In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinical and scientific community has the opportunity to "consider how we can improve as a society and be better prepared for future challenges," according to an Editor's Page published April 9 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).

Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, et al., write that physician-scientists and clinicians should consider "academic responsibilities, including scientific rigor, mentoring our younger clinicians and investigators, improving the delivery of patient care, and protecting our clinician teams."

They add: "Culturally, we have an opportunity to be less reactive, more reflective, and to refocus on social equality and public health. A change is imminent."

According to Fuster, JACC provides a "lens into how the crisis has altered academic output." In March 2020, JACC experienced a 70% increase in submissions compared with March 2019, including several papers related to COVID-19.

While the JACC editors "want to appropriately inform the medical community about the coronavirus" and its cardiovascular complications, Fuster et al., note a "responsibility to commit to quality science" and peer review. For clinicians on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors note that JACC Journals "will continue to be flexible with deadlines and alleviate peer review publishing responsibilities."

The cardiovascular and scientific communities are "already witnessing glimmers of hope," Fuster et al., write. "We are already proud to see the courage we have witnessed by researchers and clinical care teams, demonstrating a fortitude that we are sure will lead toward a better future," they conclude.

Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team, COVID-19 Hub

Keywords: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Mentors, Pandemics, Public Health, Coronavirus Infections, Peer Review, Research, Patient Care, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

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