Allan D. Kirk Named Editor-in-Chief for the American Journal of Transplantation

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Feb 19, 2010, 10:15 ET

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. and ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Allan D. Kirk, M.D., Ph.D., has been chosen by the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) to serve as editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Transplantation (AJT). This monthly publication is the official journal of the two societies and the number one journal in the field of transplantation.

Kirk will succeed Editor-in-Chief Philip F. Halloran, M.D., who shepherded the AJT from its inception in 2001. According to Kirk, "The American Journal of Transplantation has, through exceptional leadership by Phil Halloran and visionary support from the AST and ASTS, become an internationally recognized asset to the field of transplantation and a model clinical science journal."

Commenting on his new position, Kirk said, "I am truly honored to have been selected as the new editor-in-chief and accept this responsibility with a commitment of service to the transplantation community. The next five years will be exciting and challenging. The accelerating pace of scientific discovery is certain to present important improvements in care for our patients. Similarly, transformational changes in healthcare delivery are sure to influence transplant donors, recipients and their healthcare teams, and come upon us in rapid succession. As such, the means by which scientists, clinicians and the general public access and assimilate new information will need to keep pace while holding true to the scientific method and the core principles of peer review."

AST President Joren C. Madsen, M.D., D.Phil., congratulated AJT's newly-appointed editor-in-chief and said, "Dr. Kirk's extensive background and recognized contributions in fields of basic, translational and clinical research makes him the ideal candidate to build on Dr. Halloran's successes and bring the journal to its next level."

ASTS President Robert M. Merion, M.D., added, "During the past 10 years of leadership by inaugural editor-in-chief Dr. Philip Halloran, the AJT has become the premier peer-reviewed journal in our field. With the passing of the baton to Dr. Allan Kirk, we look forward to many more accomplishments and accolades in the future. Dr. Kirk brings a wealth of knowledge, skill, and experience to this challenging position, and I am confident that the journal is in the best of hands."

Kirk is a member of both the AST and ASTS and has participated actively in both organizations throughout his career. He currently serves on the AST Board and the AST/ASTS Joint Council.

As an active transplant surgeon at the Emory University School of Medicine Transplant Center, Kirk's practice focuses on adult and pediatric kidney and pancreas transplants. His clinical viewpoint is derived from practice in federal, private and university hospitals. His academic experiences have provided wide-ranging insights into the scientific aspects of transplantation. With long-standing editorial experience in high profile biomedical journals and as an associate editor for AJT, he is particularly well-suited for the position.

As he looks to the future, Kirk remarked, "I think the AJT Editorial Board, working with its parent societies and Wiley-Blackwell, can respond to the challenges presented to transplantation in ways that not only serve our core readership, but also provide new standards for the dissemination of knowledge. I am gratified by the support that has been pledged towards this vision by my colleagues on the AST/ASTS Joint Council, my partners within the Emory Transplant Center, the leadership of the Emory University School of Medicine, and my family."

The eight member AST/ASTS AJT Editor Search Committee chose Kirk as AJT's editor-in-chief following a comprehensive selection process which began in April 2009. Kirk will work closely with Phil Halloran on the transition throughout 2010.

For more information on AST visit www.a-s-t.org. For more information on ASTS visit www.asts.org.