50 Years at STD!

Fifty years! Let that soak in for a moment. For the past 50 years, our journal, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (affectionately known as STD), has been publishing the most impactful articles in the field of sexual health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The journal has witnessed the evolution of the field—from venereal diseases to sexually transmitted diseases to STIs to an embrace of sexual health. Fifty years takes us back to the first issue, published in September of 1974. The journal was first published as the Journal of the American Venereal Disease Association. The journal was, indeed, the journal of the American Venereal Disease Association (AVDA), just as STD remains the journal of the American STD Association (ASTDA). The first issue contained 10 articles, including 4 commentaries/editorials. One of the commentaries detailed the history of the journal and the AVDA, noting that the journal was the rebirth of the Journal of Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Venereal Diseases.1 That journal was first published in 1917 as the American Journal of Syphilis; its last issue was published in 1954. As quoted by Kampmeier,1 the editor, J. Earle Moore, noted in that last issue: Nevertheless, the combination of the decline in incidence with the extreme simplification of therapy has cause an unfortunate reduction in interest in syphilis by physicians and medical students. Still more unfortunately, there is a parallel decrease in interest in investigative effort. The really basic problems relating to syphilis are still unsolved, that is, the successful growth of virulent Treponema pallidum on artificial media, the nature of immunity, the basis of tissue selectively in man, the development of a practical and genuinely specific diagnostic test, and a whole group of others. Many of these issues remain unsolved, or at least problematic. But the presence of STD for the last 50 years has contributed to moving the field forward—for syphilis and other STIs. The author list in that first issue includes some of the luminaries in the field of STIs at the time. Rudolph Kampmeier was the editor and published pieces describing the need for the journal2 and as well as the brief history.1 William (Bill) McCormack published an article on the antimicrobial, spectinomycin, against mycoplasma.3 Jim Curran, who went on to be a leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's response to the HIV epidemic in the United States, was a coauthor of 2 gonorrhea articles, including an economic evaluation.4,5 And our own Hunter Handsfield, who remains an associate editor emeritus (and continues to handle articles for us), published an article entitled, “Microepidemic of virulent gonococcal infection” with King Holmes.6 The author list reminds us of how these foundational researchers shaped our field and how the journal has served as a conduit for their work and that of many others. The STI professional community is a small but mighty one. The journal is privileged to serve the STI professional community—in North America and globally. Our efforts have sometimes been overshadowed by our younger, but bigger infectious disease sibling, HIV. But STIs remain prevalent, a cause of substantial morbidity,7 and costly.8,9 The STI community remains dedicated to addressing this challenge, while also focusing on many needs in the broader field of sexual health. In this issue of STD, we present a series of essays by our colleagues in the STI professional community. The essays provide us with reflections on the journal and the field. Hopefully, they provide a sense of the personality of the STI professional community. That personality is something that we deeply appreciate. Whenever asked to describe the STI professional community or why someone should choose the STI field, we always respond that the STI research community is “kinder and gentler.” We are truly a thoughtful, collaborative, collegial group. We hope that you will see that in this issue. Enjoy the issue. And Happy 50th Anniversary to STD.