(Reston, VA - January 11, 2011) After 22 years as editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology JAAA, James Jerger, PhD, will retire from his post on December 31, 2011. Academy President Patti Kricos offers her thanks on behalf of the membership: "It is difficult to overstate the debt of gratitude owed to Dr. Jerger for his commitment to research, to the organization, and to the profession as demonstrated by his 22 years of distinguished service at the helm of JAAA."
Shortly after founding the Academy itself in 1988, Jerger and fellow founding member Brad Stach, PhD, appealed to the board of directors for the publication of a scholarly journal. Since its inception in 1990, Jerger has given tirelessly of his time and energy as editor-in-chief to make JAAA the eminent publication it is today. Over the past two decades, the journal has tripled in published pages, moved to online submission and publication, gained subscribers in 20 countries on six continents, garnered inclusion in nine databases and the Journal Citation Reports, and in 2010, saw its greatest number of submissions, all of these developments possible because of the unflagging efforts of editor-in-chief Jerger. Never has he departed from his vision of producing a journal devoted to the audiology clinician.
Although it will be impossible to replace a figure as foundational to the profession and the association as Jerger, the search for a new editor-in-chief is underway. The tenure of the new editor will begin on January 1, 2012, and a new era—one built on the foundation of James Jerger's extraordinary leadership—will begin for the Academy's journal (www.audiology.org/resources/journal).
The American Academy of Audiology is the world's largest professional organization of, by, and for audiologists. With an active membership of more than 11,000 audiologists, the Academy promotes quality hearing and balance care by advancing the profession of audiology through leadership, advocacy, education, public awareness, and support of research. For more information about the American Academy of Audiology, visit www.audiology.org.
