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David Bruns: An Editor for All Reasons

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Health Services Division, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6220, E-mail cxb{at}ornl.gov

On January 1, 1990, David Bruns became the 3rd Editor in Chief of Clinical Chemistry, succeeding J. Stanton King, who served as editor from 1970 to 1989. After 18 years of distinguished service, Dr Bruns will retire from the Journal on January 1, 2008. Under his stewardship, Clinical Chemistry has evolved into an excellent journal with a reputation for publishing top-notch, state-of-the-art papers in clinical chemistry, laboratory medicine, and emerging related fields.

Notable accomplishments during David’s editorship include:

• Raising the global image of Clinical Chemistry.
  
• Placing Clinical Chemistry among the 1st generation of journals to implement electronic publication.
  
• Decreasing time from submission to publication.
  
• Reflecting changes in the field, such as adding new sections on molecular diagnostics, evidence-based medicine, and proteomics.
  
• Increasing the impact factor and improving other citation statistics.
  
• Playing a leadership role in the scientific community (most notably with the STARD initiative for reporting studies of diagnostic accuracy).
  
• Implementing an electronic system for submitting, reviewing, and tracking manuscripts.
  

Those of us who have been privileged to work with David in his role as editor are aware of the passion and dedication that he has always brought to the position. His goal always has been to make Clinical Chemistry the top journal in its field, and he has worked long, long hours to make this happen. As many authors will attest, he is a stickler for correct grammar and precise word choice. For example, one of his pet peeves is use of the word level instead of concentration, because "Concentrations are for chemists, levels are for carpenters!!!"

Authors whose papers have been rejected as well as those whose papers have been published in Clinical Chemistry attest to David’s honesty, professionalism, and fairness in conducting the editorial review process. He is a hands-on editor, working tirelessly with authors to improve their papers. He also has carried out the editorial process with integrity, as evidenced by his policy of having papers that have been submitted by authors from the University of Virginia reviewed and processed by an Associate Editor from a different institution. In addition, he has rejected many offers to act as a consultant, a role that might entail conflict of interest.

David’s road to becoming Editor in Chief of Clinical Chemistry began in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was born. He received his formal education there, obtaining a BS degree in Chemical Engineering and an AB in Arts and Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis. He attended medical school at St. Louis University and graduated with his MD degree in 1973. After interning in laboratory medicine at Barnes Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine from 1973 to 1974, he undertook residency and fellowship training there in laboratory medicine and experimental pathology.

While at Washington University School of Medicine, with the able assistance of Jay McDonald, Jack Ladenson, and others, David honed his considerable skill in executing practical jokes, of which many of us have been victims. In addition to being a practical joker, David has a keen wit and a great sense of humor.

David has always been an avid reader of the medical and scientific literature, reading with an inquiring and analytical mind. He is able to quote chapter and verse of much of the recent literature in a wide field of medicine and related sciences, and this attention to detail has served him well as an editor.

We all wish David Bruns a successful and enjoyable retirement. He has served our association and profession with distinction.

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