This is the tenth in a nearly annual series of JAMA CONTEMPO issues. Over the years, their purpose has remained unchanged: to keep physicians informed of recent developments in various areas of medicine, through brief descriptions by specialists in each field.
The inaugural issue in February 1978 contained 18 articles written principally by members of JAMA's Editorial Board. Subsequent editions reached beyond the Board for expertise, to cover a broader range of topics. The number of articles has gradually increased; this year's CONTEMPO encompasses 41 subjects. This expansion is limited by page allocations, so not all areas of medicine can be addressed every year.
In early CONTEMPO issues, the Medical News & Perspectives section featured personal profiles. The 1984 CONTEMPO was the first to carry that section greatly enlarged. This page increase permits coverage of such a broad topic as this year's highlight, military medicine.
The editor of the