WCMC-Q faculty members launch global health journal
In a first for the Middle East, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar faculty have joined hands with a global team to launch a journal linking medical practitioners in the region to best practices from across the world.
“There exists no other journal in this region sharing research and perspectives on public health issues with medical practitioners around the world,” said Dr Ravinder Mamtani, professor of Public Health and associate dean for Global and Public Health.
The Journal of Local and Global Health Perspectives is the brainchild of Dr Mamtani and fellow WCMC-Q faculty member Dietrich Büsselberg, who partnered with David O Carpenter (University at Albany, New York), and Albert B Lowenfels (New York Medical College), forming the chief editorial panel.
“In creating the journal, we have brought together global leaders in Clinical Health, Genetics and Translational Research, Infectious Disease, Toxicology, Biostatistics, Community and Population Health,” Dr Mamtani explained.
These practitioners, who come from regions as diverse as North America, Europe, India, Africa, and Qatar, form the editorial team overseen by Drs Büsselberg, Lowenfels, Carpenter and Mamtani, ensuring a broad base of scientific as well as geographic experience in public health.
The journal is a peer-reviewed, international publication focusing on research concerning all aspects of global health practised at local levels, in addition to the implications of local health issues within the global context.
Its objective is to share innovative and emerging evidence-based approaches to public health issues which are likely to positively influence public health policy in communities around the world.
The international medical profession stands to gain much from the journal, as it will provide a new portal into scientific endeavours and practical experience in public health, featuring input from the Middle East for the first time.
According to Dr Büsselberg, professor of Physiology and Biophysics at WCMC-Q, “as medical doctors, educators, and researchers we all stand to gain immeasurably from sharing our experiences, as well as our expertise, across borders and regions.
“For example, what practitioners and researchers learn about the treatment of diabetes here in the GCC region has implications for treatment in the US and vice versa. We all have valuable knowledge to share and this is why the journal was created.”
Articles published in the journal will be of interest to all public health professionals and students, clinicians, primary care workers, health care policy planners, and researchers, as well as other professionals and students who work in any healthcare field.
In order to broaden both professional input and access to the Journal, its creators decided to make the publication open source.
“Public Health is a responsibility that is shared between medical practitioners, researchers, legislators, and the public at large. This is why we chose to make the journal an open source journal available to all,” observed associate editor Dr Lotfi Chouchane, professor of genetic medicine, microbiology and immunology at WCMC-Q.
“Furthermore, global public health issues are rarely viewed within the local context. Through our shared publication we aim to reach the maximum number of health practitioners and public health decision makers, thereby making a real impact on public health issues and initiatives around the world,” Dr Chouchane said.
The Journal of Local and Global Health Perspectives will focus mainly on clinical health, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases of public health importance, environmental health, toxicology, nutrition, healthcare delivery, public health policy, women’s health, and public health education.
It will also shed light upon the social, cultural, political, and economic aspects of health and disease.
The journal is currently accepting papers for review. Peer review begins with the Associate Editors, who then agree on appropriate independent reviewers who are engaged to review and provide feedback.
source: Gulf Times