Dr. Lloyd Tucker, former Clinical Editor, Seattle Study Club Journal
When Michael Cohen, founder of the Seattle Study Club, asked me to compose a piece on the development and growth of The SSC Journal, it provided an opportunity for me to reflect on what the Journal has achieved in its seven years of existence and where we envision it seven years from now. Although my name has speckled many pages of the Journal in various capacities over the years, this is the first time I am delving into the non-clinical realm. A heady undertaking for this clinical guy!
Introducing the Clinical Editor
I have up to this point hesitated in formally introducing myself through the medium of the Journal. Since I have been given this mission from our Commander in Chief, should I choose to accept it, I feel now is an appropriate moment to exercise my prerogative of introduction. Should you not be interested, the next paragraph will self-destruct in ten seconds. A brief word about my personal background might help you better understand and relate to your Clinical Editor’s dental Weltanschauung. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1990, I spent a fabulous year, professionally, socially and culturally, completing a general practice residency at the Jewish General Hospital of Montreal. I returned home to Pittsburgh and practiced general dentistry for two wonderful years with my father. Upon his encouragement, I made the pilgrimage to Seattle in 1993 and spent the next three years at the University of Washing- ton completing the perio program. In my real life, I have a solo private practice in Seattle. In my fantasy world, Tuesdays beckon me to my editorial responsibilities, as they have been doing since 1997.
Impetus Behind the Journal
Although the Seattle Study Club has been in existence for 12 years, the Journal was just a glimmer in Michael Cohen’s eye during the first five of those years. With the depth and breadth of clinical talent in the Seattle Study Club network, he felt that its members deserved a “homegrown” publication that would reflect the focus on comprehensive treatment planning for which the Seattle Study Club is known. And the Journal is literally “homegrown” – when bids from various association journal publishers were analyzed by Michael’s in-house lawyer (and wife) Suzanne, she pronounced each one of them to be a losing proposition. The only way to produce a high-quality publication and stay sol- vent, she said, would be for the SSC to take on the role of publisher. Which is to say that Suzanne would take on the role of publisher, and she did. Until I came on board, Dr. Cohen designed and constructed the clinical cases, and Suzanne color corrected, proofed and edited all of the clinical information! She still has tremendous responsibilities and she performs virtually all of her editing and composing from the Cohen kitchen table. (Of course, publishing a Journal of this quality requires a production team. Computer guru Tim Killian and Rainier Color’s Dee Grisez and her co-workers are essential players on this team, and Suzanne and I rely on them heavily.)
Focus on Treatment Planning
Now in its seventh illustrious year, The SSC Journal first hit the press with its Fall 1996 issue. The backbone of that inaugural issue, as it remains today, was the clinical cases. Cases are published over two issues, the first part being limited to all the initial information and documentation necessary to form a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan. The second part of a case shows the final result and gives the clinician an important chance to retrospectively reflect upon what he would do identically or differently, were the patient to walk into the office today. The SSC Journal is the first and only dental publication that has a specific focus on presenting how cases are handled by clinicians around the world. No other journal takes the reader from beginning to end of “real life” cases on a regular basis. It is the only quarterly publication to actually follow cases from a longitudinal standpoint. This approach is in the style of graduate seminars held regularly in certain schools and led by the likes of Saul Schluger, Morton Amsterdam and Gerald Kramer. We believe that this style, the continuous, persistent involvement with case diagnosis and treatment planning, is the key to honing and refining one’s dental awareness. Our focus on “real-life” cases has led to some misunderstanding as to our purpose, however. Some clinicians have felt that we should be showing only ideal treatment. In the real world, dentistry is not always ideal but rather a series of compromises. Our purpose is to reflect that world, not only the “expert’s world” of ideal dentistry.
Special Reports
After more than a year, we realized a certain niche was missing from the Journal. Members were sending in cases that were not of a comprehensive nature to be published as a two-part clinical case, yet had high educational value and content. We created a new category and with Vol. 2 No. 4, the first Special Report appeared. Special Reports allow us to publish, on a reappearing basis, treatment localized to an isolated problem or clinical technique that is of significant value to the readership.
Symposium Synopses With Vol. 3 No. 2 came the inception of a new level in Journal categories. The Symposium Synopsis was born. Since Symposium 1998, almost every live presentation has been transformed into a written format and published as a Synopsis in the Journal. I personally take great pride in these Synopses, as it is yours truly who is individually responsible for writing them. I am indebted to the many Symposium presenters who have graciously helped and guided me through the writing process. Additionally, I could not pay for a better individualized continuing education program. I only hope that the readership has benefited from the wonderful knowledge shared by the speakers in the Synopses as I have. Follow-up on Cases And again our humble Journal reached a new milestone with Vol. 6 No.1. A Follow-Up of a previously published case found itself in print. As the Journal and our currently 32 published cases mature, we will be receiving more Follow-Ups from the original authors/clinicians. To have the luxury of seeing well-documented cases 5, 10 and sometimes even 20 or more years after they were completed will prove to be immeasurably valuable. After all, it is only through critical observation and assessment of the work we do that lets us verify whether the original diagnosis and treatment plan were indeed appropriate.
The Future is Unlimited
As for the future of the Journal, the only limitations are enthusiasm and imagination. This is your Journal. We rely not only on your contribution of material to publish, but also on your novel ideas regarding the navigational course to which we should set our headings. Please pick up the phone, shoot us an e-mail or drop us a let- ter. We definitely have plans and ideas here in Seattle, and we thrive on your energy and input. Be prepared for new surprises and delights in store for you and don’t be shocked when you start seeing The SSC Journal shelved alongside all the notable dental journals in Health Science libraries across the country. Stay tuned!
