A new era for the Journal of Family and Community Medicine.

The Journal of Family and Community Medicine (JFCM) is the official scientific publication of the Saudi Society of Family and Community Medicine (SSFCM). The JFCM was first published in 1994 to meet "...a pressing need for a medical journal that would develop into a forum to address certain issues of family and community medicine.”[1] Thanks to the efforts of the earlier editorial team, the journal continued to serve as a major source for research in the field of family and community medicine and helped many researchers to communicate their work with the scientific communities. These results were achieved in spite of many obstacles that faced the JFCM at its early years. Now, thanks to the efforts of the new editorial team and the continued support of the University of Dammam and the sponsors of the SSFCM, the JFCM is an international peer-reviewed journal. The journal is committed to relevance and excellence and has a clear vision "...of becoming a leader in medical journalism in the field of family and community medicine..."[2]

The Journal of Family and Community Medicine (JFCM) is the official scientific publication of the Saudi Society of Family and Community Medicine (SSFCM). The JFCM was first published in 1994 to meet “… a pressing need for a medical journal that would develop into a forum to address certain issues of family and community medicine.”[1] Thanks to the efforts of the earlier editorial team, the journal continued to serve as a major source for research in the field of family and community medicine and helped many researchers to communicate their work with the scientific communities. These results were achieved in spite of many obstacles that faced the JFCM at its early years. Now, thanks to the efforts of the new editorial team and the continued support of the University of Dammam and the sponsors of the SSFCM, the JFCM is an international peer-reviewed journal. The journal is committed to relevance and excellence and has a clear vision “… of becoming a leader in medical journalism in the field of family and community medicine…"[2]

Since its debut, the JFCM was completely prepared by the head office of the SSFCM, and published by the King Faisal University Press. However, from the mid of 2010, the JFCM started to be published through Medknow Publications (a publisher for peer-reviewed, online/print + online journals in the area of Science, Technology and Medicine). Medknow, with over 207 print + online journals, is the largest open access publisher of print journals in the world, which does not charge author or author institution for submission or processing of articles. Since the end of 2011, Medknow has become a subsidiary of Wolters Kluwer Health publishing.

In early 2011, the JFCM became indexed in the PubMed, and is now indexed with Caspur, DOAJ, EBSCO Publishing's Electronic Databases, EMR Index Medicus, Expanded Academic ASAP, Genamics JournalSeek, Google Scholar, Health and Wellness Research Center, Health Reference Center Academic, Hinari, Index Copernicus, MANTIS, OpenJGate, PrimoCentral, ProQuest, PubMed, Pubmed Central, SCOLOAR, SIIC databases, Summon by Serial Solutions, Ulrich's International Periodical Directory.[3]

The number of manuscripts submitted to the JFCM has increased from 36 in the year 2009 to 137 in 2011. The rejection rate increased from 19% in 2009 to 77% in 2011. In addition to its open website, the JFCM prints and distributes 3000 hard copies to the SSFCM members and others. The JFCM with its new editorial team, editorial board, and advisory board will continue its mission to promote excellence in the practice of Family and Community Medicine and its closely related fields, through publishing research in promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative care and medical education.

We would like to thank the former editors, Professor Zohair Sebai (1994–2001) for establishing the JFCM and laying its foundation, and to Professor Hassan Bella (2001–2010) for building on that solid foundation and keeping up the good work. The JFCM is also grateful to all former members of the previous editorial boards, advisory boards, and reviewers, authors and readers for their input, which kept the JFCM alive. We are indebted to His Royal Highness Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, the patron of SSFCM for his tremendous support and encouragement during these years.

On behalf of the editorial board and the advisory board; we would like to thank the editorial team, Prof. Sulaiman Bah, Dr. Hasan Abu Gad, Dr. Abdullah Aljoudi, Mr. Ramesh, Kumar, and Mrs. Mercy Larbi, for their continuous efforts to keep the JFCM on the track of excellence.

By the time of this editorial, readers will be able to access all previous issues online and download all previous issues of the JFCM.

We are looking forward to a bright future of JFCM with the help of ALLAH Almighty.