Today, I am formally addressing our IJBM community as the new Editor In Chief of, the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. It has certainly be an exciting start to my tenure. Time has flown by and as I approach my first year as EIC I remained humbled and appreciate the collegiality and support I have received by the Editorial Team (including our Newly Appointed Associate Editors), ISBM, notably Professor Kerry Sherman (ISBM president) and Professor Michael Hoyt, our incoming ISBM president.
We have a remarkable community in IJBM and part of my role is to support the research and science of our community. I started writing this message while stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to flight cancelations. During my travels in the UAE I was introduced to the Ghaf tree (Prosopis cineraria), the national tree of the UAE and a symbol of resilience in arid environments. As I learned more, it struck me as a powerful metaphor for great research and for the mission of the IJBM. Like the Ghaf, researchers thrive through resilience and adaptability, persisting despite challenges. The tree contributes to sustainability, supporting ecosystems much like research sustains knowledge and mentors future scholars. Its deep roots reflect interconnectedness, mirroring how team science and interdisciplinarity strengthen research.
The Ghaf also has community impact, offering cultural and economic value – just as research should serve society. Its longevity symbolizes enduring contributions to knowledge, and the diversity it supports parallels the value of varied perspectives in research. As I stood among the Ghaf trees in the desert, I saw in them the very qualities we should embody as researchers, scholars, scientists and practitioners invested in the field of behavioural medicine: resilience, sustainability, interconnectedness, community impact, longevity, and diversity.
I would like to share some important updates for the forthcoming Special Series in IJBM on the following topic that align with emerging trends and priorities in the field. Among the topics under consideration are:
- “Patient and Public Engagement Involvement in Behavioural Health: Evidence, Impact, and Innovations”: There is growing recognition of the importance of patient-centre care and the active involvement of the public in research and healthcare decision-making. This special issue aims to highlight the current state of PPIE in behavioral medicine research, including empirical studies adopting PPIE, as well as methodological papers, reviews, and invited commentaries from PPIE representatives or organisations. We also aim to invite patient and public representatives as guest editors in addition to the academic editors.
- “Behavioral Medicine and Women’s Health: Addressing Lifespan, Equity, and Empowerment”: This special issue will address the unique health challenges faced by women. It would provide a platform for research that examines gender-specific health issues within the behavioral medicine context, which is crucial for developing targeted interventions and improve health outcomes for women.
- “AI in Behavioral Medicine: Innovations, Ethical Challenges, and Impacts”: The integration of AI into healthcare, including behavioral medicine, is a rapidly evolving field. This field presents both substantial opportunities and a set of unique challenges that are of great interest to researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders. The issue will invite cutting-edge work that demonstrates the successful integration of AI into behavioral medicine, as well as papers that highlight potential challenges such as privacy and ethical considerations and the digital divide.
- “Climate Health Connect: Individual to Planetary Health”: As an emerging and highly topical issue, the impact of climate change on health is an area with significant potential for behavioral medicine. This issue will explore the behavioral aspects of climate-related health issues, providing insights into mitigation and adaptation strategies.
With this, I look forward to meeting you all in Vienna and seeing IJBM scale even greater heights in the forthcoming years with your continuing support!
