Wow, the Journal of the Dermatology Nurses' Association (JDNA) is 15 years old in 2023! As someone who has been involved since the beginning, it's exciting that we are celebrating this accomplishment. There were several years, in the beginning, that were lean and caused those of us involved a few (many?) sleepless nights, worrying about the publication, the manuscripts, and the authors. We are thrilled to be celebrating this birthday because it still means we are here, but more importantly, we are thriving and continuing to offer excellent articles of interest to dermatology nurses and our readers.
Why is it important to celebrate JDNA milestones? I think because these celebrations are cause for a pause, a moment to acknowledge our growth, our presence, and our ongoing efforts. Plus, parties are always fun, and if nothing else, who doesn't love a good celebration? Having a celebration of the JDNA's 15 years will allow us to recognize the work of the numerous individuals whose efforts allowed the Journal to grow into the success it is now. Many people have contributed to the Journal, and their contributions to the success should be celebrated. According to http://myflorist.com, "You celebrate when you have an accomplishment you want to share with others. You have pride in the fact that you've accomplished something[horizontal ellipsis]But celebrating is part of the reward of a job well done." To everyone who has had a part in making the JDNA successful, thank you for a job well done; we are appreciative and are looking forward to the next 15 years.
As part of our 15th-year celebration, the JDNA's Associate Editor, Kyleen Davis, has written a well-researched, comprehensive history of the Journal. Her article is included in this issue, and I strongly encourage you to take time to read more about our journal's beginnings. Her article does an impressive job of summarizing some of our highlights in the first 15 years. It is our hope that by outlining the history of the JDNA's early years, later on when we are a long-standing Journal, our collective history will be easier to recollect. Her article will serve as a good starting point in the future for those interested in JDNA history.
We are hoping to extend the JDNA's 15th celebration for the entire year. Would you consider helping to be part of our history by offering your insights about the JDNA? We think you have a lot to add to our Journal's history. If you are interested in sharing your thoughts about the JDNA, we could create an oral history type of project where you spend time talking to a JDNA leader about your favorite articles, about why the Journal is important to your clinical practice, about the importance of the JDNA to your patient care. We'd love to offer podcasts so others can hear about the influence of JDNA over time. Would any of you be interested in being interviewed for this special project?
Unfortunately, part of the Journal's history is saying farewell to those who go on to other endeavors and to those who pass away. It is with great sadness that I share that one of the JDNA's Editorial Board members, Janice Pelletier, MD, has died. According to her obituary (https://obituaries.bangordailynews.com/obituary/janice-pelletier-m-d-1086574945), she died on October 23, 2022, at her home in Orono, Maine, surrounded by her family. She was 65 years old at the time of her death and had been an Editorial Board member for the last 2 years. Regrettably, I never had the opportunity to meet Jan in person but am thankful for our interactions via social media, email, and telephone. She was a pediatrician with an expertise in dermatology and helped to jump-start the pediatric-focused offering you have seen in the JDNA. Her love for children and patients was obvious when she spoke, but she loved her role as an educator just as much.
Sharon Jacob, an Editorial Board member of JDNA and friend and colleague of Jan's says, "Jan was a true treasure and blessing to know. When we started the Pediatric Contact Dermatitis Registry, I was having trouble recruiting providers from Maine and had reached out to Jan to ask her what she was seeing in her remote practice and she told me tales of nickel allergy in children that could knock your socks off. She was pivotal in creating and presenting the nickel allergy position statement for the American Academy of Pediatrics. She was HIGHLY respected for her intellectual wealth of knowledge, beautiful artisan writing and her genuine and generous personality. She will be missed" (personal communication, October 31, 2022).
Obviously, we had hoped her time with the JDNA would have been much longer, but we are grateful for the contributions she offered both by virtue of her enthusiasm and ideas and also by the mountains of support she offered the Journal. My interactions with her were always joyful, even as they became more realistic with time. She was open and candid about her status and realistic about how she could contribute to the JDNA. I am thankful for the time she was able to share with us, and it has been my distinct honor to have her name grace our masthead for the last 2 years. Please join with me in honoring and celebrating her contributions not only to the JDNA but also to all of her patients and students alike.
However bittersweet to look back, looking forward[horizontal ellipsis]next month, February 2023, is the next annual Dermatology Nurses' Association Annual Convention. I am hoping to see many of you in Savannah, Georgia. I am optimistic there will be warmer weather than what we'll be having in the Mid-Atlantic area during that time and hope that many of you, too, will come to this premier educational event for dermatology nurses. The JDNA will have a booth in the Exhibit Hall, and I am expectant many of you will stop by and say hello and discuss how you'd like to get involved in the Journal. We'd love to have your voice be represented in the JDNA. Would it help to convince you if I tell you we are hoping to have cupcakes at the booth to celebrate 15 years? I'll be working on trying to make this happen for us! Hope to see you there.
As always, looking forward to hearing from you,
Angela L. Borger
Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
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