Shaping the future of Ultrasonography: bimonthly publication and global growth
Article information
Starting in 2024, Ultrasonography embarked on a new initiative to accelerate the dissemination of cutting-edge research in the field by transitioning from a quarterly to a bimonthly publication [1]. This change aims to shorten the publication interval, ensuring rapid and widespread dissemination of research findings and ultimately fostering increased citations in related studies.
In 2024, Ultrasonography received a total of 220 article submissions, and 48 articles were published in Volume 43 (Issues 1-6). The published content included nine review articles, 31 original articles, three meta-analyses, one pictorial essay, one letter to the editor, two correspondences, and one editorial. The average time intervals from submission to the first decision, online publication, and final publication were 14 days, 84 days, and 148 days, respectively. By comparison, the performance in 2023, when the journal was published quarterly, featured intervals of 17 days, 94 days, and 209 days. The transition to bimonthly publication has markedly decreased the duration from submission to publication, now reducing the total time to under 150 days. I would like to extend special thanks to our editorial team for their commitment to enhancing the efficiency of the article process.
The 48 articles published in 2024 originated from various countries, including Korea (19), China (13), Japan (3), Taiwan (3), Italy (2), Turkey (2), Greece (1), Spain (1), the USA (1), and multi-nation collaborations (3). Approximately 40% of the articles in Volume 43 were contributed by Korean researchers. Since Ultrasonography was relaunched as an English-language journal in 2014, our focus has been on globalizing the journal. The contribution from international researchers has steadily increased and now represents about 60% of total submissions. This increase likely reflects our globalization efforts, though it may also be related to the recent medical crisis in Korea. In the first half of 2024, there was a significant decline in submissions from Korean researchers, resulting in a shortage of articles for review. Despite this, submissions from Korean researchers persisted, showcasing their resilience and continued potential. I am hopeful that the medical crisis in Korea will be resolved by early 2025, which will help stabilize our medical environment.
As an international journal specializing in medical ultrasound, Ultrasonography is dedicated to showcasing excellence in the field and enhancing the journal's recognition. One of the most effective strategies to increase a journal's visibility is by improving its impact factor [2]. Although Ultrasonography is recognized as a leading journal in medical ultrasound within Asian countries, its visibility in Western countries is still limited. We are actively inviting high-quality review articles and encouraging the submission of exceptional research through various initiatives.
To augment the visibility and citation impact of each paper, Ultrasonography introduced graphic abstracts (GAs) in original articles published in 2024. A GA is a pictorial presentation of key findings of the manuscript, and these concise summaries serve as an efficient tool to engage readers and facilitate comprehension [3]. The editorial office has taken the initiative to independently create GAs starting in 2024. We hope that the adoption of GAs will improve the visibility of manuscripts and increase the journal's citations in the coming years. Consequently, we anticipate an increase in the impact factor in the future.
In summary, the transition to bimonthly publication, the introduction of GAs, and our ongoing efforts to globalize Ultrasonography underscore our commitment to enhancing the journal’s visibility and impact. We are optimistic that these initiatives will not only expedite the publication process but also promote increased citations and recognition within the global medical community. As we move forward, Ultrasonography will continue to strive to be a leading platform for high-quality research in medical ultrasound, contributing significantly to the advancement of the field.
Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank our present and past editorial board members, section editors, and Ms. Chang SH, managing editor, for shaping each issue of Ultrasonography. We thank our authors for sending us their best work and our reviewers for their generous time and commitment to improving the quality of the articles we publish.