New role for Ayman

Congratulations to Mr Ayman Ewies, Lead Gynaecologist for the Black Country, who has been given the job of editor-in-chief of the prestigious Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The journal represents an established forum for the entire field of obstetrics and gynaecology, publishing a broad range of original, peer-reviewed papers, from scientific and clinical research to reviews relevant to practice.

It also includes occasional supplements on clinical symposia. The journal is read widely by trainees in the specialty, and it acknowledges a major role in education in obstetrics and gynaecology. It is published in 83 countries and boasts 152,000 downloads a year.

Ayman said: “It’s a real privilege to be appointed as editor-in-chief for this journal. I have been a scientific editor for the journal for a number of years but to now be elevated to this position is a real honour. It’s good to be bringing the role back to a UK-based health professional.”

Ayman explained how the journal works: “Research is submitted and will be sent to two peer reviewers who are experts in that particular field. It will be assessed before I will have the final say on what is published.

As our bodies cannot make folate, it is required in the diet, making it an essential nutrient. It occurs naturally in many foods. Folic acid is used to treat anaemia caused by folate deficiency. Folic acid is also used as a supplement by women during pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida in the baby. Low levels in early pregnancy are believed to be the cause of more than half of babies born with NTDs. More than 80 countries use either mandatory or voluntary fortification of certain foods with folic acid as a measure to decrease the rate of NTDs.

“The publication carries a lot of weight within the medical world as it guides policy makers and informs clinical practice. It is the final stage of research.”

Past and present editors have recognised the difficulties that junior doctors encounter in achieving their first publications and spend time advising authors during their initial attempts at submission. The journal continues to attract a world-wide readership thanks to the emphasis on practical applicability and its excellent record of drawing on an international base of authors.