By Ted Rosen, MD
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
—attributed to Charles Darwin
Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Dermatology Digest! I am honored to have been asked to serve as this publication’s Editor-in-Chief. Although I am certainly not a mind reader, I know what you’re thinking right now: Why, oh why, should there be yet another magazine dedicated to the field of dermatology?
Am I right? So let me answer that question up front.
The rationale for any new publication should be to fill a gap, to answer a need, for a community. In this case, The Dermatology Digest is for those who provide medical, surgical, and cosmetic care to patients with skin, hair, and nail diseases and disorders. New information on dermatological issues is constantly being generated. This includes, but is not limited to: scholarly journal articles, presentations at continuing medical education conferences, FDA bulletins, and pharmaceutical releases. It is virtually impossible for any one of us to stay abreast of this deluge of information. The Dermatology Digest will assist you, the clinician, in remaining aware of new developments in our field.
We are furthermore committed to providing newsworthy information in multiple channels, because all of us have our own favorite ways of learning. Ultimately, we will produce a regular print magazine (you are holding the first edition in your hands!), a website with videos, an electronic bulletin, and periodic timely podcasts. We are also planning some surprises.
Who is the “we” I keep referring to? Take a moment to check out, on the next page, the list of contributors to The Dermatology Digest. I am quite proud that so many thought leaders, innovators, and educators have agreed to help support this publication. This is not intended to be a static list. We will expand it as needed to keep fresh ideas and novel viewpoints flowing from our editorial contributors to you, our readers.
Moreover, we recognize that medical personnel all have a limited amount of time to spend on professional endeavors. All of us do deserve some personal time! The Dermatology Digest, as the name implies, is dedicated to “digesting” the most important new information and presenting it to you in a concise format that should take a small amount of your precious free time to absorb. We are also a comprehensive publication in that each offering will have something of both interest to and relevance for every reader.
Finally, we are devoted to making The Dermatology Digest fun. Yes, we want you to look forward to receiving our messages. From an eye-catching design and world-class writing to clearly highlighted practical pearls, we want this suite of products to be the one you trust and rely on. We are neither supplanting traditional journals nor replacing essential CME meetings. Instead, our mission is to augment and enhance the dissemination of pragmatic information, ultimately benefiting the patients we all serve.
Did you enjoy our first issue? Do you have comments about our goals? Do you have suggestions? We aim to be responsive to your needs. I invite you to tell me what you think. Feel free to contact me directly at drted.rosen@thedermdigest.com.
Ted Rosen, MD Editor-in-Chief