It is with a mixture of emotions that I write this final letter as Editor of the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine (IJBM). The past seven years in this role have been a journey of immense personal and professional growth and privilege. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served in this role and to have been part of such a dynamic and dedicated community.
First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you, our esteemed Associate Editors, whose commitment and expertise have been the backbone of IJBM. Your unwavering support and tireless efforts in shaping the journal’s content and direction have been invaluable. It has been a privilege to work alongside such talented individuals, and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together. Likewise, I thank our Editorial Board and many reviewers who answer our call time and time again. I thank all of them for their service and colleagueship.
I look forward to continuing to serve ISBM in new ways. As President-Elect of ISBM, I am excited to continue advocating for the advancement of behavioral medicine on a broader scale. I look forward to new opportunities to collaborate with you all and to further contribute to our shared mission of promoting health through behavioral medicine research and intervention.
I am delighted to share with you the exciting recent developments at IJBM. Our recent publication of the special issue on “Social Isolation and Loneliness in Acute and Chronic Illness” marks a significant milestone for our journal and the field at large. This compelling special issue was edited by Drs. Allison Marziliano and Michael Diefenbach and is now available online as Volume 31, Issue 3. It underscores the critical importance of addressing social isolation and loneliness in the realm of behavioral medicine. As highlighted by recent declarations from the US Surgeon General and the World Health Organization, these issues are increasingly recognized as epidemics and significant threats to human health.
The collection of fourteen original papers in this special issue reflects a global perspective, with contributions from researchers across Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, North America, and Australia. These studies explore the intersections of social isolation and loneliness with chronic illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disorders. They emphasize the pivotal role of behavioral medicine in advancing our understanding and developing effective interventions for these complex health challenges. I encourage all members of the ISBM community to delve into this special issue. It not only showcases the latest research findings but also serves as a catalyst for ongoing dialogue and collaboration in tackling social isolation and loneliness from diverse perspectives.
We are also currently in the final stages of preparing our forthcoming special issue titled “Advancing the Science of Behavioral Medicine: Meta-Analyses and Foundational Reviews”, slated for publication in 2024. This special issue, spearheaded by Drs. Chun-Qing Zhang, Ren Liu, and I, holds particular significance as we approach the 30-year anniversary of IJBM. We launched this special call to commemorate this milestone and to highlight groundbreaking research that advances the field of behavioral medicine. The issue will feature a collection of meta-analyses and foundational reviews that critically examine and synthesize existing knowledge across various domains within behavioral medicine. These contributions are poised to provide essential insights, consolidate evidence, and inform future research directions in our field.
And, as always, don’t forget to join us on Twitter (X) at @IJBMed
