Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology (CTG) ended 2020 with a change in editorship as David C. Whitcomb, MD, PhD, FACG, handed the reins to Brian C. Jacobson, MD, MPH, FACG. Dr. Jacobson brought on a team of new Associate Editors as Max Petrov, MD, MPH, PhD; Michael Scharl, MD; and Field Willingham, MD, MPH, ended their term. John Kim, MD; Violeta Popov, MD, PhD, FACG; and Eugenia Shmidt, MD, joined David Levinthal, MD, PhD; Elena Stoffel, MD, MPH; and Andrew Tai, MD, PhD, to complete the CTG Editorial Board as Associate Editors. Dr. Whitcomb deserves congratulations for the increase in the 2020 impact factor (released July 2021), which rose from 3.968 to 4.488. Dr. Jacobson implemented changes in editorial workflow and use of the Editorial Manager (EM) submission system. Editors began using the Discussion feature of EM, which acts like a message board for editors to share their opinion on articles. This feature connects all communications directly to the manuscript file, making it easier to track the editor decision process. Similarly to AJG, CTG saw a rise in submissions in 2020, increasing by 38.1% from 2019 to 2020. While submissions in 2021 have slowed, Journal submissions are up 25.8% compared to the same period in 2019. Two new article types were introduced in July 2021: Brief Reports and the Clinician’s Toolbox: Understanding Our Tests. The Clinician’s Toolbox explores a single diagnostic test used in gastroenterology, pancreatology or hepatology. An overview of the test, its indications, how it is performed, performance characteristics (sensitivity, specificity, positive- and negative-predictive values and likelihood ratios), conditions that make the test results inaccurate and how to manage such results, how clinicians
94 | 2020–2021 ACG AWARDS & LEADERSHIP
should incorporate the testing into clinical care/research studies, a brief discussion of any alternative tests that may replace or complement the test, and relevant billing and cost information are covered in each article. The Brief Report format allows for novel findings or highly impactful preliminary data deemed likely to alter clinical care or set a new direction in research are encouraged. The manuscripts are shorter than standard articles, limited to 1,000 words. CTG’s online presence has expanded in 2021. Firstly, an interview with Dr. Jacobson was published on the ACG website so the readers and members could get to know the new Editor-in-Chief. Secondly, a featured article carousel was developed for the Journal website, incorporating images to highlight the articles. Authors are encouraged to submit a visual abstract for their articles, which can be featured in the carousel. If no visual abstract is submitted, a figure may be used from the manuscript, or an image is used from iStock photo and selected by the Managing Editor, Claire Neumann. Lastly, a CTG Twitter account was launched in June 2021 [@ ACG_CTG]. Less than 2 months later, the Journal has 332 followers and has posted 50 tweets. The Editorial Board is exploring the peer review process, and have added a question to both the submission process and peer review evaluation asking for reviewers and authors’ thoughts on the types of peer review (single, double, open). While the Journal retains a single blind peer review process for now, in order to stay competitive with other academic journals, peer review processes need to be monitored. Editors will discuss the results at the CTG Editorial Board meeting at ACG 2021.
