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Call for Editor of Medical Physics

Deadline Extended to August 22, 2012
All submission materials should be sent to editorsearch@mail.aapm.org


The term of the current Editor of the journal Medical Physics, William Hendee, Ph.D., will end effective December 31, 2013. A search committee established by the Executive Committee of the AAPM is now seeking applications from qualified individuals to become Editor. The primary responsibility of the Editor is to ensure the scientific integrity, quality, and international stature of Medical Physics. The Editor manages the manuscript review process and represents the Journal in national and international forums. The Editor selects members of the Editorial Board, which has authority over the policies and procedures of the Journal. The Editor is appointed by, and reports to, the Board of Directors of the AAPM. The Editor is Chair of the Medical Physics Editorial Board and a voting member of the Medical Physics Journal Business Management Committee. The Editor also maintains a working relationship with the American Institute of Physics with respect to journal production issues.

Editorial staff support services at AAPM Headquarters will be provided to the Editor, who retains authority over the manuscript review and publication process. Staff ensure the timely distribution and tracking of manuscripts through these processes, the generation of correspondence and statistical data, and the maintenance of archival records under the instruction of the Editor and with support and local oversight of the AAPM Executive Director. A model of editorial responsibilities distributed across the Editor and two Deputy Editors is under discussion. The new Editor will participate in discussion of the final model including Deputy Editor selection. A transition period between Editors is planned to ensure continuity of editorial operations. The AAPM will provide the Editor and, potentially, the Deputy Editors, with honoraria and expense budgets.

Candidates for Editor should:

  1. Be highly distinguished members of the medical physics community through research, publications, professional society involvement, and other activities.
  2. Be committed to maintaining Medical Physics as the premier journal for the publication of scientific and clinical papers in keeping with the Journal’s masthead as The International Journal of Medical Physics Research and Practice.
  3. Have strong organizational and administrative skills and the ability to work collegially with Deputy Editors, Editorial Board, and AAPM staff in an environment of distributed support and responsibility.
  4. Have a working knowledge of the process of managing the operation of a scientific journal and have prior service on one or more editorial boards or equivalent.
  5. Possess a strategic vision of the position of the Journal within the arena of scientific publications and an operational plan for continued improvement of the Journal.
  6. Be aware of the changing publishing environment associated with electronic publication technology and challenges such as open-access publication.
  7. Work in an environment that accommodates the Editor's workload.
  8. Be prepared to serve as Editor for 6 years, subject to reappointment after a three-year term.
  9. Reside in North America.

Individuals who are interested in applying for the Editor position should send an e-mail to editorsearch@mail.aapm.org  the earliest opportunity indicating their intent to submit a detailed application by August 15, 2012 August 22, 2012 (Deadline Extended). The detailed application should be submitted electronically to editorsearch@mail.aapm.org in the form of a letter addressing the previous items plus any other relevant considerations along with a curriculum vitae.

The anticipated timetable for the selection and transition processes is as follows:

  1. The search committee will compile a short list of the most qualified candidates by August 15, 2012 August 22, 2012 (Deadline Extended).
  2. Selected candidates will give a presentation to the search committee during September 2012.
  3. Selected candidates will be asked to address their financial needs, to discuss their candidates for the Deputy Editor positions, and to demonstrate that they have the time available and the institutional commitment (if relevant) to assume the Editor’s responsibilities.
  4. The new Editor will be appointed by the Board on or before January 1, 2013, at which time the transition process between Editors will be initiated.
  5. Transition arrangements occurring during 2013 will be the responsibility of the current and new Editor with the support of the Editorial Board, the Journal Business Management Committee, and AAPM staff.
  6. The new Editor will assume full responsibility on January 1, 2014.