The board
of directors of the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery
(SBACV), supported by the Higher Council and by the vascular community,
chose to encourage the scientific dissemination of its members as one
of its crucial aims in the 2001-2003 management, regarding this as a
medium and long-term investment.
The first challenge was to establish the Brazilian Vascular Journal
(J Vasc Br) as its official organ for scientific dissemination. This
new publication replaces and also gives continuity to the Journal of
Vascular Surgery and Angiology. The transition process went smoothly,
thanks to the respect of the current board of directors for the work
conducted by several colleagues who devoted a great deal of effort in
the previous journal. SBACV could not dispense with the editorial supervision
of its major publication or with the management and accountability for
its profits and losses, also making sure all its members will receive
the journal regularly.
The board of directors of SBACV undertook this new venture by financing
the first issues, while sponsors did not know J Vasc Br and awaited
its official launch.
The ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) register constituted
our first achievement. The paper version of the journal was registered
under number 1677-5449, which gives SBACV authority over the publication
title, rendering it unique and definitive, in addition to enabling the
international identification of J Vasc Br. Our second achievement was
the publication of our first issue in June 2002, with 88 pages, which
relied on the collaboration of a highly-qualified International Council
of Consultants and a National Editorial Council that includes important
universities and services from all over Brazil.
Nevertheless, it was still necessary to extend the publication and dissemination
of J Vasc Br in English beyond the Brazilian readership, making it globally
available. Therefore, we opted for an electronic journal, with its own
ISSN, available at www.jvascbr.com.br.
This way, we found a cost-effective solution that enables us to publish
and publicize, in English, scientific works by Brazilian authors to
be read on a worldwide scale.
Further steps were taken with the inclusion of a link to our journal
on the websites of the European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular
Surgery and of the journal Cirujanos Vasculares de Habla Hispana.
We are thrilled at the fact that readers of international publications
will be able to access and be introduced to the contents of J Vasc Br
through this link
However, we still have another challenge to be overcome. It is common
knowledge that several colleagues, especially those engaged in medical
teaching, have been asked by their institutions to write preferably
in English, so that Brazilian studies can be read by a larger number
of individuals and so that Brazil can develop within such context. We
already have the electronic version of the journal, which is economical
and available to all, but inserted in a means of communications that
is not always attractive to many readers. So, we had to "show our
face" more resolutely overseas. Our decision was to have a new
English version, in printed form, with a limited circulation of 500
copies, published every six months and with its own ISSN. This English
version is destined to indexers, schools of Medicine and to internationally
renowned services and authors.
This is another investment that puts our Board of Directors on the path
of growth. The Brazilian Vascular Journal will publish original
articles, selected case reports, diagnostic challenges, therapeutic
challenges and review articles on specific topics written by specialists,
containing 4 to 5 pages, on which a brief update on the topic will be
provided. Thus, we will be saving paper and forests, besides cutting
down on mailing costs, offering our readers objective and concise texts.
We will encourage authors to maintain, improve and develop service protocols,
so that we can continuously have adequate material for publication in
the short, medium and long run.
J Vasc Br, which substitutes the Journal of Vascular Surgery and Angiology,
will continue to be indexed in Lilacs, while the Brazilian Vascular
Journal will qualify for indexation in pertinent databases.
For this to take place, every member needs to understand the investment
made by SBACV in favor of all its associates, with the aim of improving
the readership of J Vasc Br, by sending it to 3,000 endocrinologists,
2,800 pulmonologists, 800 hematologists in specific numbers and to 500
cardiologists on a regular basis.
In following a long path, the first step is crucial. Many steps were
already taken, but we are inviting all members to take part in this
scientific marathon of SBACV.
We thank all collaborators, some of whom live in relative anonymity,
such as reviewers and some authors, and we would like to share our achievements
with all members of this society.
