Professor Roy Soiza announced as new Editor-in-Chief of Age and Ageing

The BGS is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Roy Soiza as the new Editor-in-Chief of its journal, Age and Ageing. Professor Soiza is a Consultant Geriatrician at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and holds an Honorary Chair at the University of Aberdeen. He has broad research interests in the field of ageing and geriatric medicine, and around 150 peer-reviewed publications. Professor Soiza has served as Senior Editor of Age and Ageing since 2022. He has 15 years' experience as an editor of medical journals.

Professor Soiza takes over on 1 June from Professor Rowan Harwood, who has steered the journal expertly over the last six years. During this time, the journal has become a fully online publication, increasingly international in its range of authors. Professor Harwood has overseen a growth in the editorial board and has developed the impact and quality of the journal’s output, reflected in its all-time highest Impact Factor of 12.7 and highest usage rate of 2.5million downloads per year, both achieved in his term of service.

Professor Harwood’s editorship will end at the meeting of the Editorial Board at the BGS Spring Meeting in Birmingham on Friday 24 May, with a chance for BGS members and delegates to say goodbye to him at a drinks reception the preceding day.

BGS President Professor Adam Gordon said:

We are delighted that the strong and vibrant culture of Age and Ageing will continue in the transition from Professor Rowan Harwood to President Roy Soiza, building on Professor Harwood’s legacy of publishing high-quality research. Age and Ageing is a vital publication for all who work in geriatric medicine and the care of older people and I am confident it will maintain its global reputation and relevance under its new Editor-in-Chief."

Incoming Editor-in-Chief Professor Roy Soiza said:

I am humbled and honoured to be appointed Editor-in-Chief of Age and Ageing. I must pay tribute to my predecessor Professor Rowan Harwood, who so effectively steered the journal into its current place at the top of the field with his energy, clarity of vision and sound judgement. I look forward to working with the journal's top team to continue to publish the most important, novel and impactful research in the field of health and disease in old age."

Demitting Editor-in-Chief Professor Rowan Harwood said:

Editing Age and Ageing has been a great privilege. Working with fantastic colleagues has been a real pleasure. Perhaps the biggest thanks go to our authors, without whose work we would have no journal. Age and Ageing is a prestige journal, and we are selective in what we publish, but we always try to help refine and improve papers and give some feedback on submitted manuscripts. Roy Soiza is already a valued member of the team, and the future of the journal is in very safe hands with him taking over."