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Policy number Policy name Policy date Sunset date
AP 83-D Journal Editor Contingency Plan 9/28/2022 12/31/2025
Section
Policy source
December 15, 2020 EXCOM Meeting
Policy text

Medical Physics:

  1. The determination that the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of Medical Physics is unable to continue in that capacity will be made by the Editor-for-Therapy (ET) of Medical Physics, with written concurrence from two Deputy Editors (DE) of the journal selected by the ET. The determination that the ET is unable to continue in that capacity will be made by the EIC with written concurrence of two DEs selected by the EIC. The team of three concurring editors will be referred to below as the contingency team.
  2. The contingency team will immediately notify the chair of the JsBMC and the AAPM Chair of the Board that the editor contingency plan is being invoked.
  3. The responsibilities of the incapacitated editor will be subsumed by the contingency team, who will either oversee that editor business or delegate duties to the existing team of deputy editors. The deputy editors will already have the knowledge, training and access to journal management software to handle virtually all of these responsibilities.
  4. The contingency plan will be in effect until it is determined by the contingency team that it is no longer necessary. 
  5. If it is determined that the ET has been incapacitated and will be unable to return to the editorial duties, the EIC will have the option of appointing a new ET with concurrence of the AAPM EXECOM and ultimately of the AAPM Board.
  6. If it is determined that the EIC has been incapacitated and will be unable to return to the editorial duties, then the sitting AAPM president shall call for an Ad Hoc search committee to select a new EIC.

JACMP:

  1. The determination that (1) the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of JACMP or (2) either Deputy Editor-in-Chief (DEIC) of JACMP is unavailable or unable to execute the editorial duties will be made by the remaining two editors of the JACMP.
  2. The available editors will immediately inform the JsBMC Chair and the Chair of the Board about the unavailability of the EIC or DEICs and that the Editor Contingency Plan is being initiated.
  3. In the event that the DEIC is unavailable, the respective EIC will serve as the point of contact for the distribution and continuation of editorial responsibilities between the remaining editors of the JACMP. In the event that the EIC is unavailable, the JsBMC Chair and the Chair of the Board will consult with the other editors of the JACMP to determine which will serve as interim EIC.
  4. The EIC or interim EIC may, exercising discretion, distribute editorial responsibilities among a preselected subgroup of senior Editorial Board members of the JACMP to serve as interim co-editors to help manage the manuscript workload. The EIC or interim EIC will work with the Journal Manager and manuscript processor to credential and train the interim co-editors. The decision of the assigned Board member regarding a manuscript will carry the full force of an editorial decision.
  5. At the discretion of the EIC or interim EIC, other editorial business of the JACMP will be handled through appropriate combinations of the JsBMC Chair, remaining two editors of the JACMP, interim co-editors, Journal Manager, and manuscript processor.
  6. The process will remain in effect until such time as the editor is able to resume editorial duties or another editor is selected and approved by the AAPM Board of Directors.
  7. If it is determined that either DEIC has been incapacitated and will be unable to return to the editorial duties, the EIC will have the option of appointing a new DEIC with concurrence of the AAPM EXCOM and ultimately of the AAPM Board.
  8. If it is determined that the EIC has been incapacitated and will be unable to return to editorial duties, then the sitting AAPM president shall call for an Ad Hoc search committee to select a new EIC.

*incapacitation: For the purposes of this document, incapacitation includes death, severe disease (including mental or addiction disorders), trauma, or incarceration which temporarily or permanently makes the individual in question unable to carry on the duties of editor.

Policy version history
Policy number Policy name Policy date Sunset date Active?
AP 83-A Medical Physics Operations Manual - Editor Contingency Plan 10/7/2010 10/12/2015 Inactive
AP 83-B Medical Physics Operations Manual - Editor Contingency Plan 10/13/2015 12/15/2020 Inactive
AP 83-C Journal Editor Contingency Plan 12/15/2020 12/31/2025 Inactive
AP 83-D Journal Editor Contingency Plan 9/28/2022 12/31/2025 Active

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