August 20, 2009
Radiology group uses internet to extend global influence and access
Leveraging the Internet to enhance professional communication and education, the International Society of Radiology (ISR) has launched an initiative to a welcoming audience. A new initiative by the society will allow access to radiology literature by new audiences in developing countries.
Eric J. Stern, UW professor of radiology and a special consulting international editor for the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), serves as the editor-in-chief for GO RAD (Global Outreach Radiology) and recently offered his insight on the new initiative, its goals and its participants.
Q. What is the International Society of Radiology’s GO RAD initiative?
A. GO RAD (Global Outreach Radiology) is a new global outreach initiative developed by the International Society of Radiology. The purpose of GO RAD is to advance radiology education to our global radiology community by aggregating current, practical, and timely radiology literature with content targeted and dedicated to improving public health in developing nations and underserved populations.
As the world of scholarship and education shrinks by virtue of the electronic tools available, it is appropriate for radiology’s international leadership to look to current and future global needs. Most major radiology journals publish online and offer educational content of tremendous value to radiologists and related health care providers, but open and easy access to newly published content is only available to subscribers. Through formal agreements with some of the ISR cooperating societies and their respective journals, the GO RAD platform provides immediate free, worldwide access to a selected amount of otherwise restricted-access content by providing an electronic link back to the original online article at the time of first publication.
Q. How will articles be selected for inclusion in this valuable resource?
A. Twelve editorial board members, appointed from participating journals, will be responsible for setting editorial policy, developing selection criteria for applicable content, and subsequent identification of articles. The intention is to select fundamental or review-type articles with educational content that transcends international boundaries on topics that address public health issues helpful to radiologists and related health care providers in all parts of the world. By providing open access to these selected articles, journals will be able to expand the potential audience and impact of their publications.
Q. How many journals are participating in this effort and how were they selected for inclusion?
A. During our initial roll-out phase, we anticipate partnering with 12 of the ISR member societies and their respective journals. The respective editor-in-chief of each journal will serve as the editorial board, led by myself.
Q. Where can readers find this resource?
A. GO RAD will be available on the ISR Web site (www.isradiology.org). The radiology community can find many other interesting areas of content on the ISR Web site, including the first two ISR virtual congresses that include refresher courses given by internationally renowned radiologists, radiological cases, electronic posters, and discussion forums. The content can be viewed anytime and registration is free. In addition, you can find an online textbook, The Imaging of Tropical Diseases, by Philip E.S. Palmer and Maurice M. Reeder.
The ISR initiative is only one of the American Roentgen Ray Society’s international outreach efforts aimed at improving radiology education and communication around the world. Other projects include collaboration with the Sociedad Espanola de Radiologia Medica, the Royal Australia New Zealand College of Radiology, and the Korean Radiological Society.
*This article was adapted from Radiology Extends Its Global Influence with ISR Initiative in the Summer 2009 American Roentgen Ray Society journal. For more information, visit www.arrs.org.
