Abstract

In 2009, the Mediterranean Journal of Emergency Medicine (MJEM) was founded with a clear ambition: to provide emergency medicine in our region, Lebanon and the Middle East, with a credible, independent, and rigorous scientific platform. The objective was simple: to publish, to structure, and to connect. From the outset, a committed editorial board, a robust peer-review process, a firmly established open-access policy, and strict adherence to international ethical standards defined the journal’s foundations. As early as 2012, evaluations by the National Library of Medicine recognized the solidity of this framework and the high level of integrity underpinning the journal.

Since then, the journal’s trajectory has unfolded within challenging environments: conflict, regional instability, a profound economic crisis, and fragile healthcare systems. Throughout these years, emergency medicine has remained on the front line. The period between 2009 and today may appear long, but it has been defined by resilience, by quiet continuity and the preservation of scientific standards despite considerable constraints.

In 2023, a decisive step was taken with the launch of Panorama of Emergency Medicine (PoEM). This was not simply a change of name but a strategic transformation. PoEM emerged in continuity with MJEM, carrying forward its core values while embracing a broader identity, a clearer vision, and a more structured ambition. Not a rupture, but an evolution. By 2026, this transformation has become fully visible.
A new Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform compliant with the standards required by major indexing databases has been implemented. Metadata have been harmonized, DOIs are systematically assigned, and openaccess licenses are clearly displayed. Editorial workflows are structured and traceable. The journal’s infrastructure now aligns with contemporary expectations in scholarly publishing. The editorial office has also been strengthened by a professional team overseeing the entire editorial cycle, from submission management and peer review to copy-editing, production, and ongoing updates. This structure ensures regularity, coherence, and responsiveness. A scientific journal is judged not only by the quality of its articles, but also by the robustness of its processes.

Recent indexation in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) marks an important milestone. It confirms our transparency and compliance with international open-access standards. We welcome this recognition with satisfaction, but without triumphalism. It represents progress, one step along a longer path.
Applications to Scopus, PubMed, and MEDLINE are now being prepared methodically, while efforts continue to strengthen our visibility on Google Scholar. These initiatives are not driven by prestige but by dissemination. Indexation ensures that our authors’ work is visible, searchable, and integrated into the global scientific dialogue.
Our strategy for 2026 rests on four pillars:
1. Pragmatic scientific excellence.
We aim to increase the proportion of original research articles published in the journal, prioritizing studies that are methodologically robust, clearly articulated in their objectives, and transparent in their analyses. Our goal is to offer a credible platform where rigorous, relevant, and context-sensitive research can be disseminated and recognized.
2. Thoughtful internationalization.
Our Mediterranean identity remains a strength, but it is not a boundary. We will continue to expand our editorial board and reviewer network, diversifying institutional affiliations and clinical perspectives. Such diversity strengthens both scientific credibility and the quality of peer review.
3. Uncompromising ethical rigor.
Previous evaluations have highlighted the journal’s high level of integrity. In a scientific landscape sometimes strained by performance metrics and publication pressures, ethics remain our compass. Transparency regarding conflicts of interest, traceability of editorial decisions, and strict adherence to international standards will remain central to our practice.
4. Organizational stability.
The recent restructuring of our editorial and administrative teams seeks to ensure clarity of roles, shared responsibility, and continuity. A journal cannot rely on individuals alone; it must be sustained by a resilient structure. The professionalization of our processes is therefore essential to long-term credibility and sustainability.
PoEM now enters a phase of maturity, neither triumphant nor defensive, but resolutely forward-looking.
We recognize that inclusion in major indexing databases requires patience, consistency, and sustained scientific output. Credibility is not built through declarations, but through steady and coherent editorial work.

To our authors: submit work that is methodologically sound and clinically meaningful.
To our reviewers: continue this constructive rigor that strengthens manuscripts while supporting researchers.
To our readers: read, cite, and engage. A journal lives through its community.
From 2009 to 2023, from MJEM to PoEM, our journey has navigated demanding contexts. In 2026, we move forward with a clearer vision: to consolidate, to progress, and to share knowledge.

The journey continues, together.

Author contributions
All authors contributed equally and validated the final version of record.
Declarations
Conflicts Of Interests
All authors are members of the Editorial Board of PoEM.
They haven't taken part in the reviewing of this paper.
Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Registration
No registration applicable.
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Ethical approval
Ethical approval for this study was not required.