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Unique Times, Unique Opportunities

By Rich Dubin, Publisher, and Janice T. Radak, Editor, LER

We are living in an exceptional time. Like you, we’re sheltering in our homes and donning face masks when we venture out. We’re happy to play our part to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus that leads to COVID-19, but we’ll sure be happier when things return to normal…. But the reality is that there will be a new normal, and we can’t quite see what that looks like just yet.

But working through this pandemic offers unique opportunities; although it might seem crazy, we’re moving full steam ahead with plans we made to go boldly into 2020. In January, we published our new Mission Statement and the 4 editorial pillars that will support it (see page 11). Now, we’re pleased to announce the addition of 4 members to the LER Editorial Advisory Board:

  • David G. Armstrong, DPM, MD, PhD, Director of the Southwestern Academic Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA) at the University of Southern California
  • Windy Cole, DPM, Director of Wound Care Research at the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine
  • Paul DeVita, PhD, Director of the Biomechanics Laboratory at East Carolina University
  • Bijan Najafi, PhD, Director of the interdisciplinary Consortium on Advanced Motion Performance (iCAMP) at Baylor College of Medicine.

Our goal in adding these expert clinicians, researchers, and academics? To strengthen our medical education content and provide new perspectives that focus on how collaborative care improves outcomes—ie, building awareness that, by working together across disciplines, you and your peers and colleagues can do far more than you can alone. The COVID-19 lockdown/quarantine/sheltering-in-place—whatever you choose to call it—is certainly showing how that’s true. And it’s also showing us that there are new ways of delivering and receiving healthcare. Keeping up the flow of accurate information about current therapies and evidence-based practices is critical in times like these.

That leads us to our next piece of news.

We would like to introduce you to LERexpo.com—the first Global Community for Online Education focused on the lower-extremity. Like the print and online publication LER, the Community will be multidisciplinary, embracing Podiatry, Orthopedics, Physical Therapy, O&P, Pedorthics, Chiropractic, Athletic Training, and Wound Care. Our platform will allow online presentations with speakers able to gauge audience attitude; panel discussions; “fireside chats” for small groups; a cocktail party for all attendees (think: Speed Networking, facilitated by interests you’ve preselected); and interactivity with select advertisers who understand what clinicians need to know about their products. It will be a special experience for these exceptional times.

LER Editor Janice T. Radak is investing her pandemic time sewing 100% cotton face masks for family, friends, colleagues, the warehouse drivers at her daughter’s medical device company, and local hospitals. (Harry Potter aficionados: Yes, those green masks show the Deathly Hallows.)

This might seem an unconventional time to start a new venture, but LER knows about tough times. We launched the publication in July 2009—during what has come to be known as the Great Recession. We were able to overcome a downturn in the economy—one that, importantly, didn’t last forever—and provide our readers and advertisers with a new and trusted resource. Ten years later, we’re facing challenges again—and, once again, LER wants to be there for you.

A decade ago, LER debuted at what everyone said was a terrible time to undertake a new endeavor. Now, we invite you to join us on another adventure—a multidisciplinary, multi-voice Community of learning with a single purpose: better outcomes for your patients.

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