New Australian Veterinary Journal Editor-in-Chief

^{Emeritus Professor Cathy McGowan.}

The AVA is pleased to welcome Emeritus Professor Cathy McGowan as the new Editor-in-Chief of the Australian Veterinary Journal (AVJ), our flagship scientific publication. She succeeds outgoing Editor-in-Chief Associate Professor David Beggs, who has helmed the AVJ for the past 5 years.

We are also delighted to announce that Cathy will deliver the opening address at the AVA Conference Research Day. Presented in collaboration with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, Research Day will celebrate Australia’s best and brightest veterinary researchers. With 24 presentations to be showcased across the day, Research Day tickets will also include entry to the Welcome Reception and Exhibition Opening on Monday evening – please come along to meet Cathy and hear more about her vision for the AVJ. Find out more and register here.

First published in 1925, the AVJ enjoys an illustrious reputation and is a popular AVA member benefit. It is also a key pillar of the AVA’s commitment to presenting an exceptionally well developed and curated advanced education program. The role of AVJ editor is pivotal to the journal’s success and requires an understanding of the evolving needs of the veterinary profession, the scientific community and broader veterinary industry.

Professor McGowan brings a wealth of expertise to this important role.  

An academic of 25 years, Cathy’s career has included working as a clinical academic in Australia, Finland and the United Kingdom. Her journey is marked by over 165 peer-reviewed publications – the very first of which was published in the AVJ in 1993. Cathy’s publishing experience also encompasses textbooks, textbook chapters, research reports, and non-peer reviewed literature.

Cathy notes the role of AVJ editor extends far wider than just publishing. “As a successful researcher I have had extensive experience in writing and reviewing grant proposals, preparing, presenting and reviewing scientific research abstracts and I have been a research supervisor and PhD examiner for many PhDs and other postgraduates. These latter roles are vital in developing a sense of the direction of veterinary research, research techniques and stakeholders’ interests.”

Cathy is an active AVA member, contributing to the AVA’s Chartered Veterinary Practitioner Committee and the Education Advisory Committee. She is excited by the opportunity to further her involvement with her professional association and work with the AVJ community across Australia.

With a clear vision for the AVJ, Cathy wants to see the journal positioned for both the profession it represents and the academics and other researchers who publish in it. “I would like to see the AVJ recognised by the veterinary profession as their journal and the AVJ seen by researchers as a good choice for publication of their research, especially clinically and professionally relevant research. I believe these two will be mutually beneficial. Researchers wanting engagement and impact from their publications will be more inclined to publish in a journal well read by the profession, and the profession will respond favourably to more high-quality research and reviews that are relevant to and able to support the evidence base for their practice.”

She adds, “A strength of the AVJ has always been in its publishing articles that are uniquely relevant to Australian practice, including involving Australia’s unique wildlife species, envenomation, toxicology and plant poisons. Strengths also include the publication of areas that Australian researchers have led the world on, for example, mental health and injury in the veterinary profession and production animal research. My vision is to showcase Australian expertise and bring the world to the AVJ instead of Australian talent choosing to publish elsewhere.”

Passing the Torch: Celebrating David Beggs' Legacy as AVJ Editor

^{Associate Professor David Beggs.}

In welcoming Professor McGowan, the AVA also acknowledges and celebrates the profound contribution of outgoing editor Associate Professor David Beggs, who is passing on a highly relevant, accessible, and financially sustainable journal.

David is justifiably proud of how the AVJ has progressed under his direction. The AVJ’s citation index has risen from 0.87 to 1.3, demonstrating its growing impact on the field. The transition from traditional print publication to a fully online platform has included the implementation of ‘early view’, so that articles are now published online shortly after acceptance.

Other innovations include the addition of new article types such as Guidelines and Early Career Researcher literature reviews, reflecting the AVJ’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The adoption of the CAUL open access agreement ensures that papers from Australian Universities are published as open access at no cost.

He notes that one of the biggest challenges has been managing the peer review process, with an increasing trend for reviewers declining to peer review manuscripts (despite them being disappointed with the time it sometimes takes to have their own work peer reviewed).

On behalf of the AVA, Dr Meredith Flash, Head of Education and Events, thanked David for his impactful work steering the AVJ over the last 5 years. “The AVA extends our thanks to Associate Professor Beggs for his important work to modernise the AVJ, bringing open access opportunities for authors and streamlining the review process to position the journal for the future. David continues his important contribution to the AVA as the Board member leading the work on constitutional change.”