Nield named editor of the West Virginia Medical Journal

Linda Nield, M.D., professor, associate dean for Admissions, and co-director of the Pediatrics Rural Scholars Program, has been appointed to become the new editor of the West Virginia Medical Journal (WVMJ), the official journal of the West Virginia State Medical Association.

Dr. Nield hopes to work closely with the editorial team and associate editors to accomplish the following: provide high-quality original research articles and case reports, recruit more expert peer reviewers, and engage with novice authors, such as medical students and residents for collaborative purposes.

Nield is the first woman to hold the editor position in the 150-year history of the WVMJ, according to Bethany Kinder, managing editor of the Journal.

“One of my goals is to visit medical schools in the state to encourage the participation of more emerging authors in the medical field. They are the future of the profession and of the WVSMA,” Nield said.

The West Virginia State Medical Association (WVSMA) works to advance health while promoting the quality and safety within the practice of medicine in West Virginia. The organization is physician-based, where membership consists of active physicians, retirees, residents, and student members.

In addition to advancing the practice of medicine in the state, the WVSMA aims to have a unified voice in evidenced-based health policy in the state to better represent the overall interest of patients, physicians, and public health.

Nield specializes in general pediatrics, and has a board certification from the American Board of Pediatrics. She received her MD from Dartmouth Medical School, and completed her Residency at West Virginia University.