Journal of Digital Imaging

The Journal of Imaging Informatics in Medicine, formerly the Journal of Digital Imaging, serves as the official peer-reviewed publication of the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM). It publishes research and practical applications across clinical, engineering, and information technology domains within all medical imaging environments. The journal provides a comprehensive platform for advancements in areas ranging from PACS and component systems to teleradiology and archiving, highlighting technical approaches that optimize medical imaging data management and analysis.

The journal was founded by Roger A. Bauman, MD, in 1988, emerging from the critical insight that medical imaging was undergoing a fundamental transformation driven by digital technologies. Dr. Bauman envisioned a dedicated forum for the exchange of knowledge and research findings in this rapidly evolving field, recognizing the need for a scholarly publication to document and disseminate progress in digital imaging and informatics within medicine. This foundational effort established the journal's enduring focus on informatics' role in healthcare.

The journal caters to a broad professional audience, including researchers, developers, educators, physicians, and imaging informatics professionals. Its core mission is to enhance the exchange of knowledge and foster innovation in imaging informatics, ultimately aiming to improve patient care through the effective application of information technologies in medical imaging. It continues to be a vital resource for those committed to advancing the understanding and implementation of imaging informatics.

High-Level Overview

The Journal of Digital Imaging (JDI), now transitioning to the Journal of Imaging Informatics in Medicine (JIIM), is a peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to advancing research in medical imaging and informatics.[1][2][3] Published by Springer Nature as the official journal of the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM), it covers topics like PACS systems, AI/machine learning in healthcare, image processing, DICOM standards, quantitative imaging, and data science applications in medical environments.[1][4] With a focus on clinical, engineering, and informatics innovations, it serves researchers, developers, educators, physicians, and imaging professionals, boasting an impact factor around 5.4 and an h-index of 82.[4][7]

Originally launched in 1988 with bi-monthly issues (now monthly and fully digital), JIIM enhances knowledge exchange in imaging informatics, reflecting the evolution from digital imaging to broader AI-driven medical informatics.[1][4][5]

Origin Story

JDI traces its roots to 1988, when founding editor Roger A. Bauman, MD, proposed an academic journal at a 1986 board meeting of the Radiology Information System Consortium (RISC), later evolving into SCAR and then SIIM in 2006.[1][2] The first issue (Volume 1, Issue 1) appeared in November 1988, initially with 4 issues per year, expanding to 6 in 2009 and now monthly online-only.[1][4][5]

Leadership transitioned through Steve Horii, MD (2001–2003), Janice Honeyman-Buck, PhD (2003–2020), David Avrin, MD, PhD (2021–2022), and current Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth A. Krupinski, PhD (since 2023) with Deputy Editor Victoria Barnosky, PhD.[1] The name change to JIIM aligns with SIIM's shift toward comprehensive imaging informatics, including non-radiology applications and AI, honoring Bauman's vision of digital medical imaging's future.[1][2]

Core Differentiators

• Pioneering Focus on Imaging Informatics: Leads in publishing on AI, machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, NLP, PACS, DICOM/IHE standards, quantitative imaging, workflow modeling, and AI ethics like bias and safety—areas critical to modern healthcare tech.[1][4]
• SIIM Affiliation and Peer-Reviewed Rigor: Official SIIM journal since shortly after 1988, ensuring high standards with topics spanning clinical practice, engineering, economics, and education for diverse medical imaging.[3][6]
• Fully Digital, High-Impact Platform: Monthly online publication by Springer Nature (ISSN 0897-1889/1618-727X), Q2-ranked in computer science applications and radiology (h-index 82, recent rankings up to 3866/27955).[4][5][7]
• Broad, Forward-Looking Scope: Evolved from digital imaging to encompass enterprise informatics, telehealth, data analytics, and image-enabled EMRs, fostering interdisciplinary exchange.[1][2][4]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

JIIM rides the wave of AI and data science transformation in healthcare imaging, where informatics has become indispensable for diagnostics, workflow efficiency, and personalized medicine.[1][2] Its timing is ideal amid explosive growth in medical AI (e.g., deep learning for image analysis) and standards like DICOM/IHE, addressing market forces like rising imaging data volumes, regulatory needs for AI fairness, and integration with EHRs.[1][4]

By publishing cutting-edge research, it influences the ecosystem through SIIM's network, educating professionals and shaping standards that enable scalable telehealth, quantitative imaging, and secure archives—accelerating adoption in hospitals worldwide.[1][3]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

JIIM is poised to expand its influence as AI integrates deeper into medical imaging, with trends like generative AI, multimodal data analytics, and real-world AI validation driving submissions and impact.[1][4] Expect growth in topics like AI safety, enterprise-scale informatics, and global health applications (e.g., ROP screening in preterm care).[4] Its evolution from JDI mirrors the field's maturation, positioning it to lead informatics innovation and support SIIM's vision for data-driven medicine.[1][2]