World Association of Medical Editors
Encyclopedia
The World Association of Medical Editors or WAME is a nonprofit voluntary association
of editors of peer-reviewed
medical journal
s from countries throughout the world, established in 1995. As of April 30, 2008, WAME had more than 1500 members representing more than 965 journals from 92 countries.
(ICMJE, the Vancouver group; was too small, self-serving, and exclusive and that biomedical journal editors around the world needed help in developing high-quality, peer reviewed journals. Accordingly, Suzanne and Robert Fletcher (editors of Annals of Internal Medicine
at the time) spearheaded the preparation of an application to hold a conference at the Rockefeller Foundation
Conference and Study Center in Bellagio, Italy
, to consider the needs of medical journal editors globally and to devise a plan to meet those needs. The foundation approved the application in early 1994, and in March the following year, 22 participants from 13 countries met in Bellagio to consider the following:
and share information, ideas, and solutions?
The group decided on “creation of a global organization of editors of peer-reviewed journals, to be called the World Association of Medical Editors ... to facilitate worldwide cooperation among editors of peer-reviewed medical journals to enhance the exchange of educational information; to improve editorial standards; to promote the professionalism of medical editing through education, self criticism and self-regulation; to expand the voice of and influence of medical editors; to develop mutual support; and to encourage research on the principles and practices of medical editing so as to improve the quality of medical science and practice.”
A second conference in Bellagio was held in January 2001, also funded through the Rockefeller Foundation and held at the Rockefeller Foundation Conference and Study Center, which established plans for editorial outreach including establishment of a member database, a listserve, and expansion of the WAME Web site.
, the European Association of Science Editors, and the regional medical editor groups of Asociación Mexicana de Editores de Revistas Biomédicas (AMERBAC, the Mexican Association of Biomedical Journal Editors), Asociación de Editores de Revistas Biomédicas Venezolanas (ASEREME, Venezuelan Association of Medical Editors), Forum for African Medical Editors (FAME), and Eastern Mediterranean Association of Medical Editors (EMAME). WAME holds in-person conferences in conjunction with the Peer Review Congress.
WAME’s Ethics Committee provides consultation in anonymous format for editors seeking advice on difficult ethical issues and provides an anonymized version online as an educational tool for editors. Additional consultation and discussion (in anonymous format) may be provided to the Committee on Publication Ethics which also issues written opinions.
WAME’s resources for editors also include Publication Ethics Policies , General resources for editors, Ethics resources, and compiled Listserve discussions. WAME also lists Meetings of interest to medical editors.
Voluntary association
A voluntary association or union is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body to accomplish a purpose.Strictly speaking, in many jurisdictions no formalities are necessary to start an association...
of editors of peer-reviewed
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
medical journal
Medical journal
A public health journal is a scientific journal devoted to the field of public health, including epidemiology, biostatistics, and health care . Public health journals, like most scientific journals, are peer-reviewed...
s from countries throughout the world, established in 1995. As of April 30, 2008, WAME had more than 1500 members representing more than 965 journals from 92 countries.
History
Bruce Squires and Suzanne Fletcher, two of the original founders of WAME, described the history of WAME: “The idea of a world association of medical editors germinated in the early 1990s out of concerns that the International Committee of Medical Journal EditorsUniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals
The Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals is a set of guidelines produced by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, for standardising the ethics, preparation and formatting of manuscripts submitted for publication by biomedical journals...
(ICMJE, the Vancouver group; was too small, self-serving, and exclusive and that biomedical journal editors around the world needed help in developing high-quality, peer reviewed journals. Accordingly, Suzanne and Robert Fletcher (editors of Annals of Internal Medicine
Annals of Internal Medicine
Annals of Internal Medicine is an academic medical journal published by the American College of Physicians . It publishes research articles and reviews in the area of internal medicine. Its current editor is Christine Laine...
at the time) spearheaded the preparation of an application to hold a conference at the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
Conference and Study Center in Bellagio, Italy
Bellagio
Bellagio is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located on Lake Como. It has long been famous for its setting at the intersection of the three branches of the Y-shaped lake, which is also known as Lario....
, to consider the needs of medical journal editors globally and to devise a plan to meet those needs. The foundation approved the application in early 1994, and in March the following year, 22 participants from 13 countries met in Bellagio to consider the following:
- What are the common purposes of medical-journal editors and the set of skills editors need to achieve these purposes?
- What day-to-day obstacles and challenges do medical editors encounter in trying to achieve their goals?
- Is there a need for global organization of medical-journal editors? If so, how can it be established, and how can medical-journal editors create a global electronic communication network to discuss goals and needs
and share information, ideas, and solutions?
- How can medical-journal editors use their position to promote high-quality medical science, medical practice, and health in their regions and throughout the world?”
The group decided on “creation of a global organization of editors of peer-reviewed journals, to be called the World Association of Medical Editors ... to facilitate worldwide cooperation among editors of peer-reviewed medical journals to enhance the exchange of educational information; to improve editorial standards; to promote the professionalism of medical editing through education, self criticism and self-regulation; to expand the voice of and influence of medical editors; to develop mutual support; and to encourage research on the principles and practices of medical editing so as to improve the quality of medical science and practice.”
A second conference in Bellagio was held in January 2001, also funded through the Rockefeller Foundation and held at the Rockefeller Foundation Conference and Study Center, which established plans for editorial outreach including establishment of a member database, a listserve, and expansion of the WAME Web site.
Collaboration
WAME has a representative on the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors ICMJE and works closely with other editor groups including the Council of Science EditorsCouncil of Science Editors
The Council of Science Editors is a nonprofit professional membership organization. CSE's mission is to serve editorial professionals in the sciences by creating a supportive network for career development, providing educational opportunities, and developing resources for identifying and...
, the European Association of Science Editors, and the regional medical editor groups of Asociación Mexicana de Editores de Revistas Biomédicas (AMERBAC, the Mexican Association of Biomedical Journal Editors), Asociación de Editores de Revistas Biomédicas Venezolanas (ASEREME, Venezuelan Association of Medical Editors), Forum for African Medical Editors (FAME), and Eastern Mediterranean Association of Medical Editors (EMAME). WAME holds in-person conferences in conjunction with the Peer Review Congress.
Resources
WAME’s Editorial Policies include The Relationship Between Journal Editors-in-Chief and Owners (formerly titled Editorial Independence). This policy, written shortly after the JAMA editor was fired was also used in support of the New England Journal of Medicine editor when he was forced to leave and in support of the editors of the Croatian Medical Journal.WAME’s Ethics Committee provides consultation in anonymous format for editors seeking advice on difficult ethical issues and provides an anonymized version online as an educational tool for editors. Additional consultation and discussion (in anonymous format) may be provided to the Committee on Publication Ethics which also issues written opinions.
WAME’s resources for editors also include Publication Ethics Policies , General resources for editors, Ethics resources, and compiled Listserve discussions. WAME also lists Meetings of interest to medical editors.
WAME Board
WAME has an elected Board composed of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, plus 5 Directors.WAME Committees
WAME Committees include Editorial Policy, Education, and Ethics, as well as Finance, Membership, and Web, plus the Small Journals Task Force.WAME Member Listserve
WAME has an active member listserve and posts compiled listserves for public accessSee also
- American Association for the Advancement of ScienceAmerican Association for the Advancement of ScienceThe American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
- American Medical Writers AssociationAmerican Medical Writers AssociationThe American Medical Writers Association is the world's leading professional association for medical communicators. AMWA has more than 5,600 members in the United States, Canada, and 26 other countries. AMWA is governed by a board of directors composed of a 14-member executive committee and...
- Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (BELS)
- Council of Science EditorsCouncil of Science EditorsThe Council of Science Editors is a nonprofit professional membership organization. CSE's mission is to serve editorial professionals in the sciences by creating a supportive network for career development, providing educational opportunities, and developing resources for identifying and...
- Editors' Association of CanadaEditors' Association of CanadaThe Editors' Association of Canada/Association canadienne des réviseurs promotes professional editing as key in producing effective communication...
- European Association of Science EditorsEuropean Association of Science EditorsThe ' is a non-profit membership organisation for people interested in science communication and editing. Founded in 1982, in France, EASE now has an international membership from diverse backgrounds and professional experience....
- European Medical Writers AssociationEuropean Medical Writers AssociationThe European Medical Writers Association was founded in 1989 as a professional organisation for European medical writers, whether working freelance or in-house at pharmaceutical companies or medical communications companies...
- International Society for Medical Publication Professionals
- Society for Technical CommunicationSociety for Technical CommunicationThe Society for Technical Communication is a professional society for the advancement of the theory and practice of technical communication.-Overview:...
- Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical JournalsUniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical JournalsThe Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals is a set of guidelines produced by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, for standardising the ethics, preparation and formatting of manuscripts submitted for publication by biomedical journals...