The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) and
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (JPSM) present
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP & INVOLVEMENT

The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) is seeking nominations for Associate Editors, Editorial Board Members, and Reviewers who will work with the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (JPSM). 

AAHPM and the JPSM are forging an exciting new editorial partnership - in conjunction with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), the U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee and Elsevier Publishing.  Part of the AAHPM agreement with the publisher provides the Academy with nearly 400 additional editorial pages each year to allow for expanded palliative care content.  In addition, two new section/associate editors will be named and up to ten AAHPM members will be appointed to the editorial board to review the articles. These changes will ensure that the journal has the logistical and philosophical support to evolve into a seamless and integrated affiliated journal.  Academy members will begin receiving JPSM each month beginning in January 2009.  

The designation of JPSM as the Academy's official journal comes at a propitious time in the United States, one characterized by the mainstreaming of palliative medicine in the U.S. health care system, increasing access to specialist palliative care in diverse venues, and a growing desire to anchor the field to both evidence-based medicine and healthcare quality initiatives. 

The collaboration between the JPSM and AAHPM offers many opportunities to enhance these advances in palliative care and to bridge a growing international community that shares the goals and ambitions of the Academy membership.
 
AAHPM and JPSM are looking for two Associate Editors and 10 additional Editorial Board members willing to serve on the editorial board during this important time of growth and expansion.  Additional reviewers are also needed and paper submissions are encouraged.

Associate editors and additional editorial board positions have been added to realize a new vision for JPSM:  to continue as a highly respected forum for promoting clinical science and best practice in palliative care and meet the needs of an expanding and heterogeneous AAHPM membership. As the collaboration develops, there will also be a new look and an eventual change in the Journal's title.

This call is directed to the AAHPM membership, inviting you to apply for one of the Associate Editorships, for an Editorial Board Member position, as a Reviewer of papers, and to submit your papers to the journal in the coming months.

Associate Editors
The role of the Associate Editor(s) of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (JPSM) is to assist the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of JPSM, AAHPM and the Publisher to realize a new vision for the JPSM. Associate Editor(s) will report to the EIC and work collaboratively with the EIC and the Managing Editor to foster integration of expanded palliative care content, and specific content relevant to AAHPM, within JPSM. The Associate Editor(s) may be responsible for solicitation of specific content, including reviews, recurring material, or supplements. He or she may become point person for revised review processes for peer review, including selection of reviewers, coordination of reviews, and decision-making. Associate Editor(s) will also be expected to actively encourage potential authors to contribute to the journal - through submission of research, development of reviews and other invited pieces - in an effort to expand coverage of palliative care topics and maintain alignment of content with the expressed interests of the AAHPM membership (supported by surveys and data collection).

If you are interested in this position, please send a letter describing your interest in the Associate Editorship, related experience, and an up-to-date CV to resources@aahpm.org. Deadline for initial application and consideration is December 15, 2008. Associate Editors finalists will be recommended by the AAHPM Board of Directors and selected by the EIC. All applicants will be notified by January 15, 2009. Click here to view the complete job description.

Editorial Board Members
The role of the 10 AAHPM-appointed Editorial Board Members is to help expand the remit of JPSM by recommending to authors in your area of expertise that may want to consider submitting to the new, AAHPM-sponsored JPSM, as well as by acting as a peer reviewer of papers in your area of interest assigned to you by the Associate Editor or Editor. Editorial Board Members will be expected to review approximately 1-2 papers per month, and to contribute or solicit one paper per year to JPSM. If you are interested in this position, please send a letter describing your interest in being appointed as an Editorial Board Member, related experience, and an up-to-date CV to resources@aahpm.org. Deadline for initial application and consideration is December 15, 2008. Editorial Board member finalists will be recommended by the AAHPM Board of Directors and selected by the EIC. All applicants will be notified by January 15, 2009.

Reviewers
Reviewers will be required to post information in a reviewer database for JPSM, along with keywords, so that papers will have qualified professionals providing comments and ratings. If you are interested in this position, please send a letter describing your interest in being a reviewer for JPSM, your related experience, and an up-to-date CV to resources@aahpm.org. Reviewers will be selected by the EIC.

Authors
The EIC of JPSM invites authors in the AAHPM community to submit articles for consideration by JPSM, particularly in the areas of hospice and palliative medicine and care. If you would like further information on topics that would be of interest to the expanded journal, please click here to review the Aims and Scope statement. With an Impact Factor of 2.324 (2007 Journal Citation Reports), JPSM is a leading journal in its area. With the expanded Editorial Board and the selection of one or two AAHPM Associate Editors, turnaround time to decision will be fast and accepted articles will be posted online an average of 14 days after receipt of author-corrected proofs by the publisher. The tremendous reach of JPSM through Elsevier's platform ScienceDirect, as well as its receipt in print and online by ALL members of the Academy, is a tremendous opportunity for authors who want their work to reach the widest possible audience in palliative care.

For more information about these opportunities, please visit www.aahpm.org.