Dr. Akshaya Bhagavathula, an associate professor of epidemiology at North Dakota State University, recently spoke with JMIR Publications' publisher and executive editor, Gunther Eysenbach, while attending the APHA 2024 conference in Minneapolis. They enjoyed a fascinating discussion about his work in infodemiology and digital health. With a focus on using social media and AI to understand public health interventions, he brings a wealth of experience from his work across the globe, including Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

At the APHA 2024 Annual Meeting & Expo, Nicole Wolfe, Co-Director of Community Engagement at the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, shared powerful insights into rebuilding trust in public health, particularly within lower-income communities of color. In conversation with JMIR Publications Managing Editor Shruti Kochhar, Nicole highlighted the importance of continuous engagement, culturally tailored communication, and respectful partnerships in addressing historical mistrust and combating misinformation.

The American Public Health Association (APHA) 2024 Annual Meeting & Expo in Minneapolis was a hub of critical conversations about the future of public health. One particularly insightful session featured Dr. Arnab Mukherjea, a Professor of Public Health at California State University East Bay, and JMIR Infodemiology author, interviewed by JMIR Publications CEO and founder, Gunther Eysenbach. Their discussion centered on the urgent need to rebuild trust in public health and science, a challenge thrown into sharp relief by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The world of machine learning research is rapidly evolving, and with it, the need for clear and concise reporting standards. Recently, the JMIR AI journal hosted a webinar titled "Guidelines for Publishing Machine Learning Modeling Studies," featuring Dr. Khaled El Emam, Co-Editor-in-Chief of JMIR AI. This blog post summarizes the key takeaways for researchers looking to publish their machine learning modeling studies.

For junior faculty members, the path to academic promotion can seem daunting. However, with a strategic approach, you can successfully navigate the journey from assistant to associate to full professor. In a recent JMIR Publications webinar, Dr. Lawrence Mbuagbaw and Dr. Cynthia Lokker from McMaster University shared invaluable advice for junior faculty on what to focus on and what not to worry about when it comes to academic promotion. Here are a few of the key insights from their presentation.

Overlay journals represent a significant advancement in open access academic publishing. By leveraging the infrastructure of preprint servers, these journals offer researchers an efficient, accessible, and open route to peer-reviewed publication. Examples like JMIRx, with its focus on author collaboration and PubMed indexing, underscore the transformative potential of overlay journals in reshaping the landscape of scholarly communication.

JMIR Publications is excited to be headed to the American Public Health Association (APHA) 2024 Annual Meeting! The conference will take place in Minneapolis from October 27-30, 2024. Whether you’re a researcher, student, or policy maker working to rebuild trust in public health, we hope you’ll stop by JMIR Publications’ booth (2110) to chat about your work and meet our founder and CEO, Gunther Eysenbach, editors, and team.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the peer review process is a rapidly evolving landscape, offering the promise of streamlined efficiency and increased objectivity. However, this exciting development also highlights several ethical considerations that reviewers should thoughtfully address and navigate. Most importantly, if a reviewer is considering using generative AI to help them with performing a peer review, first check journal policy on whether this is permissible and, if so, then how.

Ethical considerations are paramount in eHealth and informatics research, particularly when dealing with human subjects. Peer reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring that research adheres to the highest ethical standards. Therefore, one of the main responsibilities of a reviewer is to carefully scrutinize studies and verify that they have conducted their human subjects research ethically. 

Inclusive language is more than just a matter of political correctness; it's essential for cultivating an academic environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and heard. In the realm of peer review, where critical feedback is exchanged, the choice of words carries significant weight. Let's delve deeper into how we can make our reviews more inclusive and unbiased.