FICEBO Head, Professor Teppo Järvinen, appointed as Clinical Editorial Advisor to The BMJ

The Head of FICEBO, Professor Teppo Järvinen of the University of Helsinki, has been appointed as a Clinical Editorial Advisor to The BMJ, one of the world’s oldest and most respected general medical journals.  

In his new role, Professor Järvinen will take part in The BMJ’s decision-making process regarding research articles. He will serve as one of the journal’s international Clinical Editorial Advisors and join its weekly manuscript meetings – historically known as the “hanging committee” – where publication decisions on submitted research papers are made.

“I cannot say for certain why I was selected, but during the interview with the Editor-in-Chief, it became clear that they valued my background in clinical research, my experience in critical appraisal of evidence, and perhaps also my tendency to think outside the conventional box,” says Järvinen.

This may be a first for a Finnish researcher to be appointed to an editorial or advisory board of one the world’s leading general medical journals.  The BMJ’s editorial staff noted that they could not recall any previous Finnish appointees to such a role, and even within the Nordic countries, such positions are rare.

Founded in 1840, The BMJ is renowned for its high scientific standards and its influential role in shaping global medical debate. The journal’s research papers reach millions of readers worldwide and its editorial policies have long championed transparency, evidence-based medicine, and scientific integrity.

Dr. Järvinen welcomes the BMJ appointment and sees is as an opportunity to learn how a major international medical journal operates – and to use that insight to strengthen clinical research in Finland.

“I approach this role with humility and a desire to learn. I hope that through this experience, I can also help promote and elevate Finnish clinical research on the global stage,” he says.

According to Järvinen, The BMJ represents a natural match for his professional values:

“For decades, the journal has been at the forefront of promoting evidence-based medicine, scientific integrity, openness, and a critical approach to conflicts of interest. These are precisely the principles I have tried to advance in my own work in Finland,” he adds.

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