A letter from the editor-in-chief

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, August, 2003 by Perry Robins

The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology is fortunate to have an esteemed international Editorial Board with representation from four continents. These physicians are experts within our field, and have diverse interests in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. Our readership is equally broad, and as a result we have a unique quality and diversity of manuscripts we have been receiving and considering for publication.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology has recently been approved for inclusion in Index Medicus/MEDLINE! This is an exciting and deserved acknowledgment of the educational and scientific value of the Journal, and we strive to maintain a commitment to academic excellence and look forward to increased recognition in the future.

As the 2002-2003 academic year comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on the field of medicine as a whole. With current events centered on SARS, smallpox, and now monkeypox, there is a renewed interest in and dependence on doctors within our society. As dermatologists, we may be called upon to recognize the cutaneous manifestations of disease processes which may prove to be particularly important in this time of war and bioterrorism.

We are continually inundated with new knowledge and discovery within our broad field of dermatology. With new medications being developed every day, we are seeing a whole new spectrum of applications of drugs, as well as diverse reaction patterns to them. This is evidenced in an increasing number of case report submissions addressing applications of and reactions to numerous medications, both old and new.

This is the purpose of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology--to provide a forum for scientific advances, discussion, education, and other news involving the newest drugs, products, methods, and techniques in the field of dermatology. Every comment, letter, suggestion, criticism, and submission from you helps us improve. We thank you all for your support and contributions to the Journal, and encourage each of you to take part in our mission to be the first source of information about the tools we will be using in the future.

Perry Robins MD

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Drugs in Dermatology

Professor of Dermatology, NYU Medical Center