J. Perinat. Med. 2014; 42(6): 673

Guest editorial DOI 10.1515/jpm-2014-0267

In 1963 A.W. Liley reported the first intrauterine transfusion for Rh disease, and so Perinatal Medicine began. The fetus was recognized as a patient who could be diagnosed and treated. The next 10 years saw the emergence of ultrasound as a key to unlocking the door to fetal life. Amniocentesis sampling of fetal cells for genetic and disease diagnosis now would be performed by specialists. As these technical advances became widely available, Perinatal Medicine became an internationally recognized discipline shared by obstetricians and neonatologists. In 1973, 10  years after the first intrauterine transfusion, leaders of this new field had the foresight to realize that a dedicated journal was necessary. With the combined efforts of Erich Saling, Edward Hon, Roberto Caldeyro-Barcia, Stanley James, Konrad Wagner, and Joachim Dudenhausen, the first issue of the Journal of Perinatal Medicine was published. Although based in Berlin, the journal aspired to be an international forum for the rapidly emerging new field. The editors invited perinatologists from many countries, including myself, to join the editorial board. As a result, 30 years ago the Journal of Perinatal Medicine published the first special issue of papers from American perinatologists with myself as guest editor in 1984. Professor Dudenhausen was finishing his first year as Editor in Chief. Professor Erich Saling, the first Editor in Chief, and I had previously planned for an annual issue of the Journal containing papers presented at the New York Perinatal

Society. Professor Dudenhausen and I met in New York in 1985 and agreed to continue this cooperation between New York and Berlin. This has been consistent to the present day, linking Europe and America in Perinatal Medicine. As Perinatal Medicine progressed so did the Journal of Perinatal Medicine, especially since 1997 when Ingrid Gruenberg became Managing Editor. Perinatal Medicine has accelerated exponentially, to a rapidly growing, innovative branch of medicine. Great strides have been made in obstetrics, allowing many women to have children despite severe illness and advanced age. The threshold of neonatal survival has been pushed back further and further. Fetal therapy has leaped ahead technically, with laser surgery of placental vessels among other procedures in utero. We now care for 2 patients simultaneously, one within the other. The New York Perinatal Society and the Journal of Perinatal Medicine have observed, presented and recorded this incredible story together for 30 years. On this thirtieth anniversary of mutual commitment to Perinatal Medicine it is fitting that there is this special issue of the Journal to commemorate our wonderful collaboration, and proudly to announce that the New York Perinatal Society formally recognizes as its official journal The Journal of Perinatal Medicine. Bruce K. Young, MD NYU Medical School – Ob/Gyn 530 1st Ave HCC-5G, New York, New York 10016, USA, E-mail: [email protected]

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