John Saultz, MD, Named New Editor of the Family Medicine Journal

Effective March 1, 2010, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) has named John Saultz, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Family Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, as the new editor of Family Medicine. Dr Saultz becomes only the fourth editor in the journal’s history.

“It is an honor to be selected to be Family Medicine’s next editor. For 30 years, this journal has been an essential forum for scholarship in family medicine and medical education.This is a tribute to STFM’s ongoing organizational commitment to making the journal a success,” said Dr Saultz.

Dr Saultz is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine, a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and a member of STFM. He was the 1993–1994 president of the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors and the 1996–1997 president of the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians. Dr Saultz has served on the Review Committee for Family Practice and on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

“Family Medicine is already a premier journal in the field of medical education. As the health reform process moves forward, there is a growing need for a scholarly forum where information and ideas can be shared about how to best prepare the workforce of the future for a transformed primary care system.I’m excited to be a part of helping our journal to become that forum,” said Dr Saultz.

Prior to serving in his current role at OHSU, Dr Saultz served as family medicine residency director from 1986 to 1994. In addition, Dr Saultz has served as director of Oregon’s statewide Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program and as assistant vice president of OHSU for Regional Education and Outreach. He was founding medical director of CareOregon, a Medicaid HMO designed to implement the Oregon Health Plan and he is currently chair of the Board of Directors of the Oregon Community Health Information Network (OCHIN), non-profit health information company. In 2003–2004, Dr Saultz was named a Bishop fellow by the STFM Foundation. 

The author of three books and more than 100 journal articles and book chapters, Dr Saultz’s current research interests include continuity of care in the doctor-patient relationship, medical decision-making, and the future of family medicine. 

“There are a lot of new ideas being discussed regarding Family Medicine’s future, and I’m sure there will be more in the coming months. I am hopeful that we will be able to start 2011 by implementing many of these ideas so that the journal has a very different look and feel,” said Dr Saultz.

Family Medicine is the official journal of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and has been in publication since 1981. It is designed for educators from a variety of different backgrounds in family medicine education. Nearly 6,000 family physicians, psychologists, sociologists, and public health specialists turn to Family Medicine month after month for the latest information in family medicine education research.