Welcome to another year of the American Journal of Psychiatry Residents' Journal (RJ)! We are a trainee-led, peer-reviewed publication of the American Psychiatric Association dedicated to advancing the scholarly and creative work of residents, fellows, and medical students. Currently in its 17th volume, the RJ has become a valued and trusted resource for psychiatry trainees and medical students across North America.
The past year and a half has been one of the most difficult periods in many trainees' lives. As the health care system underwent massive stress during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical education changed virtually overnight. Psychiatry residents were deployed to makeshift intensive care units, elective rotations were canceled, and didactics were forced to operate exclusively on online platforms. In the wake of this untold disruption, the RJ provided a welcome refuge for community and for connection.
We need this now more than ever.
Despite the crises of the past year, the RJ has continued to expand its influence and impact. Even as COVID-19 radically upended how people live and work, the 2020–2021 RJ editorial board succeeded in overseeing the publication of four substantial issues, including a theme section in June 2021 on the history of psychiatry. I am deeply grateful to the members of the previous board for their tireless efforts.
The 2021–2022 editorial board was recruited from the largest group of applicants in the RJ's history, many of whom have previously served as reviewers or editors for other journals. Our editors include physician-scientists, an active-duty service member, and, for the first time in recent memory, a trainee at a Canadian institution. I am especially grateful to have the opportunity to work closely with this year's Senior Deputy Editor, Danielle Lowe, M.D., Ph.D., and our team of media editors, who have planned a host of podcasts to engage and inspire.
As I step into the role of Editor-in-Chief, I take inspiration from the journal's past leadership. Over the past year, I have watched Matthew Edwards, M.D., now the Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, lead the RJ with dedication and grace. Among other gifts, Dr. Edwards brought to the RJ patience, administrative acumen, and a keen understanding of history. His sense of humor and wise counsel enriched my year as Senior Deputy Editor immeasurably. Like Dr. Edwards and his predecessor, Dr. Shapir Rosenberg, I aim to do everything I can to make the RJ a welcoming place for all trainees.
I hope that you will enjoy this latest RJ issue. Within it, you will find a range of articles and commentaries touching nearly every corner of our specialty, including articles on the history of psychiatry, a drug review of a poorly understood nootropic (adrafinil), and reflections on loss and change during the pandemic. Once you begin to peruse the RJ, you may find that it is the only journal in the field you look forward to reading from cover to cover.
If you have an idea you would like to share with your peers, we would be delighted to review your submission. Our requirements are found on the last page of this issue.
To our readers, welcome!
