Increasing Importance of Open Access Publishing

As Editor-in-Chief, International Surgery, I dedicate this editorial letter to highlighting the rapidly increasing importance of open access publishing.

One of our very basic obligations is to serve the authors of submitted manuscripts to International Surgery as best we can. In so doing, we also serve the advancement of scientific medical research around the world.

Open access publishing is free online access, unrestricted, to the results of scientific medical research. Open access publishing was, in part, stimulated by the use of governmental funds for scientific medical research, with one requirement being the immediate sharing of research results to all other researchers and other persons of interest. This governmental requirement has stimulated increased open access publishing.

Studies now indicate that open access manuscripts are referenced more often over a longer period of time than nonopen access manuscripts. This aspect is a major advantage to any author who wishes to gain recognition for his/her work. In comparison to embargoed manuscripts, a much larger number of scientific medical researchers see the research results much earlier.

An increased awareness of scientific results leads to more collaboration with other researchers. The principle that more can be done by working and collaborating with other persons and other institutions, as compared to working alone, certainly applies in terms of open access publishing stimulating collaboration and thereby advancing scientific medical research. In reference to the several surgical specialties now in existence, open access publishing enhances the understanding amongst researchers in various surgical specialty research endeavors.

The viewing of research results, on an enlarged scale in terms of the number of researchers in a larger number of research venues, is clearly to the advantage of any author. My intention, as Editor-in-Chief of International Surgery, is to offer each and every author the very best opportunity to gain awareness of their research results in the shortest period of time. The publishing staff of International Surgery will increasingly in 2017 give attention to open access publishing opportunities, with the goal of steadily increasing the number of open access manuscripts published in each issue of International Surgery.

I welcome any questions or comments that you may have.

Sincerely,

Professor Cristopher Chen

Editor-in-Chief

International Surgery