Recently, the BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health created a number of ‘trainee editor’ posts, with a trainee working alongside an associate editor in their country for one year. Trainee editors will gain knowledge and experience as a peer reviewer and also of the peer review process, together with skills that will prepare them for joining editorial teams of journals in the future.
In the previous weeks, the BMJ SRH blog has provided a short feature on each new trainee editor. Our final featured trainee editor is Barbara Salje.
Dr Barbara Salje is a speciality registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the East of Scotland. She started her medical career after graduating from the University of Aberdeen and after completing her foundation years, she travelled across the world to spend some time working in the rural hospital of Mseleni in South Africa. It was there that she developed her passion for Obstetrics and Gynaecology and, in particular, the global health aspect associated with sexual and reproductive health. Since starting her training, she had completed the DSFRH and uses what she learnt on a daily occurrence.
Barbara,what are you most looking forward to as a trainee editor?
Barbara: I am excited about being part of a journal that is at the forefront of sexual and reproductive health and seeing the impact that it can have on overall health and, in particular, global health. From a personal point of view, I am looking forward to developing my critical appraisal skills as I feel we should all practice evidence-based medicine. I have also started to further appreciate the role of research in guideline development and everyday clinical practice since preparing for my MRCOG. In addition to enhancing these skills within this role, I look forward to encouraging others around me to do the same.
Barbara, what do you consider to be the biggest challenge facing sexual and reproductive health?
Barbara: Sexual and reproductive health is such a large part of overall health, and providing safe choices that are backed up with appropriate evidence is so important. However, I feel that both professionals and patients are often nervous about discussing or managing this area of health. Making this more approachable and breaking down the barriers to accessing robust information can have untold benefits in all aspects of care. I think that BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health helps to make this information much more accessible and can encourage opening the sometimes difficult dialogue and hence improving uptake in care.