Journal with heart grows from idea to global circulation

Heart Lung & Circulation

by Anne Crawford

In 1991 a small band of cardiothoracic surgeons had a vision: they would create a new cardiac journal, a platform for young and first-time authors to have their work published. For most Australian, New Zealand and Asian authors at the time there was no stepping-stone to publishing in high-quality international journals.

The surgeons – Professor Frank Rosenfeldt, Associate Professor Alan Gale and Professor Brian Buxton – initially encountered scepticism. There was not enough original cardiac surgical material coming out of a small country like Australia to support a journal, they were told, amongst other criticisms.

Twenty-five years later, worldwide interest in Heart, Lung and Circulation is expanding rapidly – digital download rates doubled in the last five years and in 2015 surpassed 250,000.

Vale heart surgeon Professor Don Esmore

Vale Professor Don Esmore. Long-time Alfred Health staff member and Monash Department of Surgery adjunct, highly regarded cardiothoracic surgeon and transplant pioneer, Don passed away in February following a long battle with myeloma. Don was instrumental in bringing transplant services to the Victorian community and helped many patients.