Welcome to another year and another jam-packed issue of Vital.

There is a bit of an emphasis on superstar DCPs this issue: cover star Jo Russell, practice manager Emma John, and DCPs working abroad Laura Gartshore and Aby Gopal. We then turn the spotlight on cleaner Jan Sherwood, who is devoted to keeping her practice spotless.

On page 17 we kick off spring CPD with the Vital guide to paediatric dentistry, followed by Managing xerostomia (page 32), written for us all the way from Canada by dental hygienist Linda Douglas.

Over 400 DCPs are already logging on to www.nature.com/vital to complete their verifiable CPD every time Vital is published. Don't miss out! And don't forget to include reading other Vital articles in your general CPD, such as those in this issue's Advice section (page 40, page 43, page 46).

I've had a lot of queries about whether Vital will be including articles on the core CPD subjects. We definitely intend to! Don't forget that 20 of the 50 hours of verifiable CPD you need to complete over the first five-year CPD cycle must cover the core subjects.

If you're struggling to emerge from the dark winter months and get motivated for all the demands of a DCP's life, have a read of our Get Active article (page 52); it should help give you a boost while we wait for summer to appear.

Just in time for the next issue of Vital…see you in June!

Kate Maynard Editor vitaleditorial@nature.com