Editorial: Welcome Message from Editor-in-Chief, Xuming Mo

1  Introduction

The release of the most recent volume of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) (Issue 19, Volume 1, 2024) coincides with my assumption of the role of Co-Editor-In-Chief for CHD. I would like to express my appreciation to CHD for providing me with the opportunity to use the Editorial page. I took on this responsibility on November 18, 2023. I would like to take this opportunity to share reflections and convey my appreciation.

Founded in 2006, CHD stands as the pioneering professional periodical exclusively dedicated to the exploration and treatment of congenital cardiac abnormalities across all age groups. Its paramount goal is to elevate the scholarly and educational dimension of CHD, driven by an unwavering commitment to provide optimal, holistic cardiac care to patients spanning infancy to adulthood. This commitment remains steadfast, with a focus on community service, research, and education quality, regardless of the patient’s financial situation.

Tech Science Press (TSP) spearheaded a collaborative effort to take over CHD from Wiley in 2020. The council engaged a publishing partner and appointed a Co-Editor-in-Chief, collaborating with distinguished experts in Science, Technology, and Medicine publishing. This meticulous process resulted in my appointment as the first Co-Editor-in-Chief of CHD. The journal holds a distinctive position as the pioneer exclusively dedicated to the specialized topic of congenital heart disease.

I express my sincere appreciation for the invaluable contributions made by Professor Vladimiro L. Vida, the inaugural Editor-in-Chief of CHD, who played a pivotal role in promoting the publication’s expansion since its establishment in 2006 by Wiley. Currently, CHD is published by TSP as an open-access peer-reviewed journal from 2020, with TSP as its sole authorized publisher.

Significant efforts have been dedicated since 2020 to develop the infrastructure and organization framework before contemplating the creation of the inaugural issue. The appointment of Professors Kisaburo Sakamoto as Co-Editor-in-Chief and Hao Zhang as Associate Editor-in-Chief, along with the formation of a diverse editorial board, stand out as crucial early-stage milestones. Understanding how crucial it was to make wise decisions during the CHD journal’s early stages, a selected group of “Associate Editors” was recruited. Comprising well-known senior experts in congenital heart surgery and allied fields worldwide, this group has played and continues to play a pivotal role. Their guidance has been crucial in shaping the decision-making processes that have guided the development of CHD since its inception. Their association with CHD and exceptional support for the concept of a journal dedicated specifically to our field emphasize their importance in this undertaking.

The word “dedicated,” while seemingly straightforward, encapsulates a concept of intricate nature. Achieving the academic, scientific, and research goals in the field of congenital heart disease requires the participation and expertise of individuals spanning various fields and associated subspecialties.

An Editorial Board comprising experts in congenital heart disease, pediatric and adult congenital cardiology, anesthesiology, critical care, nursing, perfusion, fundamental science, statistics, and administration has been a steadfast pillar of support since the journal’s inception. After the Board, the peer-review process crucially relies on the contributions of hundreds of volunteers worldwide representing diverse specializations in the understanding and treatment of congenital heart disease.

Beyond the primary objective of selecting the most exemplary work for publication, the peer-review process is designed to facilitate authors in presenting their finest articles. CHD takes great pride in its steadfast dedication to offering comprehensive author support. While our primary goal is to furnish authors with impartial and constructive feedback, we also place significant emphasis on timeliness. The average time for the initial decision after submission consistently remains under 30 days.

The Editorial Board’s familiarity with the literature in our field ensures that the final selection of material for publication is both original and reliable. CHD strictly adheres to the best practices and guidelines established by COPE (the Committee on Publication Ethics), as upholding the highest standards of publication ethics is of utmost importance.

Over the past 17 years, the journey of CHD has led to its flourishing as a widely read print and online journal. This success is reinforced by the invaluable support of a talented and dedicated team of Associate Editors, complemented by the expertise of a sizable and diverse Editorial Board. These esteemed members generously contribute their time and energy, further bolstered by the constantly evolving and modernizing infrastructure provided by TSP since 2020.

The Asian Association for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery (AAPCHS), and the Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University are all delighted to have CHD as their official journal. Over the past year, authors from more than 40 nations have submitted manuscripts to CHD, highlighting its widespread international reach. The journal has experienced a steady increase year over year growth. The readership has also continued to expand.

The overall vitality of the journal remains robust, marking an opportune moment for a new chapter in editorial leadership. As the Vice President of the AAPCHS and the Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, I, Dr. Xuming Mo, hold significant responsibilities in both organizations. Serving as a senior surgeon at the Children’s Hospital, I lead the Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Department and the Cardiovascular Research Department. My dedication to advancing the study of congenital heart disease is demonstrated through active participation in these prestigious organizations.

In addition to my extensive clinical expertise, I have worked in professional associations for over thirty years in a variety of leadership roles. Holding various positions within the medical community, including Head of the Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Group of the Chinese Medical Association, Deputy Chairman of the Congenital Heart Disease Committee of the Chinese Cardiovascular Experts Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Chinese Special Committee of the Asian Society of Valve Surgery, Chairman of the Nanjing Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Pediatric Surgery Society, Deputy Chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery, etc. I was the First Editor-in-Chief of Pediatric Thoracic Surgery, the first textbook on Pediatric Thoracic Surgery in China, and have served on the Editorial Boards of several cardiothoracic surgery publications, including World Journal of Pediatrics, where I have been a member since 2010.

As an expert in the field, I regularly contribute to numerous surgical and cardiology journals through Editorial and Invited Commentaries. Additionally, I have authored several textbooks and atlases in the field of cardiac surgery, as well as co-editor of several of them. Collaborating with Kisaburo Sakamoto and Vladimiro L. Vida, we anticipate injecting new perspectives and methodologies into CHD. This instills optimism for the future development of this crucial CHD publication.

I am committed to providing Professor Kisaburo Sakamoto with unwavering support during this collaborative transition and in the future. We are fortunate to have the continued service of Professor Vladimiro L. Vida, a highly skilled and experienced individual, in his role as Co-Editor-in-Chief of CHD. This is encouraging news!

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you—our esteemed authors and dedicated readers—as well as to the affiliated Societies, TSP Publications, Consulting Editors, Managing Editor, Associate Editors, Editorial Board, and Peer reviewers. Your collective enthusiasm for CHD indorses the original goal of the journal’s founders: to advance and disseminate knowledge on pediatric heart disorders and congenital heart abnormalities, with a specific focus on surgical aspects of therapy. Since its founding, CHD has remained one of the sole journals dedicated to the field of congenital heart disease, a distinction it write upholds to this day.

It is expected that the wider reach of CHD will prove beneficial to both authors and readers given the evolving technological landscape. In my role as Co-Editor-in-Chief, I am committed to enhancing the global dissemination of this journal.

Whether you are a writer, editor, or reviewer, I am thrilled to collaborate with all of you in advancing CHD. As Co-Editor-in-Chief, I am willing to hear suggestions, discussions, and feedback from both authors and readers to better understand and address any concerns with CHD.

I appreciate this opportunity and look forward to an exceptional experience in the coming years!

THANK YOU!!!

Happy New Year to All of You!!