CARPE DIEM REVISITED AND ADIOS!

Abstract

In the fall of 1991 I was appointed Editor Elect of NEUROSURGERY and began a nine-month period of assumption of duties toward Editor in July of 1992 (2). During that period, I had the opportunity to create and establish philosophies, approaches, and a framework of what was the Journal's first “professional” editorial office. In retrospect, the most important decision was to set course on a path of “individuality”, unbiased receptiveness, absolute willingness to evaluate new processes and ideas, and most importantly, absence of fear of failure. Additionally, there was an established directive to voraciously incorporate all that was new and potentially exciting into the persona and fabric of the publication. Fortunately, we were met with an avalanche of ideas, opportunities and support — support from the Congress leadership, publisher, authors, reviewers and readers throughout the world. This gave us the opportunity to seize and incorporate multiple viable opportunities into NEUROSURGERY'S development and activities over an eighteen-year period. Individuals believed in us and supported our efforts, particularly our colleagues in industry who provided enormous financial support for groundbreaking supplements and our emergence into the digital age. A number of critical people acted as vital catalysts for our success. Our Managing Editors have been superb. Iowan Steve Lenier for eight years gave us passionate support in the initial stages of the Journal's robust development. The Reverend Dan Sullivan worked with the Journal for 10 years, 3 as Managing Editor. Most significant of this group has been Rod Faccio, a multi-talented and highly sober individual from Tucson, Arizona who has worked for 18 years on behalf of the Journal in areas of design, production, and organization. He has been a vital force in the Journal's life, acting as its voice and designer, and finally its Managing Editor for the past five years. Rod shepherded NEUROSURGERY during a period of its most dynamic escalation of activities – a period of robust ambition and challenge as well as success. Perhaps no one has been more important than Rod for its current stature and success. Our colleagues at Lippincott have been important in making things happen, bringing ideas to practical reality and bringing novel concepts “to the table.” The now Reverend Timothy Grayson served as Publisher for 13 years. No one outside of the journal office was more responsible for what has become the Journal and its presence today. Also, from the publishing side, during the formative and critical stages of the Journal, Williams & Wilkins' Alma Wills and Toni Tracy provided exceptional leadership in assuring the journal's objectives.FIGURE: NEUROSURGERY DESIGN EVOLUTION & LANDMARKSAt a critical time in the Journal's development, Greg Pessagno provided energy, passion, and remarkable creative expertise in advertising to establish essential financial bases for supplements, Internet products, and other remarkable material elements and happenings during these past years. The Journal's Production Manager, Paul Cook, in collaboration with devoted and skillful colleagues Cindy Kerr and Kelli Parmer at Cadmus Press in Lancaster, Pennsylvania were responsible for the “miracle” of the journal in material realization each month – at times a feat of professional magic. Production Editor and redactor extraordinare, Sue Steeble, deserves special recognition as well for setting a high bar. Finally, a number of professional colleagues deserve special comment. Senior neurosurgeons and editors Thor Sundt, Bob Wilkins, Ed Laws, John Jane, Keiji Sano, Gazi Yasargil, Charles Wilson, Bob Grossman, and Al Rhoton provided important counsel and the wisdom of experience on multiple occasions. Bob Smith and Peter Black chaired the extensive Editorial Board through the enormous task of the peer-review process with grace and dignity. Jim Rutka, Robert Spetzler, Hunt Batjer, Mitch Berger, Issam Awad, Rich Ellenbogen, Charles Hodge, Ivan Ciric, Gordon McComb, Volker Sonntag, Paul Cooper, Ed Benzel, Phil Gutin, Pat Kelly, Nic Hopkins, and Joe Piepmeier consistently exceeded expectations in contributions to the journal's content, character, and performance, playing critical roles in assuring the journal's relevance, course, and intellectual reach. International colleagues Nobuo Hashimoto, Shige Kobayashi, Andrew Kaye, Rudolf Fahlbusch, Johannes Schramm, Madjid Samii, Jacques Brotchi, Yucel Kanpolat, Evandro de Oliveira, Bernard George, Marc Sindou, Enrico de Divitiis, Giovanni Broggi, Francesco Tomasello, Roberto Delfini, Paolo Cappabianca, “Pepe” Martin-Rodriguez, Armando Basso, Abde El Khamlichi, Wai Poon, Ji-Zong Zhao, Liang-Fu Zhou, and Iver Langmoen made exceptional contributions in assuring the journal's sense of globalism. Of the junior colleagues, Felipe Albuquerque, Arun Amar, John Diaz Day, Charles Liu, and Mike Wang have been especially noteworthy. Joseph P. Van Der Meulen, a neurologist, was exceptionally helpful on the USC Medical Campus in the role of Dean and University Vice President for Health Affairs in establishing and assuring the Journal's presence in a protected status for a protracted period. We are grateful to them and so many others who worked and contributed to assure the integrity, scope, and gravity of the Journal's intellectual fabric. These names represent only a few of the individuals who have made the Journal what it has become over the past 18 years – it has been a product of the times, the opportunities, the people with their beliefs, passions, and ideas. In each day for the past 18 years each opportunity was seized and exploited and new roads established. 240 individually honed issues stand as unique contributions to the medical literature and a testimony to a complex and unified team's dedication, passion, commitment, and accomplishment (1,3,4,5). It has been a joy and a privilege to serve as Editor – Thank you all for the support, the opportunity, and the unmatched experience in neurosurgery. Bon voyage Nelson Oyesiku! Adios!! Michael L.J. Apuzzo Los Angeles, California

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