During the past several years, I have heard periodically from AJO-DO readers with a common request. “When are you going to make it easier to access the AJO-DO online?” Although the AJO-DO is a benefit of AAO membership, the website is hosted separately from the AAO’s; that means that 2 sets of user names and passwords are required to access the 2 websites. Bridging the gap between the sites to give AAO members who log into the secure AAO website a direct link to the AJO-DO would make access much easier. Being involved over the past 3 years with renovation of the AAO’s public and member websites, I am proud to announce that some success has been achieved. Beginning in late September, direct access to the AJO-DO online from the AAO member site became possible. Once a member logs in to www.aaomembers.org , “open door access” allows the authenticated user directly into the Elsevier website.

If you have problems obtaining this long-sought-after access to the AJO-DO , call (800) 654-2452 (United States and Canada) or (314) 447-8871 (outside the United States and Canada). These calls must be made during regular office hours. This access is available to all members of the AAO, including students, faculty, and international members. Once in the AAO site, look for “AAO RESOURCES” and then “Member Publications,” and click on AJO-DO . This will take you directly to the Elsevier site and the AJO-DO home page. Once fully registered, you might also wish to personalize your account to save your search preferences ( http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/search/savedSearchList ) or to request e-mail alerts ( http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/user/alerts ).

In 2011, we will make another change to the AJO-DO by discontinuing the 2-page print supplements that enhance our “Online only” articles. Over the past 2 years, these supplements have consisted of an editor’s comment and a question-and-answer session with the corresponding author of each article. This format has been popular with readers and well accepted by authors, but we’ve found that it adversely affects our Impact Factor. Each supplement includes new material that is not included in the article, and it is therefore counted as a separate article. Authors who cite the “Online only” article in their research seldom also cite the print supplement. It’s a matter of understanding simple math to realize that, although we were increasing the number of articles we published, half of the new material would never be cited in other research. I believe this is why our Impact Factor did not increase this year. Because this has a negative impact on the AJO-DO , beginning in January, we will no longer publish the editor’s comment and interview for each “Online only” article. Instead, we will print the title, authors, and the abstract in the AJO-DO , and we will run the full text of the article online as usual.

No one contributes more to this AJO-DO than the large number of reviewers who continue to work, often with little recognition. When I ask reviewers why they invest the hours it takes to have an impact on the quality of the articles published, they always respond in the same way: “I do it because I learn so much.” In 2011, the AJO-DO will be able to grant 3 hours of Continuing Education credit for each acceptable review received. This is possible by meeting our CERP requirements as regulated by the American Dental Association. This has led to the development of a new, more highly structured format for the completion of each review submitted electronically to the editors of the AJO-DO . Data compiled for the review process already include acceptance rates, overall quality, and timeliness of each submission. If you are currently an active reviewer for the AJO-DO and desire the associated continuing education credit, please ask for a letter noting the successful completion of a review for credit. Because of the large numbers of reviews we receive each year, we won’t automatically grant the credit but will do so when requested.

That about does it for improving access to the AJO-DO , future changes in format, and the rewards of continuing education credits for reviewers. As 2010 comes to a close, I have asked our Editor Designate, Vince Kokich, to outline the changes he is planning for the AJO-DO as he looks ahead with enthusiasm. You will not want to miss his January editorial.