THE GLOBAL COMUNICATION SYSTEM TO DISSCIMINATE THE SCHOLARLY INFORMATION; FUTURE DIRECTIONS

12/08/2016

“There is only one good, knowledge; and one evil, ignorance.” Socrates
“He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight”. Sun Tzu

The scientific journals of today are the important modus of communicating scholarly scientific information. It is the only forum of communication that can be viewed in print or on line electronically using mostly the new mobile technology. The latter is getting smaller and more powerful in the last few years. Such a shift will certainly reduce the need for the libraries which we grew up using from day one of our professional lives and had produced its culture of scientists and clinicians that we know of today as they march to the end of their careers. As I was asked by your esteemed president to write a short note and I was gathering my thoughts I felt too that It was certainly an honor and a privilege to write this introduction on the inaugural issue of your organization, the newsletter of the Brazilian society for craniofacial surgery. More so is the one who asked me was Cassio Eduardo who I consider him a family member beside a colleague and a friend. I watched Cassio Eduardo growth professionally in time and feel that he is already a rising star in the arena of craniofacial surgery he is continued the legacy of his father in perusing excellence in patient care. I am sure that the Cassio Raposo is looking in from above and is extremely proud with the achievements and progress made by this group that he is always fond off. It was always noted in the ancient history the person who has a family never pass away and we see is an extension of a previous work well done. Certainly we cannot ignore the support, inspiration of the internal family the woman that was beside the father all the time, especially now as the head of their family. Having noted all that about your newly elected president let me tell you about the global communication system which is now in its thirty first year and twenty seven volumes of scholarly information and still going for many years to come. When a group of us gathered and initiated the venture it was felt that it will be a small journal as the majority of the surgeons wanted a hard covered book, we proceeded any way and persisted to allow the surgeons and those involved in the newly developed specialty globally to continue depending on the journal for the dissemination of scholarly information, for advances in the field of craniofacial surgery as well as for innovations. The founding, funding and establishment of the Journal of craniofacial surgery was not without a rocky start before the smooth sailing ensued that you all are witnessing. Today we are in another revolution in the publication world the books which are now called container ae fading away slowly and the new generation of professionals want the information available all the time , mobile and accessible by all around the globe. What is known 2 in one part of the world is immediately available to all, particularly, For the benefit of their patients. So after all the patients are the winners and those who still want to work in a vacuum of their own are the losers. Let me tell you where we are today, our journal were affiliated with your organization and we were able to have all the presentation and advances made by your group brought to the forefront of the international arena as a plus to the organizational structure. Today we receive over 1800 submissions a year and publish as much as we are allowed by the publishers so we have a balance between all the specialists in a matrix format. We have the journal mobile with an app which can be down loaded for free on your mobile equipment the mini pad and iPhone are the most popular for their mobility and adaptability. We get over 800000 visits on our digital material on the journal web site it is becoming the house that everybody interested in the subject visit for it contains everything you want to know and are afraid to ask, as that is important to all those in the wide spectrum of the field. I was so impressed when I visited some part of the world where the internet not yet available where the students of surgery sit patiently and down load an article to read on the phone line, most of us forgot how it was in the early nineties when we all used the phone line to get information that will benefit our patients. On a last note the Brazilians groups of surgeons have been more than a professional family they are a real family and we celebrate our heritage with many of you every few years and I am proud to be part of the group. I will not mention any names for my fear to miss some names; they are all cousins and part of the big family. Please continue to work hard your contributions will always be heard on the international arena and journal of craniofacial surgery will be always there for you all.

Mutaz B. Habal, MD,FRCSC,FICS,FACS
editor in chief /JCS
director, /TBCF
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