Jonathan W. Friedberg, MD, MMSc, has been appointed as the next Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO), the flagship journal of ASCO. JCO publishes cutting-edge research on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancer and is one of the most highly cited oncology journals in the world.
Jonathan W. Friedberg, MD, MMSc
“Dr. Friedberg is a highly accomplished oncologist who has demonstrated excellence in research and treatment of patients with hematologic cancers and who also understands solid tumors and solid tumor research. He understands the numerous strengths of JCO and the factors necessary to continue its growth and reach as the leading cancer journal,” said ASCO President Lori J. Pierce, MD, FASTRO, FASCO. “Given the breadth and depth of his career, his selection for this role at this time was clearly the best fit on many levels. We are proud to have him on board to lead JCO as the next Editor-in-Chief.”
At a young age, Dr. Friedberg would often accompany his father, a pediatric cardiologist, on patient rounds at the hospital. He says that given his current career in medicine, it seems these early experiences made quite an impact on him, and that despite an initial interest in political science, he ultimately pursued biology.
A hematologic oncologist for more than 20 years, Dr. Friedberg is currently Director of the Wilmot Cancer Institute and Samuel Durand Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York. He chairs the SWOG lymphoma committee and is a U.S. National Institutes of Health R01–funded lymphoma researcher.
Dr. Friedberg serves as a JCO Associate Editor and has been processing JCO manuscripts on advances in hematologic cancers since assuming this role in 2011. He has also served as a reviewer and on editorial boards of other journals and has authored more than 250 journal articles and 26 books, making him well-versed in medical publishing.
“JCO is one of the most visible expressions of ASCO’s core values—evidence, care, and impact—and Dr. Friedberg is a visionary editor who can extend the legacies of his esteemed predecessors during this time of unprecedented opportunity and change in publishing, digital media, science, and medicine,” said ASCO Chief Executive Officer Clifford A. Hudis, MD, FACP, FASCO.
Top on his list of many ideas for JCO, Dr. Friedberg plans to further improve the journal’s rapid review process and to further leverage social media as a forum for discussion around articles published in the journal. He has also set a goal of ensuring diversity at all levels of JCO, from Editorial Board members to published content.
“JCO is viewed as the source of truth in our field,” said Dr. Friedberg. “The evolution of the journal over the last 10 years has been impressive, and as the next Editor-in-Chief, I am looking forward to maintaining this positive momentum while taking the opportunity to embark on new initiatives.”
Dr. Friedberg’s 5-year term as JCO Editor-in-Chief will begin in June 2021. He will succeed Stephen A. Cannistra, MD, FASCO, who will be completing his 10th year as the journal’s Editor-in-Chief. Under Dr. Cannistra’s leadership, JCO’s impact factor has climbed to 32.956—placing it among the top 1% of all journals.
Dr. Friedberg received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and his fellowship in hematology/oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He has been recognized by the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry with a Faculty Academic Mentoring Award, and he has received a Scholar in Clinical Research Award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
