The editor-in-chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), Dr. Paul Hébert, will step down from his position in 2011. Hébert has informed staff that he will not be returning to the helm of the journal once his current five-year contract expires on December 15, 2011. Hébert later indicated in an interview that the rationale for his departure lay in a sense that he had accomplished the primary objectives he'd set out for the journal upon assuming the helm on Jan. 2, 2007.
While serving as CMAJ Editor-in-Chief, Hébert retained his status as professor of medicine, surgery, anesthesiology and epidemiology at the University of Ottawa and his hospital privileges at the Ottawa Hospital, working a rotation of one week every six weeks. During his tenure at the helm, Hébert also took an appointment as 'strategic lead and advisor' to Canadian Institutes of Health Research President Dr. Alain Beaudet in the development of a national clinical research programme. In December 2009, CMAJ's Journal Oversight Committee requested that he develop 'a plan to complete his work at CIHR'. Hébert left the CIHR position on June 30, 2010.
CMA Secretary-General Paul-Émile Cloutier has said that the CMA's governing board will establish a search committee early next year to select Hébert's successor.
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