A&R Editor-in-Chief Daniel H. Solomon, MD, MPH, Reflects on the Journal, His Role & Its Future

While continuing to work on that, we’re also in the midst of revamping our website to make it much more interactive, including things like slide collections, videos, cases, etc., so it transforms from an article archive, which is what it is now, and becomes a learning center.

There is one thing we need to address regarding the future. Although A&R has a very high profile, it and the ACR’s other two official journals—Arthritis Care & Research and ACR Open Rheumatology—are facing headwinds on several fronts: gold open access journals that make articles immediately and freely available online and may reduce subscriptions, a primary revenue stream; the growing number of so-called predatory journals that publish just about anything; and mounting concerns that some of the papers being submitted for publication are not written by humans, but instead by artificial intelligence-powered content generators. These are serious challenges that need to be recognized and acted upon, specifically by giving appropriate support to our journals in terms of personnel, staff and resources to ensure they continue to thrive.

That said, A&R is in great shape today, and the next editor in chief, Lou Bridges, is a very well-respected and smart guy who will introduce some of his own improvements to the journal when he takes the reins this year.

TR: How do you feel about ending your editorial role at A&R?

Dr. Solomon: I do have some mixed feelings about passing the baton. After all, A&R has been my baby for nearly five years now. My wife might call it my ball and chain. I’ve been very involved in A&R over the prior 10 years, so the idea of not having the journal on my to-do list is a little sad. But it is a little bit liberating, too.

In preparation, Lou and I have been talking about the transition, and I am sure he will be a strong editor in chief.

Leslie Mertz, PhD, is a freelance science journalist based in northern Michigan.