New editorial fellow has journalistic roots

Perhaps Stephen Choi's path to CMAJ‘s editorial fellowship was preordained.

His grandfather, Jong-In Hong, was a nationally renowned journalist in Korea who received birthday presents from the country's president, while his father's passion for literature led him to give his only son the middle name Bernard — in homage to George Bernard Shaw.

Choi, who completed his residency in emergency medicine at Queen's University earlier this year, has opted to spend his first year at CMAJ instead of in an emergency department, in part because he felt it would help fulfil his latent literary leanings.

“I've always had an interest in writing because I'm a big reader, and the two go hand in hand. Science writing can also include a nice turn of phrase, and I like the idea of translating medical knowledge into something that's more understandable.

“I'm also interested in the goings-on at a medical journal. How do you manage to publish every couple of weeks? What do you publish? What should you publish?”

The position of editorial fellow has existed for 6 years. The fellow, who acts as an associate scientific editor, spends a year reviewing submissions, corresponding with authors and working closely with the senior editorial team to develop clinical and editorial content.

Previous fellows have had a significant impact on the journal. Two are now part-time associate editors: Dr. Erica Weir contributes regularly to the Public Health column, while Dr. Eric Wooltorton launched and oversees CMAJ's well-received Practice section. The 2002 fellow, Dr. James Maskalyk, will launch a section on international health this fall. Choi has already set his sights on the journal's section for Review articles — he'd like to see them refined — and he is also working to make the journal's layout more reader-friendly.

Choi, whose parents emigrated to Canada in 1969, was born in Sudbury, Ont., and raised in Toronto, and decided to pursue a medical career after completing his first year at Queen's University. “I wanted something practical, not theoretical. I later chose emergency medicine because it's such a hands-on field.”

Medical school provided a chance to spend 2 months in Guyana with Queen's Medical Outreach, and he also proved a diligent student. His awards included the Professor's Prize in Emergency Medicine.

He was also able to maintain his outside interests. He was drummer for a Kingston band, Cellar, which was inspired by bands like U2 and Radiohead. “It's fun to hit things,” he says of the drums.

He also hosted a campus radio show called Sing It on Stage, in which he commented on and played songs from musicals ranging from West Side Story to Rent. During his second year he was director/drummer for the Medical Variety Night of skits, song and dance, which raised about $13 000 for charity.

Choi, an avid golfer, has also nurtured an interest in photography, and especially appreciates how photography allows him to attend to small details that in the end constitute the big picture. He views his work at CMAJ in the same light: “Out of the little bits of scientific editing,” he says, “you construct a big picture.”

He chose emergency medicine for the excitement of working under pressure on all types of cases, and will keep his clinical skills sharp while at CMAJ by working at emergency departments in Ottawa. Working at CMAJ won't be Choi's only change in 2003/04. This January he will marry psychology student Lisa Couldridge at a family ceremony in Antigua.

Applications for the 2004 editorial fellowship must be received by Dec. 17, 2003 (www.cmaj.ca/misc/fellowship.shtml). — Barbara Sibbald, CMAJ