BMJ  2005;330:323 (12 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7487.323-a

News

BMJ appoints its first woman editor

London

The BMJ has appointed its first woman editor since the journal was founded in 1840. Dr Fiona Godlee, who is currently head of BMJ Knowledge, another part of the BMJ Publishing Group, takes up her post in mid-March. She replaces Dr Richard Smith, who left the journal in July last year.

Dr Godlee, who qualified in 1985, trained as a general physician before joining the BMJ as an assistant editor in 1990. She spent a year at Harvard University as a Harkness fellow in 1994.

On her return, she led the development of Clinical Evidence, which summarises the best available evidence on the harms and benefits of treatment and now reaches over one million clinicians worldwide.

Fiona Godlee (left) and Stella Dutton are the new heads of the BMJ and the BMJ Publishing Group respectively Credit: MARK THOMAS Credit: MARK THOMAS

In 2000, she was appointed editorial director for medicine at the Current Science Group, with a remit to set up the open access online publisher BioMed Central. She returned to the BMJ Publishing Group in 2003.

Dr Godlee has written on a wide range of medical and publishing issues and is a former president of the World Association of Medical Editors. She currently chairs the Committee on Publication Ethics.

Married with two young children, she is a keen hill walker, sailor, and carpenter.

"The BMJ has an international reputation for independence, innovation, and integrity, all of which are things I want to safeguard and build upon," said Dr Godlee. "We need to make sure that the journal continues to deliver what readers want—high quality information that is accessible and relevant to their lives as doctors and researchers.

"It's a daunting task to take over from Richard Smith and Kamran Abbasi, who has done a fantastic job over the past six months."

Meanwhile Stella Dutton, who has been acting chief executive of the group since Richard Smith's departure ( BMJ 2004;329: 128[Free Full Text]), has been confirmed as chief executive officer of the BMJ Publishing Group.

Mrs Dutton joined the group as executive director in 1996. "The post of chief executive for the BMJ Publishing Group has to be the best post in medical publishing in the UK," she said. Dr Godlee would be a "strong and creative editor for the BMJ and a worthy appointee to this important post."

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Great news for the BMJ and the BMJ Publishing Group

Richard Smith
bmj.com, 11 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Hearty Congratulations To Dr Fiona Godlee : The New Substantive BMJ Editor

Joseph . C . Obi
bmj.com, 11 Feb 2005 [Full text]

A request for more variety in the coverage of ME/CFS in the BMJ in the future

Tom Kindlon
bmj.com, 11 Feb 2005 [Full text]

New Editor's credentials

Anibal J. Morillo, et al.
bmj.com, 13 Feb 2005 [Full text]

A request for open discussion about the value and safety of vaccine products

John Stone
bmj.com, 12 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Go Kamran

Paul Duff
bmj.com, 12 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: Great news for the BMJ and the BMJ Publishing Group

Angela Flack
bmj.com, 12 Feb 2005 [Full text]

NEW ACHIEVEMENT FOR BRITISH MEDICAL LITERATURE

MICHAEL FRIEDMAN, MD, MHA
bmj.com, 12 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Carry on Editing

Ashok Beckaya
bmj.com, 14 Feb 2005 [Full text]

congratulations

Genevieve Uchida-Ernouf
bmj.com, 14 Feb 2005 [Full text]

A request for the publication of biomedical research into M.E/CFS

Ruth Nolan
bmj.com, 17 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Time for a change at the BMJ?

James S Halpern
bmj.com, 17 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: Time for a change at the BMJ?

susanne mccabe
bmj.com, 18 Feb 2005 [Full text]

A Request for the publication of biomedical research into M.E/CFS - correction

Ruth Nolan
bmj.com, 18 Feb 2005 [Full text]