Changes and New Beginnings

Happy New Year 2024! It's with such excitement that I am able to start a new year with all of you, the Dermatology Nurses' Association (DNA) members and readers of the Journal of the Dermatology Nurses' Association (JDNA). To serve as the Editor in Chief of the Journal is an immense privilege and a job I love doing. I am hopeful that you are the beneficiaries of the good work that not only myself but also all those involved with the JDNA offer in each issue. I often talk about the Editorial Board members, authors, and peer reviewers in Editorials. But I think I should start the new year out right just by taking a moment to acknowledge other members of the team that also help make the Journal a success.

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I want to acknowledge Melissa Derby, the JDNA's Managing Editor, and Kyleen Davis, MSN, FNP-BC, DCNP, who is the JDNA's Associate Editor. They and their contributions are integral to the work of the Journal. They are often working more behind the scenes but are invaluable in what they do for the JDNA. Not only do we all work well as a team, but also they are instrumental in helping to make each issue a success. Without their daily contributions to the work of the JDNA, this job would be much more difficult and certainly would not be as much fun! Yes, their daily contributions. I think the three of us email almost every day, often multiple times a day. If I don't email them every day, then there are days when I email 10 times in a row! And they are ever patient, helpful, contributory, and, always, have the best intentions at heart for the Journal. It is my hope that, in the first half of 2024, the three of us are going to brainstorm, along with the help of the Editorial Board, new ideas, new columns, and new directions for the JDNA. I'd love your input if you'd like to see something included in the content we feature. We are hoping to address your educational needs through articles that are timely, relevant, accurate, and well written. We are considering the many ways to make that happen but need your ideas, your articles, and your contributory participation.

Speaking of participation, we again have changes to announce regarding the Editorial Board composition. As you may imagine, it's always exciting to announce new board members. It's also always a bit bittersweet to announce the departures of those who are leaving the Editorial Board. After several years of dedicated service, Shehla Admani, MD, is leaving the Editorial Board to continue working toward other professional goals. We are immensely thankful for her contributions, especially as one of the first pediatric dermatologists to join the Editorial Board. She and her colleagues have been instrumental in developing pediatric-focused content for the JDNA, something that had been underrepresented. Please take time to acknowledge her impact on the Journal and join me in wishing her well in her next endeavors.

Furthermore, again with mixed emotions, I announce that after many years of dedicated service, Sylvana Brickley, DNP, FNP-BC, DCNP, is also leaving the Editorial Board. As a consistently engaged Editorial Board member, she has been essential in elevating the quality of work presented in the JDNA, both by being an author herself and by cultivating and mentoring others in the authorship experience. Her experience as a fellowship-trained dermatology nurse practitioner was invaluable as she served the JDNA. She is excited for her new pursuits as well, and we wish her the best as she moves forward. Again, please join me in thanking her for important contributions to the Journal.

Of course, if you have followed along with the history of the JDNA, you know what these changes mean, right? There are open spots on the Editorial Board just waiting for an enthusiastic volunteer, perhaps like yourself. It's not a secret that the Journal often looks to the members of the DNA for first consideration for being on the Editorial Board. By now, you have surely seen the emails and announcements asking for you to contact us if you are interested in volunteering. Well, now more than ever, we'd love to hear from interested individuals. If you have interest, please don't hesitate to email me. I'd love to spend time talking about JDNA participation, whether you would consider serving on the Editorial Board or may be interested in being an author or peer reviewer. All interested parties should reach out; I'd love to talk.

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Finally, because this is the first issue of the year, that means the DNA Annual Convention is getting closer! It is going to be held on March 6–9, 2024, in San Diego, CA, this year and is sure to be chock-full of quality educational content, intermixed with ample opportunities for networking and meeting with long-standing friends and colleagues. I know the DNA and the convention Program Planning Committee have worked diligently to make sure the conference is a great success, and I hope I will see many of you there for this premiere annual educational convention.

As always, looking forward to hearing from you,

Angela L. Borger
Editor-in-Chief
E-mail: [email protected]

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