ITASCA, IL--The American Academy of Pediatrics has announced that Alex R. Kemper, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP, will serve as the editor-in chief of the flagship medical journal Pediatrics. He currently serves as deputy editor and will transition into his new role in July.
“The work Pediatrics does to inform its readers about the science in pediatric health care is essential,” Dr. Kemper said. “We will support the legacy of our journal by providing high-quality, evidence-based pediatric research to inform all clinicians who have a role in supporting children’s health and development."
Publishing daily online and monthly in print, Pediatrics is the AAP’s peer-reviewed journal and publishes research and other editorial content submitted by authors from around the world. Pediatrics has been continuously published since January 1948 and is the most-cited journal in the pediatric field. The journal also publishes the Academy’s board-approved policy statements, clinical reports, technical reports, and clinical practice guidelines.
Dr. Kemper is division chief of primary care pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus. At Pediatrics, he will be joined by Andrea T. Cruz, MD, MPH, FAAP, as deputy editor. Dr. Cruz currently serves on the journal’s editorial board and is the research chief of pediatric emergency medicine and director of the Children’s Tuberculosis Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.
Dr. Cruz said she hopes to expand the journal’s reach by connecting readers to the published research via social media, webinars and other venues that reach broad audiences. Translating abstracts or articles into other languages could open the door for clinicians around the world to learn from Pediatrics, she said.
“Our target audience should not just be members of the Academy,” said Dr. Cruz. “If we really want to ensure all children are getting the best care possible, we need to think outside the box to expand the journal’s reach to all those who play a part in caring for our children - from here in the United States and beyond.”
Current editor-in-chief Lewis R. First, MD, MSc, FAAP will retire after 16 years leading the journal.
“I cannot think of a better ‘dynamic duo’ to take over the editorial responsibilities of Pediatrics than Drs. Kemper and Cruz,” he said. “I look forward to their further growing and developing our journal, so it continues to achieve its mission to improve the health and well-being of all children through its publishing of innovative, peer-reviewed, evidence-based pediatric science.”
“Pediatrics, as the flagship journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, represents essential excellence in scholarship for the field of pediatrics,” said AAP President Mark Del Monte. “We are incredibly grateful to Dr. First for his years of distinguished leadership and welcome Dr. Kemper as editor-in-chief and Dr. Cruz as deputy editor.”
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.