Abstract
Towards the end of the year 2018, the executive of Telangana State branch of Cardiological society of India decided to embark on the project of publishing a journal from this part of the country. This idea took shape in a short time and in partnership with SAGE publications, resulted in the genesis of Indian Journal of Clinical Cardiology (IJCC). I was entrusted the role of Editor-in-Chief, with the task of bringing out the debut and subsequent issues of this quarterly journal. The first issue was brought out in March 2019, released at the annual conference of the state CSI in the August presence of the honorable Governor Dr Tamilisai Sounderrajan. Over the years, our editorial team has successfully compiled, processed, and brought forth to light unfailingly issues each quarter on time. Though initially intended to serve as a platform for cardiologists in the state of Telangana to publish their research, the journal attracted contribution from rest of the nation and from abroad too. Currently, about 19% of submitted original articles are from outside India while the number of submissions overall has increased by 7 times since inception. Importantly, original research articles submitted have gone up from 10 in 2019 to 53 in 2022. Our acceptance rate has remained a healthy 53 % to 55%. The readership numbers have recorded a phenomenal incline as seen from the articles downloaded which have increased from 9108 in 2019 to 38,054 in 2022. The global readership of the journal is heartening with its widening distribution across all the continents (Figure 1). IJCC is currently indexed by EBSCO, Indian Citation Index (ICI) and J Gate while indexing by Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ ) is in process. In 2021, it had a H index of 2 and impact factor of 0.3.
Global Readership of Indian Journal of Clinical Cardiology.
I wish to put on record my gratitude to the members of CSI Telangana state for giving me the opportunity and responsibility to initiate the inception of IJCC and oversee the editorial process over the last 4 years. I am indebted to the contributing authors who have chosen to share their research through our journal. I thank my team of associate editors, reviewers, and coordinator who have meticulously and objectively followed the scientific process and ensured the publication of each issue on time. I also acknowledge the contribution of the SAGE team involved in the editorial process and production ensuring timely publication of each issue.
Scientific temperament is an important ingredient that needs to be incorporated into medical curriculum at all levels. Perception of an unresolved issue in current medical practice, finding a solution to it and subjecting the solution to scientific assessment, and finally submitting the results for a peer review, complete the process of research. Every institution in its own interest of ensuring and achievement of excellence and delivery of quality medical care should encourage adherence to scientific temperament and contribution to literature.
I pass on the editorial responsibility to my successor Professor Amar Patnaik, a distinguished cardiologist and researcher who I am sure will take the journal to loftier heights in his tenure.