Fahad Aziz, MD, FASN, WMJ Editor-in-Chief
WMJ. 2025;124(3):203-204.
Since its founding in 1903 by the Wisconsin Medical Society, the Wisconsin Medical Journal (WMJ) has served as a vital platform for medical and public health scholarship in Wisconsin. Yet by the late 2010s, the journal’s future was uncertain, pressured by financial challenges and a rapidly changing publishing landscape.
A pivotal moment arrived in 2019 when the University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) jointly assumed ownership of the journal. This partnership secured WMJ’s future also launched a new era of innovation and growth. Submissions surged, special themed issues gained attention, and WMJ reaffirmed its role as a forum for meaningful discourse on medicine and health policy in the region.
A FELLOWSHIP ROOTED IN PURPOSE
Among the most transformative developments of this new era is the WMJ Editorial Fellowship Program — a forward-thinking initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of physician-scholars and editorial leaders.
The WMJ Editorial Fellowship was conceived as an immersive experience to provide medical trainees and early career faculty with structured, mentored engagement in academic publishing. Recognizing that editorial training is rarely a part of formal medical education, WMJ’s editorial leadership developed a curriculum that introduces fellows to the full editorial lifecycle—from peer review and decision-making to editorial writing and ethical considerations. Fellows gain a critical understanding of scientific communication and the skills to lead in academia, policy, and research.
In 2023, WMJ welcomed its inaugural cohort of editorial fellows. Over the course they reviewed manuscripts, participated in editorial board meetings, contributed to content strategy, and co-authored an editorial with the Editor-in-Chief. Today, having demonstrated exceptional leadership and scholarly engagement as fellows, David Mallinson, PhD, and Corlin Jewell, MD – both inaugural fellows – serve as members of the WMJ editorial board, exemplifying the program’s goal of developing future editorial leaders.
In 2024, WMJ recruited its second cohort: Raul Rodriguez, MD, and Victoria Ronan, MD, who are expected to complete the program this fall. Their progress further underscores the fellowship’s role in nurturing talent and embedding editorial leadership into the early stages of clinical careers.
Encouraged by this success, WMJ is committed to continuing and expanding the program. Recruitment is underway for a new cohort to begin this fall. The fellowship is open to MDs, DOs, or clinically oriented PhDs who are faculty members or learners at MCW, UW–Madison or one of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s statewide clinical campuses. By broadening access, WMJ aims to foster a more diverse and representative editorial community—one that incorporates the breadth of voices from various regions, specialties, and training levels across Wisconsin.
NEW STUDENT EDITORIAL INTERNSHIP
Building on the success of the fellowship, WMJ is proud to announce the development of a new Editorial Internship—an opportunity designed to introduce medical students to the world of academic publishing early in their training. Being led by WMJ Publishing Board members Elizabeth Petty, MD, and Jonathan Temte, MD, PhD, both esteemed leaders in academic medicine, the internship will offer medical students a structured, hands-on editorial experience through which they will learn about manuscript review, publishing ethics, editorial decision-making, and academic writing.
The program is currently under development and once launched, it will be among the first of its kind, offering students a guided and purposeful entry into academic publishing. This initiative reflects WMJ’s strong commitment to cultivating scholarly curiosity, mentorship, and academic excellence from the earliest stages of medical education.
WHY THIS WORK MATTERS
At a time when many journals face declining reviewer pools and an aging editorial workforce, WMJ is investing in a sustainable future by building a culture of mentorship, scholarship, and leadership development. Through the fellowship and upcoming internship, WMJ is helping shape a generation of clinicians who understand the value of rigorous peer review, the power of the written word, and the responsibility that comes with shaping medical knowledge.
These initiatives signal that the journal is not merely a passive repository of information, it is an active, evolving, and inclusive learning community. WMJ is becoming a model for how regional journals can thrive – not only through high-quality content but by nurturing the people who create, curate, and communicate it.
LOOKING AHEAD
As WMJ continues to evolve, it remains steadfast in its mission to advance health care in Wisconsin and beyond. These programs reaffirm our commitment to elevating scholarship, expanding opportunity, and empowering the next generation in medicine.
We are deeply grateful to the community that makes this work possible. Our heartfelt thanks go to the authors who share their research and insights, the peer reviewers who uphold our standards with rigor and thoughtfulness, the editorial board members who offer vision and guidance, and the publishing board whose steadfast support sustains our operations and growth. Each plays a critical role in helping WMJ fulfill its mission. Together, we are not only publishing a journal—we are building a legacy.