2005-Issue05

EFSUMB5-05.fm Seite 51 Dienstag, 4. Oktober 2005 1:52 13

EFSUMB Newsletter

EFSUMB Newsletter

51

European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology

Editorial The copy date for this

tennis rather than exploring the delights

her article on the history of that journal

edition of the European

of Geneva.

which has grown from a small newsletter to a fully fledged Journal in about 20 ye-

Journal of Ultrasound is just before EUROSON in

The Board of Directors will have the un-

ars. It makes interesting reading and

Geneva so whilst there

enviable task of choosing members for

shows what can be achieved with vision

is furious activity in

the new committees by ballot in the case

and commitment. I hope to be able to pu-

terms of organisation, there is little to re-

of the Publications committee. It is gra-

blish other items of interest in later edi-

port. I must however commend the orga-

tifying that several people came forward

tions of the newsletter but the next few

nisers for arranging the Davis cup tennis

forcing a ballot for the first time. This

will be full with reports from Geneva and

match between Great Britain and Swit-

newsletter carries a report of the EURO-

in February publication as promised of

zerland in Geneva the weekend of the

SON School in Rumania which I under-

the Minimum Training Standards docu-

conference. I am sure no one will be

stand was most successful and was well

ment.

tempted to go to the tennis rather than

attended. In this edition of the Newsletter

the excellent scientific programme but

I am most grateful to Rose De Bruyn the

perhaps some may find reasons to spend

editor of “Ultrasound” the journal of the

their spare time indoors watching the

British Medical Ultrasound Society for

I hope to meet many of you in Geneva David Pilling Editor, EFSUMB Newsletter

Report of EUROSON School in Rumania, May 2005 The participants attended the Euroschool

writing materials. The course organisati-

ticipants at the end of the course. All the

Ultrasonography of Digestive Tumours

on was assured through contract by SC

participants passed the test (their scores

Course in the Univers-T Hall from Cluj

Congress Systems SRL, a company speci-

were > 80%), and were awarded with a

Napoca, Romania, a conference hall with

alised in activities as, registration and ac-

certificate of achievement.

350. The audio visual services were pro-

comodation, travel and catering.

vided by The Ultrasound Centre of The

The sponsors helped us to offer a social

University of Medicine and Pharmacy

The observer from EFSUMB was Prof.

programme to the participants throug-

Cluj Napoca – 5 videoprojectors and 4

Greiner. The target level of education was

hout the course.

PC-laptops.

advanced, presentations being fully illustrated by images.

The syllabus of the Euroschool Vascular

EFSUMB received 10% of all registration fees paid by participants.

Ultraschall 2005; 26

Ultrasonography Course was produced

At the end of all lectures the participants

one month earlier and was offered free to

attended workshops (interactive and in-

all the participants. They also had a spe-

structive) dedicated to practice applicati-

cial congress-bag with promotional and

ons. A written test was given to the par-

((Author)))

EFSUMB5-05.fm Seite 52 Dienstag, 4. Oktober 2005 1:52 13

EFSUMB Newsletter ‘Ultrasound’

52

The evolution of the Journal of the British Medical Ultrasound Society lume numbers (1993 being Vol. 1) and

The British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS) originated from a conference orga-

gave it an ISSN number. After Peter, came

nized in 1969 by the Hospital Physicists Association (HPA) and the British Institute of

Dr Sarah Russell, Dr Pat Smith and Dr Mi-

Radiology. Originally it was an informal ultrasound group taking on the name of

and all stamping their own mark on the

BMUS in 1977 and becoming a registered charity in 1984.

publication. The tradition of starting as

chael Weston all with an assistant editor

the “junior editor“ for 2 years to learn the ropes, was then followed by 2 years as the “senior editor“.

The original Bulletin was a photocopied

the shock – horror stories of the day.

A4 news-sheet, under the editorship of

“Storm in a test tube.” (August 1984)

John Woodcock. Tony Whittingham sug-

commented on an ITN news story that

The “BMUS Bulletin“ was and still is pu-

gested to Council that a more journal-like

showed animal cells executing frenetic

blished quarterly and for a time, the issu-

production would be appropriate to the

gyrations, allegedly in response to diag-

es were dedicated to certain topics to re-

rapidly expanding Society, and found

nostic ultrasound. Another was “What

flect the diversity of the membership of

himself with the job of doing something

the Minister said.” (November 1984),

the society and the changes in the use in

about it – providing he could make it

which tried to clarify rumours that routi-

clinical ultrasound. There have been issu-

self-financing. The important point being

ne obstetric scanning had been banned in

es dedicated to contrast agents, 3D and

is that the journal has always been, and

the UK on safety grounds. Safety was also

4D, Physics, vetinary topics, and all

still is fully “owned” by the British Medi-

a popular subject for letters to the Editor,

aspects of O&G and abdominal scanning.

cal Ultrasound Society unlike some other

as were proposals for postgraduate qua-

Throughout the journal has been the in-

medical journal such as the BMJ or Lancet.

lifications in medical ultrasound.

strument of the Society, providing a dual role, informing the members of it’s acti-

In those days he had to make up every is-

vities, as well as all the while striving to

peared in April 1983. He kept the name

sue by hand, using scissors and paste, and

publish articles of the highest quality. The

“Bulletin” and made the first issue No. 32

trim or even rewrite articles to ensure

articles were generally of the “Review“

rather than No. I, as he wanted to preser-

they fitted the space available – to the let-

type, commissioned by the Editor with no

ve the historical link with the previous 31

ter. Some issues had as many as 24 pages,

formal peer review process. Reflected in

news-sheets for posterity. It had 8 pages,

so it was no small matter to do this, as

this approach was a friendly accessible

but the size (7" by 10") was smaller than

well as writing, commissioning and

organ of the society which was often

the present A4, being modelled on the

chasing-up articles. At times it all proved

more interesting and informative to read

HPA Bulletin of the time.

to be a bit much to fit in with his day job,

than stuffy scientific journals. However,

and one or two issues came out rather la-

the journal has never been listed so that

For a while John Woodcock continued to

te. The answer was found by 1986, by ap-

contributors have not really been fully re-

act as News Editor, but soon Hylton Miere

pointing Dinesh Naik as “Alternate Edi-

warded for their efforts and there have

came on board as “Clinical Advisor” to ba-

tor”. He organised one issue and Tony did

been few if any unsolicited articles pub-

lance the physics bias, and Tony Evans

the next, etcetera, until 1987. Dinesh was

lished.

took on the role of Advertising Manager.

then joined by Diedre Collier, and they

A commercial advertising agency was

continued to produce the Bulletin in its

The biggest change to the journal has pro-

eventually employed in 1990.

original format for a while before swit-

bably come in the last 2 years. Towards

ching to A4 (preferred by the advertisers)

the end of 2003 the Society decided to

and introducing colour.

change publishers to a more formal expe-

Looking back at the early editions, Tony

rienced publishing company and all this

Whittingham reminisces how, apart from how young everybody looked, safe-

In 1993, the new editor, Dr Peter Twining

brought with it. Interestingly, journal pu-

ty seems to have featured quite a lot. He

moved the Bulletin towards being more

blishing is a very competitive business

remembers writing editorials on some of

of a scientific journal. He introduced vo-

and it is certainly worth regularly revie-

Ultraschall 2005; 26

The first issue of the “glossy” version ap-

EFSUMB5-05.fm Seite 53 Dienstag, 4. Oktober 2005 1:52 13

EFSUMB Newsletter

wing the provisions of the publisher and in particular their ability to access and

The downside. The editorial process is

provide all that is now available on the

now 3 months rather than 1 to publicati-

web such as on line journals and peer re-

on. Initially, with the new timescale, the

view. After some market research the

commissioned article deadlines were la-

new publishers came up with the name

te, resulting in a few late issues as the Edi-

“Ultrasound“ and the whole layout and

tors adjusted and chased writers. This has

colour scheme and appearance changed.

now settled down. This is the first „Ima-

The publishers have encouraged the Edi-

ging“ journal in this publishing stable and

tor to set up an Editorial Board and a more

they have little experience of the „spe-

formal peer review process. Their advice

cial“ imaging needs such as layout of

is to have a journal with wide ranging ar-

images, the importance of which cannot

up, articles are now being submitted

ticles to appeal to all members rather

be underestimated. This is also settling

from all over the world and the peer re-

than dedicated issues which may only ap-

down but requires a large input from the

view process is starting to work and

peal to a few. In addition to include Edi-

Editor.

should improve even further with on line

53

submission. We will probably have to in-

torial, Review, Pictorial reviews and Case reports. These aspects are very important

The upside. We now have a journal which

crease the number of pages in the near fu-

when seeking a publication rating and lis-

looks very professional and publishers

ture. Getting the balance right between

ting such as Medline. For a small extra

that are able to provide everything that is

scientific articles and society activities is

cost to the society the full journal has

needed in this digital era.

more difficult and will only probably come when the two functions are separa-

now become available on line to members from early 2005. We are currently

From the editors point of view I think this

ted. In my opinion, developing the jour-

working towards on line submission and

has been a very positive and certainly ex-

nal has given it a renewed vigour and vi-

peer review.

citing time for the journal. Subscription is

brancy. Progress certainly does not come without change.

Acknowledgements To Dr Tony Whittingham for helping with the historical background.

Rose de Bruyn. MB BCh. FRCR Editor “Ultrasound“

Ultraschall 2005; 26