Marking the end of a six-year journey as your Editor in Chief, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and pride. When I embarked on this journey in 2018, I was impressed and even anxious as European Radiology stood as a beacon of radiological excellence worldwide, built by my prestigious predecessors, Prof. Dr. Josef Lissner, Founding Editor, Prof. Dr. Albert L. Baert, Prof. Dr. Adrian K. Dixon, and Prof. Dr. Maximilian F. Reiser. Now, as I pass the baton to Prof. Dr. Bernd Hamm, I sincerely hope that the journal has grown not just in size, but also in stature, influence, and scope, and that it is prepared for new developments.

Over these years, we have not only seen a major increase in manuscript submissions, which more than doubled in number, but also a remarkable evolution in the content itself. I will take two different examples.

On the one hand, the COVID-19 pandemic was like a tsunami, sudden and overwhelming, disrupting the normal flow of our operations and demanding an immediate, robust response. We are grateful to senior reviewers who helped screen the enormous number of COVID-related manuscripts as our quick assessment team. We would also like to thank Prof. Ullrich Müller-Lisse who supported us as an additional Deputy Editor for thoracic imaging submissions during this phase. This period was both challenging and enlightening as we had to balance the urgency of sharing COVID-19 research with the imperative of upholding rigorous scientific standards. This crisis reinforced our resolve, beyond the pandemic, to foster a platform that not only publishes cutting-edge research but also serves as a conduit for international collaboration and knowledge exchange in the face of global health challenges.

On the other hand, the ongoing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into radiology is a progressive and long-standing wave, a powerful and relentless force that has been reshaping our landscape. European Radiology has been at the forefront of publishing innovative research in this area. Recognizing the potential and challenges of AI in our field, we have also worked towards defining clearer guidelines for the publication of articles on AI, ensuring rigor and relevance in this rapidly evolving domain.

Both illustrated that, as science is quickly advancing in a largely unforeseeable manner, it was important to maintain the link between advanced research and daily practice. For this reason, we encouraged authors to clearly explain the immediate or future clinical implications of their research. In addition, since 2018, we have decided to ask experts to provide commentaries on published articles, offering more detailed explanations of why it is important for the community to be aware of specific research findings. Despite the short notice, they rarely decline the invitation to write such commentaries. Most authors are pleased to see their research highlighted, which makes it highly accessible to all our readers, not just to subspecialists. We have steadily increased the number of these commentaries and are aware of their popularity.

As you may remember, I made some initial promises when I started as Editor in Chief. One was to streamline the review process, targeting an average turnaround time of 30 days for the first decision. I am proud to report that we have achieved this goal, thereby enhancing the efficiency and responsiveness of our publication process. While some articles may take longer to review, this can often be a positive indication of the thorough consideration they are receiving. Our commitment to timeliness, along with our dedication to quality, is directed at reinforcing our journal’s standing as a leading platform for radiological research. Another commitment was to ethical integrity and transparency, cornerstones of science publishing. We have strived to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct in all our endeavors.

The introduction of innovative roles within our editorial structure, such as Junior Deputy Editors and the Reviewer Fellowship program, has been pivotal in nurturing the next generation of radiological scholars as a hallmark of our commitment to fostering expertise and excellence in scientific review—a critical pillar of academic publishing. Together, we pioneered the concept of the “School of European Radiology,” a framework through which several of our younger colleagues have progressed within the journal’s hierarchy, ascending to higher roles and greater responsibility.

It is commonplace to say that without authors, there would be no journal. I treasure their huge investment in research, and the efforts to share their results with the community. Perhaps the most unpleasant part of the Editor’s daily life is the necessity to reject the vast majority of manuscripts. We try to provide reasons for rejection, and advice for improvement. We certainly understand and share the authors’ disappointment. Despite negative decisions, exchanges were always courteous. I was happy to see that in six years and more than 25,000 manuscripts, less than a handful of decisions were subject to a heated debate.

This says a lot about the hard work of our reviewers, to whom I extend my deepest gratitude. Your diligent, insightful, and often unsung work is the foundation upon which the journal’s integrity and quality are built. Your contributions are invaluable in shaping the scientific discourse and guiding authors towards excellence.

To the Editorial Board, thank you for your wisdom, guidance, and support, providing great help for our editors in difficult cases. Your collective expertise has been instrumental in steering the journal through an era of major growth and change.

I express my heartfelt gratitude to the past and present Deputy Editors—Prof. Rahel Kubik-Huch, Prof. Sujal Desai, Prof. José-María García-Santos, Prof. Pascal Baltzer, Prof. Rossano Girometti, Prof. Helmut Prosch, Prof. Avneesh Chhabra, and Dr. Daniel Pinto dos Santos—for their unwavering commitment, expertise, and invaluable contributions to the journal.

A special note of appreciation goes to our Editorial Office team, the unsung heroes working diligently behind the scenes. Stefanie Bolldorf deserves recognition for her exemplary leadership, ably assisted by Irene Christoffel. Dr. Katrin Deininger merits commendation for her expert management of the manuscript review process and interactions with editors, authors, and reviewers. However, I would also like to extend my appreciation to all members of the team for their remarkable dedication, professionalism, and commitment to excellence that has been crucial to every achievement. It has been an honor to collaborate with such a dedicated group.

My thanks go to the Board of Directors and to the Executive Council of the European Society of Radiology (ESR) for their continuous support and encouragement. Your support and guidance have been a constant source of strength.

As I look to the future, I am confident that European Radiology will continue to soar to greater heights, guided by the capable hands of Prof. Dr. Bernd Hamm. He will bring both continuity and new developments. Based on our exchanges in preparation for the handover, I know that the journey ahead is bright, filled with potential and promise for furthering the impact and reach of our journal.

In closing, I carry with me cherished memories, invaluable experiences, and the honor of having served a community dedicated to the betterment of radiological science and practice. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Editor in Chief. It has been a privilege and a pleasure.