A Final Editor's Note

Heinrich R. Schelbert

Heinrich R. Schelbert

This issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM) concludes my 8-year tenure as editor-in-chief. Although at times challenging, the editorship allowed me to witness intimately the remarkable advances and achievements in nuclear medicine and, in particular, molecular imaging and therapy. Without question, these advances will sharpen our noninvasive tools for probing ever more deeply into the human biology and for uncovering functional, molecular, and cellular events that occur at the onset of disease or accompany its progression. The design of ever more specifically targeted probes, together with an ever increasing diversity of image registration devices, now enables multiplatform assays of different aspects of a specific biologic process, either in series or even simultaneously. At times, research findings reported in JNM originated outside the traditional confines of the specialty; yet together with findings by more traditional radiotracer approaches these are the building blocks of a future clinical nuclear medicine that will be increasingly oriented toward molecular imaging.

I am deeply indebted to the many researchers who considered the journal worthy of their achievements and also to the many insightful manuscript reviewers. They are to be congratulated for the journal's success and its high standing among imaging journals. My gratitude also goes to Drs. Conrad Nagle and Nancy Knight for the lively and interesting Newsline section of the journal and for broadening its scope by informing the readers of research reported in other journals and specialties. Dr. H. William Strauss is to be congratulated for his creativity and enthusiasm in spearheading the continuing education material. Dr. Caius Radu deserves credit for sharpening the journal's focus on molecular imaging. I am most grateful to the associate editors for their wisdom and advice; they made the editor's work so much easier and enjoyable. Josh Wachtel assisted me throughout the past 8 years, and I am indebted to him for his patience, understanding, and perseverance. Very special gratitude goes to Susan Alexander for her effective management of the journal. Her dedication, loyalty, and high spirits made all the difference. Above all, I thank the readers of the journal for their trust and loyalty, which I hope they will also give to Dr. Dominique Delbeke as the incoming editor.

Service as editor-in-chief of a prestigious journal such as JNM is not only an honor. It also carries a sometimes challenging but always engaging duty of stewardship to an international community of scientists, researchers, and members of the public who may be affected by the findings published each month. I have thoroughly enjoyed this rewarding period of stewardship and will remain grateful to the many colleagues, both in the United States and in other countries, who have given freely of their time and effort in collaborating on the journal's continued success.