LAUREATE Professor Nick Talley, AC, will step down as Editor-in-Chief of the Medical Journal of Australia at the end of 2022, after a highly successful 7 years in the role.
Professor Talley took the reins of the Journal for the Christmas issue of 2015, and has taken it through important transitions, including moving from print to digital, enhancing open access, introducing a high-quality preprint service, changing publishing partners, and introducing a partnership on climate change and health with The Lancet.
During his tenure, the Journal’s impact factor rose to an all-time high of 7.74, and the Journal is now consistently ranked as one of the top 20 general medical journals in the world based on impact factor.
“It has been a tremendous privilege to lead the Journal,” Professor Talley wrote in an editorial published today.
“Being the Editor-in-Chief of a major general medical journal is hugely exciting and stimulating. You are exposed early on to the latest ideas and information, and every day is educational and interesting. It is also a very challenging time in terms of journal business models, competition, predatory journals and the transition to open access.
“I want to thank all the readers, peer reviewers and Editorial Advisory Group members for their support since 2015.
“I also want to thank my outstanding team of deputy medical editors, structural editors and administrative support, and the Executive General Manager, senior management and Board of the Australasian Medical Publishing Company, the parent company which publishes the MJA.”
Chair of the AMPCo Board Mr Damian Smith stated:
“The Journal has gone from strength to strength under Professor Talley’s leadership since 2015. The consistent gains in impact factor demonstrate that researchers regard the Journal as a critical outlet to share their work, and we’re proud to play a role in helping Australian researchers in particular reach a global audience.”
Mr Smith went on to commend Professor Talley for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The last 2 years in particular have reinforced how important the Journal is to the public health discourse in Australia. Professor Talley’s leadership has seen the Journal deliver a highly reputable, consistent, and vital voice in the discussion around COVID-19”.
Mr Smith announced that an international search was underway for the next EIC, with the expectation that the new EIC would be appointed by the end of 2022. He also thanked Professor Talley for his commitment to working with the new EIC for a transition period, and then staying on as Emeritus Editor-in-Chief of the MJA.
“After stepping down, I plan to continue my National Health and Medical Research Council-funded research as a Leadership Fellow, practise medicine, prepare new editions of my textbooks, teach and write more, and hopefully spend a bit more time with family and friends,” Professor Talley wrote.
- Cate Swannell