of both SAMs and CME exercises will be stored in the RSNA CME Repository for easy retrieval. Ten to 15 SAMs based on RadioGraphics CME exercises will be offered by the RSNA by mid-2005, with additional SAMs available by January 2006. A program of continuous RadioGraphics SAM development and renewal is in place for the future. SAMs are peer reviewed for accuracy and relevance by Education Editorial Board members and reviewers and will be representative of all subspecialties in diagnostic radiology. They will be available free to all RSNA members as a benefit of membership.

I am extremely pleased with the development of RadioGraphics as it reaches its Silver Anniversary. My hopes for RadioGraphics in the next 25 years are that it prospers, grows, and continues to be the Journal that radiologists and other physicians associate with quality education in imaging and the source for in-depth imaging information, as our specialty evolves further to aid our clinical colleagues and our patients.

References

1. Tuddenham WJ. Editor’s page. RadioGraphics 1981; 1:ii.
2. Olmsted WW. Editor’s page. RadioGraphics 1990; 10:11–12.

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