100 Years of AJRCCM
1917-2017 (B92)
2:15-4:15 p.m.
Monday
Room 202 A (South Building, Level 2), Walter E. Washington Convention Center
In 1917, the United States ended its isolationism by entering World War I. The same year, a new medical journal, the American Review of Tuberculosis, was launched to share research on a disease that was as great a scourge as the war. A century later, the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine is celebrating 100 years of evolution from that original focus on tuberculosis.
“The journal started as a Society journal and has maintained its position over 100 years, while adapting to changes in respiratory science,” says Jadwiga A. Wedzicha, MD, AJRCCM’s editor-in-chief. “It has maintained its position while changing from just publishing on advancements in tuberculosis treatment to publishing research, reviews, and clinical trials on all diseases in critical care and respiratory disorders.”
The session will provide speakers with a platform to reflect on a storied history, examine today’s important topics, and project into the future of respiratory and critical care, as well as the newer specialty ARJCCM covers: sleep medicine.
Since 1917, AJRCCM has had several name changes, but is still known as the Blue Journal. Dr. Wedzicha will examine those changes. For example, in the 1950s, the journal moved beyond emphasizing tuberculosis as the use of streptomycin greatly improved patient outcomes.
“We asked the editors to review past journal issues and select the most important papers that changed practice,” Dr. Wedzicha says. “The first two presentations are on key papers—one on respiratory medicine and the other on critical care.
“Critical care started in the journal around 1992, when it emerged as an important specialty. Sleep disorders is the other new addition to the journal’s canon—it’s the new kid on the block. It is a very young specialty.”
Three other speakers will review AJRCCM centenary papers published this year on COPD, asthma, and critical care.
“We will also discuss recently accepted papers in the journal,” Dr. Wedzicha says. The session will wrap up with a keynote lecture from Jeffrey Drazen, MD, the editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, who will explore developments in medical publishing and how they enhance the publishing field. He also will look into the future of medical journals.
The session will reflect on the goals of AJRCCM by emphasizing the importance of research, but also by pausing to celebrate a century of advances in medical science and how those developments are shared and reflected in improvements in publishing.
“We have embraced technology to its fullest, through online modernizations, including apps, social media, and web innovations,” Dr. Wedzicha says. “Today, the journal is in a very strong position, publishing high-quality papers in translational research, due to the vision and dedication of its previous editors and editorial teams. We will strive to continue their excellent work to maintain the journal’s international success as the premier respiratory journal.”
100 Years of AJRCCM 1917-2017 (B92) is supported by an educational grant from AstraZeneca LP, GlaxoSmithKline, Mylan, Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.