From the Editor's Desk

As the field of medicine continues to grow more complex and subspecialized, the need for quality peer reviewed contributions to medical literature also continues to increase. This continued sub-specialization creates a vacuum for evidence-based literature to drive clinical decision making, treatment algorithms and applications. HJ Coolidge first coined the now ubiquitous phrase “publish or perish,” in 1932. This nearly 100-year-old phrase still rings true today, most certainly in contemporary medical practice. Physician Assistants continue to be on the forefront in medical applications and care delivery yet have a limited footprint in medical literature. The benefits of in participation of PA’s in medical publishing are far reaching.

The presence of PA’s on the future edges of medicine continues in various ways and it is imperative we participate in the publication of these advances .Physician Assistants continue to participate in care delivery and investigational teams driving the future edges of medicine, it is imperative this gets captured in the form of publication. By publishing and taking part in original research, case reports and other forms of medical writing, PAs can better demonstrate our expertise in patient care and enhance our roll as scholarly experts. Sharing our contributions to advances in medicine via publication cements our role in medical advances, care delivery, research, and ultimately patient outcomes. PA participation in publication will continue to increase our collective credibility as a profession. This will be imperative as we continue to face greater market pressures from other providers or allied health disciplines.

One of the major barriers in the past has been access to journals and academic publications that are in our specialty space that accept publications by nonphysicians. The Journal of the Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (JAPACVS) was created to help eliminate that barrier. The JAPACVS provides access to peer reviewed and referred publication for our colleagues with an engaged specialty focused audience. Additionally, we have established the role of an Associate Editor for Writer Development and created educational content to learn how to go about manuscript creation to aid our colleagues into authorship.

In conclusion, the sub-specialization of medicine and the importance of quality peer-reviewed contribution to the medical literature creates an opportunity for PAs to demonstrate their important contributions to healthcare delivery via medical publishing. By publishing our works, PAs can demonstrate their expertise in patient care, enhance our presence as scholarly experts, and contribute to the collective repository of medical knowledge. This will continue to increase the professional credibility of the PA profession at large and help secure our role in participation with medical advances, care delivery and research. The JAPACVS stands ready with educational materials and author support to assist with increased PA participation in publication.

Keep writing!

-AM

Aaron Morton, DMSc, MMSc, PA-C, ATC, FAPACVS

JAPACVS Editor-in-Chief editor@japacvs.org