In My Opinion

SHOULD BE THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEAD AND NECK SOCIETY.
CAST YOUR VOTE IN FAVOR OF EXCELLENCE.

Keith S. Heller, MD

HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY…

CONTENT: is the only journal in which every article in every issue is devoted to our specialty. Unlike Archives, it is also a suitable journal for medical/radiation oncology papers. In fact, multidisciplinary manuscripts are welcomed.

IDENTITY: will be our journal. The AHNS name and logo will be on the cover of each issue, on the web site, and on all publicity material related to the journal.

CONTROL: The majority of the editorial board of will be members of the AHNS. We will have substantial input in the choice of the Editor-in-chief.

IMPACT: For the third year in a row, has a higher impact factor than Archives or any other relevant journal. Quite simply, if it's published in it is more likely to be cited than if it's published in Archives.

TIMELINESS: The papers of our annual meeting will be published in 3 months after they are accepted. They will be posted on the Early View Section of Head and Neck on-line as soon as the proofs are corrected. Indeed, all articles published in Head & Neck will follow this ASAP online publishing model. This is not available from Archives.

CIRCULATION: Only 1% of the subscribers to Archives list themselves as Head and neck surgeons. The published material in will be read by those in the field.

INTERNET: Check out the web site. Click on the "Table of Contents" tab to browse the latest abstracts, or on the "Available Issues" page, click on the "Online Sample Copy" tab to see all the online features available. As a member of the AHNS you will be able to read the full text version of a recently published paper, click on a reference at the end of the paper and immediately read its abstract. If you have a subscription to the corresponding journal/publisher, you can connect directly to the published article. This is the future of medical publishing. You cannot do this with Archives.

MOBILITY: Starting in 2002 you will be able to download abstracts to your PDA. You cannot do this with Archives.

BENEFITS: Each month, two pages of will be dedicated specifically for AHNS use. Candidate members of the AHNS will receive free online subscriptions.

ABSTRACTS: will publish the abstracts from the "Research Workshop" at no cost to the AHNS. There will be open on-line access to all AHNS abstracts posted on Head and Neck On-line as well as open access to all papers from the Annual Meeting. Abstracts from all of our meetings can remain on the AHNS web site without restriction.

WILEY: is published by one of the most respected and responsible scientific publishers in the world. In 2002, will be made available on line at little or no cost to medical schools and research institutions in 100 developing nations. The AMA is not part of this initiative. The issue is not whether or not Wiley is a profitable corporation. The only issue is choosing the best journal for Head and Neck surgeons.

SUPPORT: Do not be misled by a non-issue. Wiley will give us $15,000 each year and a share of their advertising revenues. We do not have to endorse their advertisers. What better way to support our research and educational efforts? While the AMA (publisher of Archives) is not run to make a profit, be assured that the publication of Archives is heavily subsidized by advertising for commercial products and by your AMA dues.

COST: We can provide a full subscription to for every one of our active members by increasing our annual dues only $70 (the cost of a slice of pizza and a soda each month). This is a common practice in many other prestigious medical societies including the AAOHNS, the Trilogical, the Society of Surgical Oncology, and the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons. Laryngoscope is not free; it is paid for by your dues.

The mission of the American Head and Neck Society is "to promote the knowledge of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of neoplasms and other diseases of the head and neck." What better way to do this than by providing the most important journal for Head and Neck surgeons to our members?