The evolution of the Journal covers: 55 years of uninterrupted progress.

In the spring of 1961 a small group of individuals from diverse backgrounds all had one thing in common: They were performing a new technology called extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Less than a decade earlier surgeons and researchers had shown that patients suffering from cardiac disease could be placed on a `heart-lung’ machine for a short period of time facilitating intracardiac access for surgical repair. The first formal meeting for individuals practicing and studying ECC, using either `heart-lung’ or dialysis machines, was held in 1962. In 1963 the American Society of Extracorporeal Circulation Technicians was formed serving as the first professional society devoted to ECC, and included both perfusionists (a new professional group) and dialysis technicians, who were often nurses. The first formal meeting of AmSECT was held in Chicago at the Sol Fox Lounge in December 14, 1963. In 1967 the Society was formally incorporated with a name change to the American Society of Extra-Corporeal Technology, maintaining the familiar acronym AmSECT. The following year, due to the undaunted efforts of perfusionists and surgeons, a new journal appeared devoted entirely to this emerging field, and was titled The Journal of Extra-Corporeal Technology, commonly referred to today as JECT. The goal was to publish the progress and growth of technological knowledge on ECC, and to share the research in a multidisciplinary manner. In the first issue of JECT Jim Wade, the president of AmSECT at the time, wrote in an editorial that the primary goal of both the Society and JECT would be the “communication and the professional exchange of information” by perfusionists, surgeons and administrators [1]. While individuals from numerous other professions have benefited from the 55-year history of the publication of JECT, the goals of the initial formation of the Journal remain similar. During those years there have been many changes to the Journal with perhaps the most obvious being the cover. This year the Journal will undergo its fifth major cover change so it may be fitting to review the history of the front page of this publication. The first editor-in-chief of JECT was Ed Berger a practicing perfusionist from the Charles T. Miller Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ed was truly a visionary who saw the importance of the scientific pursuit of quality evidence as paramount in supporting methodologies and practices that would improve the conduct of ECC, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care. In his first editorial he established the focus of the Journal as a collaborative effort and stated “by us banding together for the acquiring and sharing of information in order to develop a more perfect technology and more perfect technologists” [2]. Indeed, today, as in 1968, these words remain the driving force for all of us as we commit obligation to our patients.