2017 was a banner year for Disaster Medicine and Public Health Journal (DMPHP). We received over 300 original unsolicited manuscripts. Typically, manuscript submissions are high during Calls for Papers, but there were no special Calls for Papers in 2017 until the end of the year which didn’t impact 2017 submissions. The journal Impact Factor also increased from 0.923 to 1.354, and we continue to see an increasing number of submissions from across the globe accounting for approximately one third of our published articles. Most importantly perhaps is the general increase in the quality of manuscripts received, as attested to by our editorial staff and reviewers, reflecting general improvements in the critical area of Disaster Science, a necessary development in evolving a Discipline of Disaster Medicine and Public Health.
For the coming year we hope to continue our evolution and growth through implementing some long promised initiatives regarding the editorial board structure and expanding the subscription base and readership of DMPHP. One exciting development is the initiation of a “Citizen Ready©” section in this issue (February 2018). This section is motivated by the belated recognition of the critical and important role all of our citizens play in preparedness and response. We speak of a culture of preparedness, but without an informed and better prepared populace, such a culture is without substance. Until individuals realize their role in protecting themselves, their families and their communities we will never be truly prepared. The Citizen Ready© section of the journal will represent a tear-out page of the journal which will address basic preparedness and response issues from the perspective of the individual who may suddenly be involved in an emergent or catastrophic event and will provide some degree of guidance on how a given individual might contribute to overall improved health and public health outcomes. Over time, it is hoped, that this section will provide a comprehensive collection of information that individuals can go to for advice in better coping with adverse, traumatic events. The first of these pieces is provided by David, Callaway, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Team Rubicon, and we thank him helping us to successfully initiate this important concept.
And in thanking Dr. Callaway, I want to personally, and genuinely, thank the host of dedicated professionals who serve as editors and reviewers for our journal. These individuals represent the heart and soul of who we are and what we do and who represent the foremost reasons for our success. This success has recently been recognized by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through whose generosity and support, the journal received its first grant in the amount of fifty thousand dollars.
In the April issue of the journal we will address the multiple ongoing initiatives to grow the Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health and to increase awareness of its multi-disciplinary strategy.
