Newly Created Open Access Journal Focused on Appalachian Health Now Accepting Article Submissions

The new Journal of Appalachian Health was created through a collaborative effort between several academic institutions and organizations located within the Appalachian region. The journal is an online, open access, peer-reviewed journal with a mission of creating a healthy and thriving Appalachia. Thanks to the initial financial support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the journal will require no subscription fee or author publication fee. Hosting for the journal is provided by the University of Kentucky Libraries on their UKnowledgeplatform.

The mission of the journal is to publish research findings capable of transforming policy and practice in a rapid, yet rigorous, process. Committed to highlighting relevant, local innovations developed in the Appalachian region, the editors would like to bridge community narratives with academic research.

“The opportunity to create a new journal committed to the health of Appalachians is an important challenge given the burden of disease, the inequities that exist in the region and both the wonderful character of the hills of Appalachia and the poor disease status of those who live and work there. We hope this journal will,” said F. Douglas Scutchfield, MD, Bosomworth Professor in Health Services Research and Policy at the UK College of Public Health, “address these issues and allow us to move forward with efforts to address those problems in this beautiful and problematic region of American.”

Editorial and advisory board members envision a journal that will be inclusive and promote equity by engaging regional stakeholders in the development of the publication. Many of the articles will include commentaries that will highlight the implications of the research. The journal welcomes readers who will use the published findings in both the health and non-health care fields in which they work to affect change in their communities.

“We are very excited to launch this new journal as a hub for community and academic research in Appalachia. We anticipate that the journal will foster new research collaborations that will ultimately improve the health of the region,” said Erin Haynes, DrPH, professor and chair of Epidemiology, UK College of Public Health.

Authors interested in submitting articles for publication in the journal may follow the instructions located via the links provided on the website. Initially, subscribers can expect to receive issues on a quarterly basis. As article submissions increase, the journal may publish additional issues throughout the year. Those interested in subscribing may follow instructions provided on the website to join the mailing list, connect with the journal via Twitter or contact the editors via email.