A new year usually brings on a lot of changes, and this year's start was no exception. While everyone expects a new year to begin with resolutions and changes, it was impossible for us to have predicted the string of events that would affect AFP at the turn of the millennium. Last year many had anticipated great changes with Y2K—relating to the predicted Y2K bug, if nothing else—but, as many others predicted, status quo was maintained. As the months of Y2K slipped away, though, the “real” turn of the millennium approached and prepared to unlock a world filled with new opportunities.

For a few of AFP's friends, the millennial turn has meant the start of a new quest, and here are their stories. Last month Jeffrey T. Kirchner, D.O., one of AFP's associate editors, made the decision to end his three-and-one-half-year affiliation with AFP to focus more of his attention on his steadily growing HIV practice in Lancaster, Pa., and spend more time with his family. At the same time, Bill Zepf, M.D., one of AFP's assistant editors in Sacramento, Calif., found himself wanting to reshuffle priorities to focus more on the journal, and he took on the title of associate editor, along with all of the increased responsibilities.

We also learned that Walter L. Larimore, M.D., who has for the past nine years coordinated “Diary from a Week in Practice” along with John R. Hartman, M.D., will leave his practice in Kissimmee, Fla., at the end of January, to join the staff of Focus on the Family, in Colorado Springs. Focus on the Family is a nonprofit organization that produces internationally syndicated radio programs broadcast by more than 2,900 radio facilities in North America and by about 1,300 facilities in more than 70 other countries. While the Kissimmee practice will continue to contribute to the longstanding, well-loved series of real-life stories from a family practice, Dr. Larimore's move will indeed result in a change in the composition of the department—which we will announce in an upcoming “Inside AFP.”

We also learned that Linda Siadys, assistant to the editor in the Washington, D.C., editorial office, decided to start out the year by shifting to a job on the Hubble project, while Taiya Olayinka of the D.C. office set out to take on the peer review process previously coordinated by Linda.

At the Leawood, Kan., AFP office, we were pleased to learn that Bret Taylor, who previously served as advertising coordinator for AFP, accepted the position of assistant production manager. But Cindy Jones Wessley, senior manuscript editor, made the decision to leave her 11-year career at the AAFP to provide full-time care for a boy whose mother is chronically ill. Wanda Kelsey-Mendez, marketing director, and Melissa Nichols, marketing assistant, announced plans to pursue other careers in marketing. And Clayton Raker Hasser, vice president of publications and communications at AAFP, continues her plans to retire in May, now just a breath away.

Is it a bit of millennial mayhem? We may never know for sure, but one thing is certain: the clean slate of a millennium undoubtedly offers inspiration. For us at AFP, our mission to provide information that will help family physicians deliver the best possible health care remains our greatest inspiration. To AFP's departing contributors, whose work added immeasurably to the journal, we offer our greatest thanks and our fondest wishes—and to each who now turns to AFP to help with our mission, we offer a hearty welcome.