This issue of the journal marks another milestone for the journal. For the first time in the history of the journal we have systematically begun to address a key member, if not THE key member, of the healthcare professional team: community health workers or CHWs. Under the issue editorship of 2 colleagues, Lee Rosenthal and James Macinko, this issue and much of the next issue will be devoted to the latest developments in this emerging profession. We will be presenting this information in a variety of formats. Of note, we are including the perspective or "voices" of several community healthcare workers.

We continue our commitment to publishing research on empowerment/activation with the article by Gerber and colleagues. We also have an abiding interest in care coordination. Fagnan and colleagues address the important issue of care coordination in rural areas.

We have our regular columns with a contribution on ambulatory care management challenges by Dr. Ron Goodspeed and an important update from the Republic of Texas.

-Norbert Goldfield, MD

Editor