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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2017; 65(07): 503-504
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1606643
Editorial
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Happy Birthday to You, Professor Borst

Markus K. Heinemann
1   Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery, Universitaetsmedizin Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
06 October 2017 (online)

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This October, Hans Georg Borst will be celebrating his 90th birthday, fortunately in what can be considered good physical health at this age, and mentally as alert and nimble-witted as always. This event is really an important and joyful occasion for The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon as well. Having been established under the name of “Thoraxchirurgie” in 1953 by Vossschulte of Gießen, this journal developed into a platform for thoracic, vascular, and, increasingly, the new breed of cardiac surgeons in Germany and the surrounding countries. Its only drawback was that it was published in German language. When the founding Editor handed over the editorship to H. G. Borst in 1978, articles on cardiac surgery accounted for the majority (53 of 82 articles in that year).

Borst later remarked in his seminal Honored Guest's address to the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), “Hands across the ocean” that “early innovatory work published in this and other German language journals remained largely unnoticed abroad.”[1] Having spent many and shaping years of his training in the United States, he immediately embarked on the task of changing this situation with a vision to achieve international recognition. On December 12, 1978, The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon was accepted by the Current Contents Clinical Medicine and listed in the Science Citation Index by Thomson Reuters. The latter was the ancestor of the current impact factor, meaning that the journal has always had one. In 1979, English consequently became the mandatory publication language. Manuscripts could at first still be submitted in German or French (!). However, in case of acceptance, the authors were responsible for a translation. Otherwise there would be no publication.

This profound change necessitated a change in the journal title as well. Closely modeled on the most eminent US competitor and paragon, The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Borst came up with the more personalized version of The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon, thus shaping the format of the journal you are currently reading. For a more comprehensive history, the readers are referred to the 60th anniversary publication.[2]

When the present Editor moved to Hannover for the completion and specialization of his surgical training in 1986, he carelessly mentioned an interest in scientific publishing. Hans Borst typically seized the opportunity and brought him into contact with the Editorial Administrator to “help with the editing.” However, this did not mean reading and polishing the manuscripts. In those days of typewriters and copy machines, the authors were required to hand in three hardcopies, including any artwork, the latter in high-gloss photo printouts in a standard format, usually at least 9 by 13 cm, clearly labeled on the back. The challenge for the editorial staff was to check the material for adequacy and readability, and then to put one complete (!) set of material into one correctly addressed and stamped envelope per reviewer each. When the reviews arrived, by mail of course, these were required to be put into the respective manuscript file folder for the Editor to eventually read and decide. So, yours truly really learnt journal editing from scratch. The electronic submission and managing system, which makes things so much easier and faster today, was introduced into the journal only in 2005—fortunately 5 years before the former apprentice took over the editorship.

There will doubtlessly be other, more profound laudations for Hans Georg Borst on this given occasion. He was, after all, one of the founding members of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, developed numerous surgical innovations (the notorious “elephant trunk” to name one[3]), trained scores of surgeons for leading positions, and unrelentingly fostered internationalization. Again, he was one of the founders of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) and supported the establishment of cardiac surgery on all continents, prominently in Africa with Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng returning from his Hannover training to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana. This issue, by the way, contains a manuscript from Niger, of all places, demonstrating that Borst's former journal is still following the paths paved by him long ago.[4]

Dear Hans Borst! In your address already mentioned above,[1] you drew the comparison of American cakes comprising a slice of Germany and vice versa. It is my feeling that your birthday cake will most likely rather be a Leberkäs' accompanied by a rich Bavarian beer. Prosit and enjoy for many healthy years to come!