2025 JMIG Associate Editor Application

We are excited to offer the JMIG Associate Editor position in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology.  

This program was launched in 2024 and was a resounding success with our Executive Editorial Board (including our Associate Editors!) unanimously deciding to make this an annual position.

The Associate Editor is designed for physicians aspiring to be exposed to all aspects of our Journal Editorial team and process. By the end of their term, the JMIG Associate Editor will have the skills and experience to lay the foundation for future leadership roles in an academic journal.

Requirements: 
Applicants for this position must:

• Be actively involved with providing MIGS services, but do not need to be fellowship trained in MIGS (e.g. can be “grandfathered” or other subspecialty training such as Gynecologic Oncology).
• Have current membership in AAGL.
• Have a proven track record reviewing for JMIG.
• Not be currently serving (and for duration of appointment) as an Editor on another journal Editorial Board (it is acceptable to be a reviewer for another journal) or competing interest.

• Become familiar with the overall management of manuscripts including the Editorial Manager (EM) software system.
• Gain insight into the peer review and editor decision-making processes.
• Be exposed to the areas specific to each Deputy Editor (e.g. Social Media). 

• Review one manuscript a month, assigned by the Deputy Editor they are shadowing, and go over that review with them alongside the other reviews, done by Journal reviewers, for that manuscript. This session will include specific feedback on their review as well as participating in the decision-making process for that manuscript.
• Join in the monthly Editorial Board virtual meeting, attending at least 6 during this 9-month term including the JMIG Executive Editorial Board business meeting (held during the annual Global Congress). 
• Participate in management decisions designed to improve the journal content, appearance, and Impact Factor.
• Meet with the key staff who support the Journal (Senior Publisher from ELSEVIER Health & Medical Sciences; Senior Editorial Manager who is responsible for supporting the Editorial Board; AAGL Liaison; Statistical Editor)
• Spend time with a Co-Editor-in-Chief to understand how the final manuscript acceptance process works.
• Serve as an ambassador of JMIG, promoting the Journal at conferences, via social media, etc.
• The AE will have a meaningful project that they will lead and complete during their term. The goal of these projects is to advance the mission of the Journal in any metric (e.g. Impact Factor, visibility, access for readership, etc.). The project will be developed alongside, and approved by, the Deputy Editor or Editor-In-Chief and the outline and goals of the project are to be completed within the first six weeks of starting their term. Examples of projects include contributing to a Virtual Collection (working with Dr. Roque Deputy Editor for Subspecialities on Gynecologic Oncology JMIG articles) or a paper looking at Fellowship Match rates across all fellowships with Dr. Yunker (Deputy Editor for Education). 
• Dedicate up to 3-4 hours per week to journal activities as necessary.
• Complete at least 3 COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) Training Modules during your term to become familiar with research publishing ethical guidelines and resources. https://publicationethics.org/ 

• Contribute to one Editorial subject to Deputy Editor approval.  This should be planned at least several months in advance and can be completed after the Associate Editor term.
• With help and input from a Deputy Editor, present a 10-minute talk at a monthly board meeting on a relevant topic (e.g. peer review best practices, expanding journal readership, incorporating social media into the journal, using the online journal more effectively)

• Understand how the peer review system works through the process of manuscript submission, editor initial desk reject or assignment, management of reviewer assignment, revision process and decision making.
• Learn about the different types of manuscript submissions (e.g. video manuscript versus RCT) along with the different process and requirements for each.
• Understand the metrics, such as Impact Factor, that are used to evaluate Journals.
• Understand how the Editorial Manager (EM) software works.
• Improve their skills and comfort in reviewing manuscripts yielding high quality reviews.
• Become familiar with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) resources and content
• Help identify and create opportunities for increasing the visibility and impact of the Journal
• Complete a project which will advance the mission of JMIG.
• Be ready to advance their career within a Medical Journal.