Why WORLD NEUROSURGERY? Winds of Change

Apuzzo, Michael L.J.

doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2010.04.016

« Previous Next »World Neurosurgery
Volume 73, Issue 2 , Pages 77-78, February 2010

Why WORLD NEUROSURGERY? Winds of Change

Article Outline

Those who understand the concept and purpose of World Neurosurgery are elated by its upcoming presence within the landscape of neurosurgery. However, a few have asked, “Why World Neurosurgery? Aren't there enough titles in the neurosurgical literature?” To most, the answer is quite clear. The winds of change dictate a need for the introduction of World Neurosurgery and herald the potential value of World Neurosurgery to the global discipline—now and in the future.

The past generation has witnessed enormous changes:

1.Changes in neurosurgery's resources and scope

2.Changes in the world's neurosurgical, economic, political, educational, and social landscape

3.Changes in neurosurgery's information base and its rate of expansion

4.Changes in the technical processing and sharing of the information substrate

5.Changes in the availability of the communication base

The world has flattened in many respects and our basic fund of knowledge is expanding at an alarming rate! In response to these developments, neurosurgery has provided many society, subspecialty, and both national and regional journals with varying degrees of quality and perceived success.

In general, societies' and organizations' structures are nationally, regionally, or continentally based in terms of internal influence and authority. This is, in large part, reflected in their organizational bylaws, structure, content, and leadership. This composite is largely reflected in their sponsored publications.

At this time:

1.There is no major neurosurgical journal sponsored by a truly international society as reflected by its internal organization and bylaws.

2.There is no major journal with a distinct focus on issues of social, political, educational, and economic relevance to the global practice and development of neurosurgery, particularly one that also transmits high-level peer-reviewed clinical, laboratory, and technical issues.

3.There is no major neurosurgical journal in which globalism and internationality is part of the fabric of its organization and mission.

World Neurosurgery addresses these issues, in parallel with its existing sister journals, making an effort to complement and supplement their efforts. World Neurosurgery will be neurosurgery's first journal that is truly global in organization and scope.

Additionally, during my 18 years as Editor of Neurosurgery, I had more than ample opportunity to observe all aspects of the editorial, production, and distribution process of a major journal and to thoroughly assess the needs of our literature and information conduits for development, augmentation, and improvement. It was obvious that, given a greater than 85% rejection rate of manuscripts, many good contributions could not be honed, developed, or published because of various factors in the editorial process. These manuscripts deserved the opportunity for development and presentation in a high-quality “world stage” publication. The scope, quality, and presence of multifactorial high-quality peer-review are reflected in the academic climate within our specialty. It is the source of the veracity of our beliefs and clinical initiatives. It benefits authors, readers, and, ultimately, patients. From these perspectives alone, further access to high quality peer-reviewed material is necessary to refine the information base that is obscured by a volume of contributions of modest value. The specialty deserves such an increased effort.

It has been more than 32 years since a major international neurosurgical group has sponsored a principal publication. At that time, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons launched Neurosurgery with Robert Wilkins as Editor. Those of us who are sensitive to the journal's past events recall the efforts of “establishment” individuals who not only supported the derailment of the initiative but also took steps to ensure its failure—actions not unusual in many venues of historical progress. Can we imagine what the neurosurgical literature would be like without Neurosurgery? Thankfully, Neurosurgery was launched and has become the robust presence that we all enjoy and cherish today. It is time for World Neurosurgery to take its place as a principal conduit and forum within our literature.

The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), founded in 1955, is a professional, scientific, non-governmental organization that comprises five continental associations, over 100 national neurosurgical societies, and six affiliate societies representing approximately 30,000 neurosurgeons worldwide. Its organization, bylaws, and governance are truly international. Given our times and needs, the WFNS stands as a singularly qualified organization to sponsor a publication of global scope, content, and distribution.

Mission statement of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies:

•To facilitate the personal association of neurological surgeons throughout the world

•To aid in the exchange and dissemination of knowledge and ideas in the field of neurological surgery

•To encourage research in neurological surgery and allied sciences

•To address issues of neurosurgical demography

•To address issues of public health

•To implement, improve and promote the standards of neurosurgical care and training worldwide

Given these enumerated factors, our generation needs to step forward in initiating a communication vehicle that represents globalism and addresses, helps, and, hopefully, fulfills elements of current and future global needs in the field of neurosurgery.

Mission statement of World Neurosurgery:

•To create a principal international information conduit for establishing modernity of neurosurgical practice for the global community through contemporary and innovative journalistic communication technologies and channels

•To serve as a forum for scientific, clinical, educational, social, cultural, economic, and political ideas and issues for global neurosurgery

•To act as a primary intellectual catalyst for the field

•To enhance and move toward complete global communication related to all aspects of current and future neurosurgical practice, research, and progress

The inaugural issue of World Neurosurgery will be the April 2010 issue.