Editor’s Message: 2024 JGPT Best Article Award, Journal Status, Editorial Team Changes, and Reviewer Appreciation 2023

2024 JGPT Best Article Award The Editors and Editorial Board of the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy (JGPT) are very pleased to announce the winner of the 2024 JGPT Best Article Award: Congratulations to the authors, Fermin García-Gollarte, MD, PhD; Ania Mora-Concepción, MD; Sacramento Pinazo-Hernandis, PhD; Eva Segura-Ortí, PT, PhD; Juan José Amer-Cuenca, PT, PhD; María Dolores Arguisuelas-Martínez, PT, PhD; Juan Francisco Lisón, MD, PhD; and Vicent Benavent-Caballer, PT, PhD! Their study, "Effectiveness of a Supervised Group-Based Otago Exercise Program on Functional Performance in Frail Institutionalized Older Adults: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial", was published in the January-March issue last year. (Jour Geriatr Phys Ther, 2023, 46(1):p 15-25.) Journal Status The JGPT received 241 submissions in 2023, a rate higher than last year and slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels. Manuscripts originated from the United States and 30 other countries. Of these 241 submissions, 142 (59%) were assigned to an Associate Editor for a second review. Of these, 68 (48%) entered into the peer-review system. Of the 60 peer-reviewed papers for which final disposition has been determined, 34, or 57% were accepted. At the time of this writing, 8 (12%) have final decisions remaining outstanding. In the case that these 8 manuscripts will be accepted, our final overall 2023 acceptance rate was 17%. As regards journal standing, decreases in impact factors (IF) were seen across the board due to industry-wide fluctuations in publication output over the past 3 years. The JGPT, along with 75% of journals in the index, experienced a decline in IF. Journal Citation Reports indicate a 2023 impact factor of 2.4 for the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy; this score is substantially lower than the prior year. SCImago ranks the Journal in the top 15% of Rehabilitation journals (18/148) and the top 40% of Geriatrics and Gerontology journals (44/113). Former Associate Editor Bob Wellmon, our Social and Digital Media coordinator, has engaged authors and readers via Facebook, Twitter, etc. Consequently, our Altmetrics scores are on the rise, reflecting a sizeable increase in media traffic concerning published JGPT articles. Editorial Team Changes and Recognition Last year we bid farewell to long-serving Associate Editor Bill Andrews, a stalwart on the Associate Editors (AE) team who brought keen insight – he will be sorely missed. Joining us to round out the team is new AE Mariana Wingood, PT, DPT, PhD, MPH. Please see her brief bio below. Welcome Mariana! The Editorial Board is also changing, with the departure of four members whose contributions helped the JGPT develop into the valued publication it is today. With enormous gratitude for their many years of service, we say good-bye to Dale Avers, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, Michael Bemben, PhD, FACSM, FGSA, Richard Fortinsky, PhD, and Timothy Kauffman, PT, PhD, FAPTA. Coming onto the Board are three new members, please welcome Keith Avin, DPT, PhD, Jennifer Vincenzo, PT, MPH, PhD, and Caitlin McArthur, MScPT, PhD. I look forward to working with the Editorial Board to steer the JGPT toward further successes over the next few years.Mariana Wingood, PT, DPT, PhD, MPH is a board-certified geriatric specialist and an assistant professor at Wake Forest University-School of Medicine with a dual appointment in the Department of Implementation Science and the Section of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine. She received her DPT from SUNY Upstate Medical University and a graduate certificate in epidemiology, MPH, and PhD in Human Functioning and Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Vermont. Dr. Wingood's research focuses on addressing the challenges physical therapists encounter when promoting functional independence and well-being, including early fall risk screenings and encouraging patients to engage in physical activity. In the last five years, she has written 3 book chapters and published 23 peer-reviewed manuscripts. Furthermore, she is actively involved in APTA-Geriatrics where she serves as our secretary and as the Co-Chair of GeriEDGE. Dr. Wingood is also an appointed member of the Older Adults Committee in the American College Sports Medicine's Exercise is Medicine initiative, where she assists with projects related to developing and validating physical activity measures for older adults. Additionally, Dr. Wingood practices at an outpatient neuro clinic where she treats older adult patients identified as being at high risk of falling. Reviewer Appreciation Working with the Editorial Team, the 87 Editorial Board members and Reviewers listed below each reviewed manuscripts for the Journal in 2023. We are sincerely grateful for the time and expert effort they devote to providing peer-reviews for JGPT manuscripts. REVIEWERS FOR 2023 Special Recognition These 4 individuals each reviewed 5 or more manuscripts last year Michael Bartholomew Stephen Carp Elena I. Iconaru Bayram Unver With Sincere Appreciation These 83 individuals each reviewed 1 – 4 manuscripts last year Odessa Addison Rania Almajid Mansour Alotaibi Faris Shuleih Alshammari Eman Alzoghbieh Mateus Dias Antunes Alexander Aruin Keith Avin Mario T Baker Carrie Barrett Katherine Beissner George Beneck Richard W Bohannon Heather J. Braden Kathryn Brewer Robert Allan Briggs Kathryn E. Brown Samuel Buchanan Prasun Chatterjee Christine Childers Kevin Chui Cathy Ciolek Katherine A Colcord Tracey Collins Henry Deiters Ellen Erdman Alexandra Evancho Elie Fiogbed Richard Fortinsky Stacy L Fritz Anne Keeler Galgon LaVerene Garner Arzu Genç Susan Glenney Paras Goel Allon Goldberg Shweta Gore Tamara Gravano Dawn Gulick Klaus Hauer Jill Heitzman Rashelle Hoffman Ethan Hood Kent E. Irwin Max Jordon Dana Judd Dennis Klima Neeraj Ashok Kumar Dalerie Lieberz Derek M Liuzzo Mark Loftin John Lowman Corrie A. Mancinelli Christine McDonough Carol McFarland Ann Medley Sara James Migliarese Kenneth L Miller Marilyn A Moffett Paulo Roberto Carvalho do Nascimento Raphael Gonçalves de Oliveira Arco Paul Melissa L Peterson Alyssa Portelli V Prakash Kimberly Pritchard Phuong Quach Forouzan Rafiei Anil Raja Doha Rasheedy Scot Sawyer Lori Schrodt Cathie Sherrington Kathy Shipp Jaclyn Megan Sions Nancy Smith Mary Thompson Carole Tucker Frank Tudini Dawn Venema Fran Wedge Christian Werner Hai Yan Zhang