Ownership and Governance

The IJMS is an independent nonprofit scholarly journal governed through a defined editorial and organizational structure.

The governance framework of the Journal is designed to protect editorial independence, scientific integrity, organizational accountability, responsible use of resources, and the long-term continuity and sustainability of the IJMS.
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Contents

Ownership and Nonprofit Status

The International Journal of Medical Students is organized as an independent nonprofit entity in the United States and is recognized as a tax-exempt public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

The IJMS is not owned by an individual editor, commercial publisher, university, professional association, sponsor, advertiser, donor, or commercial organization. The Journal is sustained through the collective stewardship and contributions of its editorial leadership, Editorial Board, Editorial Team, reviewers, advisers, volunteers, institutional collaborators, and supporting organizations.

Nonprofit Representation and Administration

The Editor-in-Chief serves as the principal executive officer of the Journal and as the nonprofit's legal representative for applicable organizational and regulatory matters. These responsibilities include coordination of required nonprofit administration and applicable reporting to the United States Internal Revenue Service.

The nonprofit structure supports the scientific, educational, publishing, and public-interest activities of the IJMS, including:

  • publishing medical and health sciences scholarship without charging authors or readers;
  • developing medical students and recently graduated physicians as researchers, editors, and peer reviewers;
  • promoting international participation in scholarly communication;
  • maintaining the infrastructure required for Journal operations;
  • supporting conferences, educational programs, and other mission-aligned initiatives; and
  • protecting the continuity and sustainability of the Journal.

Ownership of Manuscripts and Articles

Participation in the Journal does not give an editor, reviewer, adviser, governing body, publisher, sponsor, donor, partner, or supporting institution ownership of a submitted manuscript or published article.

Authors retain copyright in their published work subject to the applicable publication agreement and Creative Commons license. Detailed provisions are maintained on the Open Access, Copyright, and Licensing page.

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Governance Structure

The governance structure of the IJMS separates editorial authority from supporting technical, communications, conference, outreach, and administrative functions while maintaining coordination across the organization.

Governance component Principal responsibilities
Editor-in-Chief Serves as the principal editorial and executive officer of the Journal; holds ultimate editorial responsibility; coordinates implementation of decisions of the Executive Committee; and oversees the editorial process, administration, budget, partnerships, organizational development, and nonprofit compliance.
Deputy Editor Supports the Editor-in-Chief and Executive Committee; assumes editorial responsibility when the Editor-in-Chief has a conflict of interest; and serves as the principal channel for complaints or concerns involving the Editor-in-Chief.
Executive Committee Provides collective organizational leadership; participates in major editorial, administrative, financial, educational, partnership, and strategic decisions; oversees organizational continuity and succession; and supports implementation of Journal policies.
Editorial Board Provides senior scientific and editorial guidance; advises on complex manuscripts, policies, and research-integrity matters; and serves as the highest collective editorial authority when matters require escalation or broader consideration.
Associate Editors Manage assigned manuscripts, supervise Student Editors, select external reviewers, assess revisions, and make editorial recommendations within delegated responsibilities.
Junior Associate Editors Undertake supervised manuscript-management responsibilities while receiving advanced editorial training.
Student Editors Participate in supervised manuscript assessment and editorial training and provide recommendations to senior editors but do not independently issue final publication decisions.
Junior Student Editors Participate in structured editorial training and supervised internal manuscript assessment.
Editorial Operations and Outreach Support production, communications, technical administration, conferences, education, outreach, and other operational activities.

Operational, communications, conference, technical, or outreach appointments do not confer authority to evaluate manuscripts or make publication decisions unless the individual also holds a designated editorial appointment.

The names, roles, affiliations, profiles, and current composition of these groups are maintained on the Editorial Team page.

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Leadership, Continuity, and Succession

Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief normally serves without a predetermined term. This model is intended to preserve institutional knowledge, editorial consistency, leadership continuity, and the long-term sustainability of the Journal.

Succession may occur when:

  • the Editor-in-Chief elects to step down; or
  • the Executive Committee determines collectively that a leadership transition is necessary.

When a transition is anticipated, the Executive Committee is responsible for identifying and appointing the succeeding Editor-in-Chief and for facilitating an appropriate handover.

Previous service within the IJMS is required for appointment to Executive Committee positions so that individuals assuming senior organizational responsibilities have prior knowledge of the Journal's mission, editorial standards, procedures, and institutional history.

Executive Committee

Executive Committee members may continue in their positions while they remain willing to serve and the Committee agrees that their continued participation is appropriate.

At the end of each annual volume, normally in December, Executive Committee members are asked whether they intend to continue during the following year. This process allows anticipated vacancies to be identified sufficiently early to select successors and provide an appropriate handover.

Editorial Board

Editorial Board members may be invited by the Executive Committee or may express interest or apply directly to the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee evaluates prospective Board members according to their experience, expertise, scholarly activity, potential contribution to the Journal, and alignment with the mission and editorial standards of the IJMS.

Editorial Board appointments do not normally have a predetermined term. Members may continue to serve while they remain willing and able to contribute to the Journal.

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Annual Editorial Team Selection

Most Editorial Team appointments operate on an annual cycle corresponding to the Journal's publication year.

Applications normally open in November, with selection taking place in December for the following year.

Applications generally include:

  • a curriculum vitae; and
  • a letter of motivation.

Appointments are made according to the needs of the Journal and the qualifications, experience, and potential contribution of applicants.

Editorial Team members may continue within the Journal and may progress to positions of greater responsibility based on:

  • performance;
  • experience;
  • scholarly activity;
  • demonstrated editorial competence;
  • contribution to the Journal; and
  • organizational needs.

Progression within the Journal is not automatic and depends on demonstrated contribution, competence, and readiness for additional responsibility.

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WCMSR Leadership

Leadership and organizational positions for the IJMS World Conference of Medical Student Research (WCMSR) are selected from applicants who are members of the IJMS Editorial Team.

Applications and selections normally take place in March of each year.

Conference appointments are separate from manuscript editorial authority unless the individual also holds an editorial appointment that confers such responsibilities.

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Editorial Authority

The Editor-in-Chief holds ultimate editorial responsibility, while complex, disputed, sensitive, or precedent-setting matters may be discussed with the Executive Committee and Editorial Board. The Editorial Board serves as the highest collective editorial authority when broader review or escalation is required.

Routine manuscript responsibilities may be delegated to appropriately appointed editors according to their role and experience.

Editorial decisions may consider:

  • scientific and editorial assessment of the manuscript;
  • recommendations from assigned editors;
  • independent external peer-review reports;
  • authors' responses to editorial and reviewer comments;
  • originality;
  • methodological rigor;
  • transparency and completeness of reporting;
  • research-ethics requirements;
  • research-integrity considerations;
  • relevance to the Journal's readership;
  • contribution to the literature; and
  • alignment with the aims and scope of the Journal.

Role of Peer Review

Reviewer recommendations inform editorial decisions but do not independently determine whether a manuscript is accepted, revised, or declined.

An editor may reach a decision that differs from one or more reviewer recommendations when the complete editorial record supports that decision.

Prohibited External Direction

No author, reviewer, donor, sponsor, advertiser, partner, institution, publisher, or member of an operational team may improperly require:

  • acceptance or rejection of a manuscript;
  • selection or exclusion of a reviewer;
  • preferential or expedited treatment;
  • alteration or suppression of findings;
  • favorable coverage of a person, product, institution, or organization;
  •  
  • delay or acceleration of publication for commercial, financial, reputational, institutional, or other improper purposes; or
  • a particular correction, retraction, or post-publication action.

Detailed manuscript procedures are maintained on the Editorial and Peer-Review Process page.

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Organizational Decision-Making

Organizational decisions are made collectively by the Executive Committee, with the Editor-in-Chief serving as its principal executive officer and coordinating implementation.

These responsibilities include matters related to:

  • Journal strategy;
  • administration;
  • financial management and budget;
  • partnerships and institutional relationships;
  • educational activities;
  • conferences;
  • organizational development;
  • publishing infrastructure;
  • policies and procedures; and
  • nonprofit and regulatory responsibilities.

Day-to-day implementation may be undertaken by the Editor-in-Chief, Deputy Editor, or other designated members according to their responsibilities.

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Publisher and Platform Relationship

The University of Pittsburgh Library System is the publisher of the IJMS. Information about the University Library System is available through the University of Pittsburgh Library System.

The publisher supports the scholarly-publishing infrastructure of the Journal, including hosting, platform administration, metadata distribution, technical services, and long-term access.

The Journal operates through Open Journal Systems, an open-source scholarly publishing platform developed and maintained by the Public Knowledge Project.

Publisher University of Pittsburgh Library System
Publishing platform Open Journal Systems
Platform developer Public Knowledge Project
Editorial control Retained by the IJMS under the editorial leadership of the Editor-in-Chief, Executive Committee, and Editorial Board
Author copyright Retained by authors under the applicable publication agreement and license

Technical Support and Editorial Control

Publishing or technical support does not transfer editorial control over:

  • manuscript selection;
  • reviewer selection;
  • peer review;
  • requests for revision;
  • acceptance or rejection;
  • publication scheduling;
  • corrections;
  • expressions of concern;
  • retractions; or
  • other editorial actions.

Technical matters related to registration, login, platform access, file upload, or website functionality should be directed through the appropriate contact listed on the Contact Us page.

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Editorial Independence

The IJMS maintains editorial independence in all decisions concerning submitted and published content.

Editorial decisions must be based on legitimate scholarly and editorial considerations and remain independent of:

  • nationality or geographic location;
  • institutional affiliation;
  • academic seniority or reputation;
  • personal identity or relationships;
  • financial contributions;
  • sponsorship or advertising;
  • donations or commercial relationships;
  • political, religious, institutional, or ideological pressure;
  • preferences of partner organizations;
  • commercial interests;
  • institutional prestige; and
  • the likelihood that an article will generate publicity, traffic, citations, or revenue.

The potential significance, novelty, relevance, and readership of a manuscript may be considered as legitimate editorial factors, but these considerations must not override requirements for scientific integrity, ethical compliance, methodological rigor, and transparent reporting.

Review the Editorial Policies
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Funding, Sponsorship, and Commercial Influence

The IJMS follows a Diamond Open Access model and does not rely on submission fees, article processing charges, publication fees, or reader subscriptions.

Submission fees None
Article processing charges None
Publication fees None
Reader subscriptions None
Reader access Immediate and free access to published content
WCMSR abstract submission fees Yes; conference-specific fees may apply according to the published WCMSR guidelines
Principal funding model Nonprofit, institutional, charitable, partnership, conference-generated, in-kind, and volunteer support

Sources of Support

Resources supporting the Journal may include:

  • conference or educational sponsorship;
  • mission-aligned partnerships;
  • in-kind professional or technical support;
  • administrative or communications support; and
  • volunteer contributions.

The Journal does not charge fees for manuscript submission, peer review, publication, or reader access. Separate submission fees may apply to abstracts submitted to the IJMS World Conference of Medical Student Research (WCMSR). Conference fees support the organization, administration, peer review, educational activities, and sustainability of the WCMSR and other mission-aligned activities of the IJMS.

Restrictions on Financial and Commercial Influence

Sponsors, donors, partners, advertisers, and other supporting organizations must not:

  • select, approve, reject, or modify manuscripts;
  • appoint reviewers for individual submissions;
  • participate in confidential editorial discussions;
  • receive confidential manuscripts or decisions in advance;
  • obtain preferential treatment for affiliated authors or institutions;
  • prevent or delay publication of unfavorable findings;
  • influence corrections, retractions, or other editorial actions; or
  • condition support on a particular editorial outcome.

Separation of Editorial and Promotional Content

Sponsored content, advertisements, or promotional materials must be clearly distinguishable from independent editorial content.

The presence of sponsorship, advertising, financial support, or institutional collaboration does not constitute endorsement by the IJMS of a product, service, organization, institution, commercial claim, or medical or scientific position.

Current institutional partners, sponsors, and supporting organizations may be identified through the Journal's applicable partnership and sponsorship pages.

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Conflicts of Interest and Recusal

Editors, Editorial Board members, reviewers, advisers, and other participants in the editorial process must disclose circumstances that could affect, or could reasonably be perceived as affecting, their impartiality.

Potential Conflicts

Potential conflicts may include:

  • personal or family relationships;
  • recent or ongoing professional collaboration;
  • close institutional relationships;
  • supervisory, mentoring, employment, or training relationships;
  • significant academic competition;
  • personal disputes;
  • financial interests;
  • organizational or commercial relationships;
  • relevant intellectual commitments; and
  • prior involvement in the work under consideration.

Required Recusal

An editor with a relevant conflict must not participate in:

  • reviewer selection;
  • manuscript assessment;
  • confidential editorial discussion;
  • access to reviewer identities;
  • evaluation of reviewer reports; or
  • the editorial decision.

Submissions from Members of the Journal

Members of the Executive Committee, Editorial Board, Editorial Team, operational teams, advisory groups, and other individuals affiliated with the IJMS may submit scholarly work to the Journal.

Such submissions must:

  • be assigned to an editor without a relevant conflict of interest;
  • follow the same submission, editorial, ethical, and peer-review requirements applied to other manuscripts;
  • exclude the author-editor from confidential editorial discussions;
  • exclude the author-editor from access to reviewer identities;
  • avoid preferential or expedited treatment; and
  • include any disclosure required by the applicable policy.

Submissions Involving the Editor-in-Chief

When the Editor-in-Chief is an author of a submission or otherwise has a relevant conflict of interest, complete editorial responsibility for that manuscript is transferred to the Deputy Editor.

The Editor-in-Chief is excluded from reviewer selection, access to reviewer identities, confidential editorial discussions, evaluation of reviewer reports, and the final editorial decision.

Equivalent recusal procedures apply to other editors whenever they have a relevant conflict of interest.

Editorial appointment or service to the Journal does not guarantee external review, acceptance, expedited processing, or publication.

Detailed disclosure requirements are maintained on the Authorship and Disclosures and Editorial Policies pages.

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Accountability, Complaints, and Transparency

The IJMS supports organizational and editorial accountability by maintaining public information concerning its:

  • aims and scientific scope;
  • author eligibility requirements;
  • article types and manuscript requirements;
  • Editorial Team and governance structure;
  • editorial and peer-review process;
  • Open Access and licensing model;
  • conflict-of-interest requirements;
  • research-ethics and research-integrity requirements;
  • corrections, retractions, appeals, and complaints procedures;
  • indexing and preservation arrangements;
  • Journal metrics and publication history; and
  • contact channels.

Complaints Concerning the Editor-in-Chief

Questions, complaints, or concerns regarding the Journal may normally be submitted through the appropriate Journal contact channel.

Complaints or concerns involving the Editor-in-Chief are referred to the Deputy Editor, who evaluates the matter independently of the Editor-in-Chief and may address it in consultation with non-conflicted members of the Executive Committee and Editorial Board.

The Editor-in-Chief does not participate in the review or resolution of a complaint concerning their own conduct or decisions.

Policy Approval and Revision

Editorial and organizational policies are developed and revised through the Journal's governance structure according to the subject matter involved.

The Editor-in-Chief coordinates policy implementation, while significant organizational or procedural changes may be considered collectively by the Executive Committee and, when appropriate, the Editorial Board.

Material changes should be reflected in the current public policy, author-guidance, or organizational page. Current public policy text takes precedence over summaries contained in announcements, archived materials, social-media posts, or promotional graphics.

Questions and Concerns

Questions or concerns related to governance, editorial independence, organizational conduct, funding, sponsorship, advertising, or potential conflicts of interest may be submitted through the Contact Us page.

Research-integrity or publication-ethics concerns should be directed through the Journal's designated ethics and integrity contact channel.

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Related Resources

Journal Organization

Policies and Accountability
Meet the Editorial Team Review Editorial Policies Contact the Journal
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