AGA Institute Publications Committee
This Organizational Statement was last revised by the AGA Institute Governing Board, (5) VOTED, November 2022.
Mission
To provide general oversight of AGA publications (Gastroenterology, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gastro Hep Advances, Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and GI & Hepatology News), including development of relevant publication policies and strategies pertaining to advancing the impact, reach, rigor and quality of AGA publications. The committee also provides advice and guidance to the AGA Institute Governing Board on trends and developments in scientific publishing.
Committee Responsibilities and Functions
In carrying out its duties, the committee will:
- Set and monitor metrics for AGA’s print and digital publications to assure their quality, rigor, and reputation.
- Develop common strategic approaches to publishing to support organizational priorities, including business plans.
- Establish, and revise as necessary, policies governing AGA publications such as ethics, fees, advertising, press embargo and conflicts of interest.
- Identify and evaluate common challenges, opportunities and innovations in publishing and recommend approaches that are efficient, and editorially and fiscally sound.
- Foster synergy and collaboration among AGA’s portfolio of print and digital publications, including news and social media, so as to avoid substantial overlap and to maximize their effectiveness.
- Review any nontrivial changes proposed by the editors involving publication design, format, content organization or procedures. If the committee believes that a proposed change may adversely affect the finances or reputation of the publication or the AGA, or may have adverse legal consequences, this opinion along with the committee’s recommendation, shall be transmitted to the governing board for consideration. The medical-scientific content of AGA publications is the purview of their respective editors and is not subject to committee review or oversight unless specifically requested by the editors.
- Review the financial performance of the publications relative to established budgets and financial parameters. Any activities or changes with fiscal implications will be referred to the AGA Finance and Operations Committee and the AGA Institute Governing Board.
- Establish RFPs for editors and appoint two members from the committee to sit on the editor selection committee in accordance with the established editor selection policy and to review recommendations made by the selection committee. (Note: these members must not have any conflicts of interest with the editor candidates or their proposed associate editors.)
Committee Structure
The committee consists of up to seven voting members (including a chair), plus a trainee. A chair-elect (who shall not count against the maximum membership) shall be appointed one year before the end of the term of the chair. In addition, the committee will include the following non-voting members who shall not count against the maximum membership:
- An external advisor with a background in publishing (e.g., retired professional editor, publishing consultant). This individual is not required to be an AGA member.
- The secretary/treasurer and secretary/treasurer-elect, if applicable.
- A councilor from the governing board will be assigned as a liaison to the committee.
The appointment term of the committee members shall be for two years, with the opportunity to be renewed for an additional year based on attendance and performance. One-third of the maximum terms shall expire annually. The term of the external advisor may be extended beyond the maximum of three years.
The committee chair is authorized to create small, temporary subgroups consisting of members and nonmembers of the committee to address policy development and oversight of specific issues within the committee’s mission. Costs of all such subgroups must be included in the committee’s approved budget.
Qualifications for Committee Service
Appointment to the committee as a voting member requires prior experience in a decision-making role, such as an Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editor, with a reputable scholarly publication. All members should be current members of AGA.
Conflicts of Interest
A committee member may not serve in any capacity for another organization’s or publisher’s gastroenterology/hepatology-related periodical during their appointment that involves manuscript selection, or editorial, financial or strategic decisions. (Serving simply as a manuscript reviewer is acceptable.) Exceptions to this policy may be made by the AGA Institute Ethics Committee on a case-by-case basis.
Meetings
The committee is authorized to hold two face-to-face meetings per year, one in September and one at DDW®, and teleconferences as needed.
Members
- C. Mel Wilcox, MD (chair)
- James Goldenring, MD, PhD (chair-elect)
- Megan A. Adams, MD, JD, MSc (ex-officio)
- John I. Allen, MD, MBA, AGAF (ex-officio)
- Nadia Ameen, MBBS, AGAF
- Michele A. Battle, PhD (ex-officio)
- Andres F. Carrion, MD
- Vinay Chandrasekhara, MD
- Luke Engelking, MD, PhD
- Ziad Gellad, MD, MPH
- Sara Ghoneim, MD
- Ajay Goel, PhD, AGAF
- Charles Kahi, MD, AGAF (ex-officio)
- Jonathan Katz, MD (ex-officio)
- Benjamin Lebwohl, MD, AGAF
- Paul Moayyedi, MD, PhD, AGAF (ex-officio)
- Vinod K. Rustgi, MD, AGAF (ex-officio)
- Shanthi Srinivasan, MD, AGAF (ex-officio)
- Shahnaz Sultan, MD (governing board liaison)
- Judy Trieu, MD, MPH (ex-officio)
- David Weinberg, MD, MSc, AGAF (ex-officio)
- Andres J. Yarur, MD
