About 6 years ago, a brief chat over drinks about the emergence of the nascent digital publication industry planted the seed for what would ultimately become ME. The first iPad had just been introduced, and I, as a tech geek, began preferentially migrating my magazine and media subscriptions from print to the digital realm.
There were plenty of obvious advantages with the digital format: instant access, cheaper costs, saved trees, reduced weight and bulk, increased coffee-table real estate, avoidance of the mailbox, no smudged pages and stained fingertips, and, for presbyopes, a backlight and the ability to enlarge the text. Even when the digital version was simply statically ported from the print version, it was still a preferable and more satisfying experience. But, when the publisher went the extra mile to augment the written word with embedded multimedia content and enhanced interactivity, it was revelatory. Wired magazine comes to mind as an early groundbreaking example. It was clear to us that few fields could benefit more from this technologically and visually advanced journal format than ophthalmology.
After putting together a progressive editorial board, settling on the name MillennialEYE (in reference to a state of mind rather than an age), and naming the inaugural Chief Medical Editors Drs. Damien Goldberg and George Waring IV, BMC published the first digital-only issue in April 2013. Almost 5 years, 28 issues, and four meetings later, ME, by every objective metric and measure, has been a resounding success. Embraced by the young, the old, and the in-between, its readership and influence continues to grow, and it has set the benchmark for all other digital medical journals.
For the past 2 years, I have had the honor and privilege of sharing the Chief Medical Editor duties with my friend, trusted colleague, and always effervescent Elizabeth Yeu, MD. We are both grateful for the visionary and pioneering editorial work of Damien and George before us, for the tireless work of the brilliant editorial board and administrative staff, and to all the authors and contributors who made each issue of ME a must-read for all.
With this current issue, our editorial reign has come to an end. We now pass the reins to our respected colleagues Gary Wörtz, MD, and Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, MD, who will undoubtedly make an outstanding editorial team and will lead ME to even greater heights in the future.
