Radiology_Oct04


EDITORIAL

2 SA JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY • October 2004

The South African Journal of Radiology is now coming of age.With the appointment of an Editor-in-Chief, the creation of a new academic
editorial board and the use of a more formalised peer-review system for all sub-
missions, the journal is set to raise its profile among other radiological publica-
tions. With the implementation of the above changes we will eventually attempt
to have the journal indexed internationally, thereby transforming it into the more
substantial publication that South African radiology deserves. Our standards of
training and practice are high and there is good demand for our expertise — let
our journal in turn reflect this.

Many thanks go to Professor J P van Niekerk for his encouragement and sup-
port in making this transition and for facilitating our growth.

Coming of age
Ian C Duncan

FFRad (D) SA

Unitas Interventional Unit
Centurion, and 

Sunninghill Hospital
Sandton

Johannesburg

Message from the new 
editorial committee

The South African Journal of Radiology has followed a sometimes roller-coaster
course in recent times, with issue quality varying widely. This spectrum of quality
has largely resulted from lack of a central and consistent editorial voice. In a recent
attempt to improve the control and quality of the journal, a number of important
changes have been made, starting with the introduction of a full-time Editor-in-
Chief. The first appointed Editor-in-Chief is Ian Duncan. This post will be held
for a period of 4 years, and is aimed at ensuring continuity in the running of the
journal. The editorial committee has also been changed with immediate effect,
and now consists of Professor Coert de Vries (Deputy Editor) (University of the
Free State), Professor Leonie Scholtz (University of Pretoria), Professor Darius
Tsatsi (MEDUNSA), Dr Savvas Andronikou (University of Cape Town), Professor
Peter Corr (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Professor Alan Scher (University of
Stellenbosch), Professor Steve Beningfield (University of Cape Town), and Dr
Malan van Rensburg (private practice, Pretoria).

The rotating guest editorship will continue. Each academic department will be
responsible for one of seven issues, with an eighth ‘open’ issue completing the 2-
year cycle. The Head of Department (guest editor) or nominee will canvass arti-
cles from staff members, including registrars and radiographers, but should
also try and elicit articles from private practices in his or her area. Any arti-
cle received from any author may be considered for publication by the rotating
guest editor in an upcoming issue, regardless of the geographical location of the
author(s). It is hoped that each and every senior registrar will produce at least one