Note from the Editor

printable version (PDF)

Dear PPL readership,

This issue marks a transition for the Pediatric Pain Letter as it is my first issue as Editor, a role I am honored to assume. I would like to commemorate the occasion with a brief look back at PPL’s existence to date and ahead to the next phase.

PPL was founded in 1996 by Patrick McGrath and Allen Finley of the Centre for Pediatric Pain Research at Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, who launched the publication as an effort to help clinicians and researchers keep abreast of the rapidly growing pediatric pain literature. In its early years PPL’s mission was to “review the literature on pain in infants, children and adolescents by presenting a series of structured abstracts, accompanied by critical commentaries.” Over the years, the focus of the publication shifted to encompass both the abstract reviews and original commentaries more broadly focused on a variety of issues relevant pediatric pain. By the time Carl von Baeyer ably assumed the reigns as Editor in 2005, original commentaries were the major content of PPL, augmented by reviews of books and other products in the field. In 2008 administrative oversight of PPL was transferred from Dalhousie to the International Association for the Study of Pain Special Interest Group on Pain in Childhood, whose leadership continues to oversee its publication at present. Under the dedicated leadership of Drs. McGrath, Finley and von Baeyer, PPL grew to be a well-regarded, accessible outlet for interesting, emerging work in all facets of pediatric pain, with a particular emphasis on showcasing the work of clinicians and early career scholars.

On behalf of PPL and the IASP SIG on Pain in Childhood, I offer sincere thanks to my predecessor Dr. von Baeyer for his dedication as editor and as a mentor both to me and to the many contributors to this publication. One of Carl’s many strengths as an editor was his gift for providing gentle but discerning guidance to students and early career professionals who are relatively new to the, shall we say, formative process of subjecting themselves and their work to peer review. Having worked closely with Carl for the past two years in an associate editor role, I am well aware that the bar has been set quite high and that I can only hope to come close to following in his footsteps. I have acquired a gnawing realization that attaining von Baeyeresque standards may require renouncing sleep altogether (in order to answer emails at 3:00 in the morning) and consuming, promptly and insightfully, every piece of literature published on anything remotely related to pediatric pain. Although I may or may not achieve these standards, I owe a debt of gratitude for what Carl has taught me as we have collaborated on the most recent issues of PPL. I will strive to follow his lead in delivering a both positive, mentoring experience to PPL contributors and a high quality, thought-provoking publication to its readership.

I also want to express sincere thanks to Kelly Hayton, our editorial assistant whose experience and competence has kept me afloat in my editorial infancy. Thanks also to the IASP SIG on Pain in Childhood for their continued support of the publication, as well as the many phenomenal PPL reviewers and contributors. I hope you are all willing to continue sharing your time and efforts with PPL as we move into a new era.

Looking ahead, my primary goal as Editor is to maintain the strong reputation that PPL has achieved under its previous editorial leadership. Specifically, I aim to continue to provide an outlet for commentaries on a wide range of issues related to pediatric pain and to be an accessible publication venue for clinicians and emerging scholars. I will strive to oversee a peer-review process that is instructive and appropriately judicious, yet also constructive and encouraging. I hope to showcase work that leads the readership to consider new topics and identify new resources that inform and enhance their own scholarship and the provision of clinical care to children with pain. Lastly, I aim to continue engaging new contributors who represent the varied disciplinary backgrounds, international representation, and ranges of experience that comprise the growing field of pediatric pain management. I look forward to collaborating with all of you.

Cite as: Logan DE. Note from the Editor. Pediatric Pain Letter 2014;16(1-2):1-2. www.childpain.org/ppl