You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith, and hope.
-Thomas Merton (1915-1968)
All is an interesting word. It most obviously applies to the collective, as in, "Everyone needs to go somewhere," but it can also imply the singular, as in, "If everyone is going somewhere, then I need to go somewhere too." However it is interpreted, I think we all need to be going somewhere. If we are not going, we are stagnant.
I am Going
Some of you have heard the trumor (as opposed to rumor) that I will be stepping down as the Editor-in-Chief of JANAC at the end of 2019. I have relished this job as the best and most important one of my life, and I have put heart and soul into it. I have learned so much from reading submissions to JANAC and from interacting with ANAC members, the JANAC Editorial team, the JANAC Editorial Board, and nurse editors from around the world. It has been a privilege and an honor. But it is time to make space for a new face, with new ideas and new energy; I want to give that to JANAC. It is also time to make space for my own life and my own creativity; I want to give that to myself.
I am, however, also giving myself (and ANAC) time to make those changes. After today, I will have four more issues in which to do my work, express my opinions, and get used to leaving. And ANAC will have time to find the best possible person to become the fourth Editor-in-Chief of JANAC. I am going, and I have a plan.
JANAC is Going
As you will have noticed, JANAC looks different. In reality, JANAC has already made an important transition. This is our second issue with our new publisher. We spent the last year working with our former publisher, Elsevier, and our new publisher, Lippincott, to make a smooth transition. For the most part, we accomplished that goal. I hope you have already had time to appreciate our new cover and interior layout. During 2019, you will notice other changes as we settle in to this new relationship. Lippincott is offering important new benefits to all who write for, review for, edit, and read JANAC. For instance, I hope you see and take advantage of our new continuing education offerings for reviewers and readers and that you find this new program easy to use and important for your personal education. JANAC is going to improve even more in this new partnership.
ANAC is Going
The ANAC Board of Directors has been planning and implementing changes for our organization for the past several years. This is not new, of course. ANAC has never stood still. We could not; the epidemic and people living with HIV infection (PLWH) have been changing too quickly for any of us to be stagnant. The most obvious new change at ANAC occurred with bylaws revisions last year formalizing membership benefits for professionals other than nurses. David Vance, who is also a member of the JANAC Editorial Board, became the first-ever non-nurse ANAC Board member. This expansion solidifies the ANAC (and JANAC) commitment to interprofessional health care for PLWH and sets the stage for further progress.
One of the major questions being discussed is where should ANAC's focus be? Should we expand beyond HIV infection to other infections/diseases, health care concerns, or specific demographic groups? Should we stay on the exclusive HIV track and just see this epidemic to its end? Should we prepare to address other evolving epidemics and develop expertise in preventing and managing problems as they emerge? ANAC will be "going" for many years as these decisions are made. We all have a say in this and no one should stay silent. I have my own opinions. I think two issues need to be considered as ANAC moves forward.
The first issue is chronicity. In January, you were treated to a special topic issue of JANAC on HIV and Aging, edited by David Vance, Barbara Blake, and JANAC Associate Editor, Michael Relf. That issue made the important point that PLWH are living longer as treatment gets better. Not only is HIV now a chronic disease, PLWH are also at risk of developing other chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurologic deficits. People living with HIV infection will not get the excellent care they deserve until care providers understand the subtleties of chronicity and I'd vote for this becoming one of ANAC's main priorities.
The second issue that I think needs our focused attention is sexual health. If nothing else, HIV has shown us what can happen when health education does not include clear (i.e., age appropriate and easy to understand), evidence based (i.e., honest and factual), and consistent (i.e., kindergarten through 12th grade) education about the full spectrum of sex, sexuality, and gender, including healthy and not-so-healthy sexual behavior, context, emotion, and culture. To me, this is an essential area that ANAC can take on as a professional organization. I think we could contribute to the important work that is already being done, develop new approaches to sexual health, and help translate research into clinical practice.
Going, Going, Gone
It is important to pay attention to change. Change brings opportunities, frustrations, and a full range of emotions. The worst response to change is to hide from it and to let it happen however it will. At the very least, we all need to pay attention because change, like winter, is coming. So stay tuned, there is more to come.
Applications are Invited for the Position of JANAC Editor-in-Chief
The Association of Nurses in AIDS Care is searching for an editor-in-chief for JANAC. The successful candidate for the position of Editor-in-Chief will (a) be recognized internationally as a leader in HIV-related academic and research achievements, (b) have worked at a strategic level within academia or health care, (c) have demonstrated excellence in journal peer review, (d) be a nurse, (e) have a doctoral degree in nursing or another health-related discipline, (f) be a member of ANAC or join ANAC if selected, and (g) hold certification as an HIV/AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN) or attain that certification within 12 months of hire.
Interested applicants should visit the JANAC web site at https://journals.lww.com/janac/pages/default.aspx or email Donna Roberson, mailto:[email protected], for the full call for application information.