This is an exciting time at Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness as we see the actualization of the transition to our new publisher, Cambridge University Press. For this first edition, we wanted to use the cover photograph to express two different ongoing commitments. First and foremost is to provide a platform for the publication of scholarly and scientific material that represents the wide-ranging events that form the fabric of all hazards preparedness and response, regardless of discipline or profession. This particular cover comprises four previously published cover photographs that highlighted current events at time of their respective publication.

The second commitment is to the continuing use of the cover photograph as an important element to maintain the format, layout, and style of the purple journal, as many affectionately call it. Going forward, the selection process of the cover photograph will be reviewed. It is hoped that it can be revised to facilitate user-friendly attributes such as online submission. At present, submissions can be made by e-mailing the photograph and supporting material to our Managing Editor Lauren Walsh, at lauren.walsh.ctr@usuhs.edu. As always, the highest priority will be given to photographs of recent events that are submitted by actual responders. This cover feature is, I believe, not only unique to our journal but also important to assure its ongoing success.