JMIG Editor-in-Chief Application

ABOUT THE JOURNAL OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE GYNECOLOGY (JMIG)
JMIG is the official journal of AAGL, publishing peer reviewed research articles as well as images in gynecologic surgery, video articles, review articles, editorials, and letters to the Editor. The Journal is an international clinical forum for the exchange and dissemination of ideas, findings, and techniques relevant to gynecologic endoscopy and other minimally invasive procedures. JMIG is an online-only journal, publishing twelve annual issues and an annual supplement comprising the abstracts of the AAGL Global Congress on MIGS.

JMIG’s monthly podcast “MIGS Front Page” is available on iTunes and Spotify. JMIG is indexed by MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science’s Science Citation Index and Journal Citation Report (2022 Impact Factor: 4.314), and Scopus. 

Visit JMIG at https://JMIG.org or on Science Direct. Follow JMIG on social media including Twitter @AAGLJMIG, Facebook: www.facebook.com/AAGLJMIG, and Instagram: www.instagram.com/aagljmig/.

JMIG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF POSITION SUMMARY  
The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) of JMIG sets the editorial direction and has final authority for the selection and quality of all content published in JMIG. The EiC will have a broad knowledge of research in minimally invasive gynecology (MIG) and related topics and will have a clearly articulated vision for JMIG.

The JMIG EiC is accountable to the AAGL Board of Trustees and will be appointed by the Board for an initial term of five years, commencing on January 1, 2024. This is a contract position. The EiC’s contract may be renewed for an additional 5-year term at the discretion of the AAGL Board of Trustees. The incoming EiC will assume full responsibility for JMIG with the January 2024 issue and will be expected to work alongside the current EiC, Tommaso Falcone, MD, during a transition period beginning in mid-2023. At the end of their term(s), the EiC will ensure the seamless transition of editorial responsibilities.

The EiC receives an annual honorarium from AAGL and will be reimbursed for reasonable office and travel expenses incurred in connection with the performance of services in the EiC role.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RESPONSIBILITIES
The JMIG EiC sets JMIG’s standards for manuscript acceptance, while maintaining an infrastructure to ensure rapid and fair peer review. The EiC is responsible for all publication decisions and with the support of a managing editor, oversees the review of all submissions, i.e., original research, review articles, case reports, images in gynecologic surgery, video articles, editorials, and perspectives. The EiC will be committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the publication process. JMIG adheres to the ICMJE Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals and is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The EiC’s day-to-day responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Structuring and overseeing the performance of a diverse Editorial Board, including a team of senior editors, appointed in consultation with the AAGL Board of Trustees
• Attracting submissions from authors representing the global MIG community
• Establishing appropriate and well-defined peer review procedures and ensuring an unbiased and faithfully executed review process
• Setting standards for acceptance with rigorous and rapid peer review
• Delivering adequate inventory of high-quality manuscripts per an agreed upon publication schedule
• With the Editorial Board, selecting topics and soliciting appropriate authors to contribute editorials and commentaries to JMIG
• Corresponding with authors, editors, and reviewers regarding peer review and manuscript decisions using the Editorial Manager submission and peer review system
• Handling incidents of error and allegations of publication misconduct, and as appropriate, keeping the AAGL Board of Trustees and publisher informed
• Exploring development of supplements and special issues of interest to the MIG community.

The JMIG EiC is supported by a managing editor, through AAGL’s contract with J&J Editorial. At the direction of the EiC, the managing editor is responsible for all administrative aspects of the peer review process including communications with authors and reviewers and reporting editorial statistics. As needed, the managing editor will train the EiC, senior editors, and Editorial Board members on the Editorial Manager system.

JMIG is published by Elsevier. Elsevier is responsible for production quality and publication, marketing, distribution, and sales of JMIG. The EiC and AAGL staff interact with Elsevier’s publishing team on strategic initiatives. AAGL manages the business aspects of the partnership with Elsevier.

The EiC delivers an annual report to the AAGL Board of Trustees on JMIG’s editorial performance, including key editorial statistics and notable editorial activities. Additionally, the EiC chairs an Editorial Board Meeting during the annual AAGL Global Congress and participates in periodic meetings with AAGL and the publisher.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED SKILLS
The JMIG EiC will be committed to maintaining the journal’s reputation for high-quality and timely publication. The EiC serves as a global ambassador for AAGL and JMIG. The EiC must:

• Be a member of AAGL
• Be a recognized expert in MIG research and practice
• Have a background that reflects high standards in research and publication
• Be in a position to attract respected experts to serve on the Editorial Board
• Possess editorial experience with a scholarly journal and an understanding of the journal publishing process
• Be fair and trustworthy while possessing the ability to make difficult decisions
• Have a willingness to explore innovations in publishing and the use of social media and technology tools as a means of enhancing journal usage and author interest
• Demonstrate strong leadership, organizational and communication skills, with a focus on service and positive author experiences

The JMIG EiC will perform the editorial obligations in a manner consistent with the highest standards of professionalism, competence, integrity, and ethics, and will not engage in any conduct that may bring harm or disrepute upon the journal or AAGL. On an annual basis, the EiC and members of the Editorial Board will be required to disclose any financial or non-financial relationships with industry and/or other organizations and are expected to recuse themselves from the review of any articles where there is a conflict of interest or perceived conflict of interest. During the term(s), the EiC will not serve as editor or in a senior editorial position for any competing journal, publication, or product and agrees not to serve as an officer or director of a society or organization that owns or publishes a competing journal, publication, or product.

APPLICATIONS
Interested candidates may apply for the JMIG EiC position by completing an application no later than September 30, 2022.

The application includes:

• a summary of your qualifications
• your vision for JMIG
• disclosure of any current professional relationships/activities/interests, financial or otherwise, with for-profit or not-for profit third parties. Applicants invited to interview with the Search Committee will be required to complete a formal Conflict of Interest Form.

AAGL will consider applications from potential Co-Editors-in-Chief (Co-EiCs) who wish to serve together. If applying to serve as Co-EiCs, each candidate must submit an application and address the division of work and workflow that you envision.

Applications will be reviewed and considered by the Editor Search Committee who will make a recommendation to the AAGL Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees will select and appoint the new EiC(s) in early 2023.

AAGL is committed to equal opportunities for all. All applicants for the EiC position will be considered without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

If you have any questions, please contact AAGL Publishing Consultant, Kathleen Gaffney at kathleen@kgpubsolutions.com. 

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