Matthias Siepe, M Gaudino
Over the past decades, the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EJCTS) and its sister journal Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery (ICVTS) have built on a long-standing tradition of innovative scientific publishing (Figure 1). The period from 2020 to 2025, however, marks a particularly profound phase of transformation, during which the journal family was comprehensively reshaped to meet the evolving demands of modern academic communication. The Editors-in-Chief of the EJCTS: from left to right, Friedhelm Beyersdorf (2010-2020), Ludwig von Segesser (2000-2010), Marko Turina (1993-2000), Matthias Siepe (2020-2025), and Mario Gaudino (Since 2025). The Founding Editor Hans Borst †2022 (1987-1993) is Missing. A major milestone was the transition to a fully digital publishing environment, with the elimination of print editions and the implementation of an online-only format for both journals. In parallel, EJCTS adopted a hybrid publishing model, while ICVTS transitioned to full open access, significantly enhancing global accessibility and dissemination of scientific content.1 For the scientific education of our audience, additional publication formats, including the Successful Podcast series “A Cut Above” and many webinars were introduced. This structural evolution was accompanied by an internal reorganization of the editorial office, bringing operations in-house and consolidating financial performance—from a position of considerable deficit to a stable and sustainable source of income for the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). At the same time, the scientific scope and identity of the journals were further refined. ICVTS was repositioned as a truly interdisciplinary platform, reflecting the increasingly collaborative nature of cardiovascular and thoracic care.2 Across both journals, substantial efforts were made to modernize manuscript workflows, streamline submission processes, and adapt article design to contemporary standards, thereby improving both author experience and reader engagement.3 Importantly, these structural innovations were paralleled by a continued commitment to publishing cutting-edge science. The journals have seen a steady increase in high-quality meta-analyses, the integration of emerging methodologies such as machine learning, and the growing utilization of large-scale registry data from EACTS initiatives.4–6 While randomized controlled trials remain relatively scarce in our field, their number is gradually increasing—representing an area of strategic importance for the new Editor in Chief.7,8 Further defining achievements include the establishment of equal manuscript submission requirements and, more importantly, a unified methodology for clinical practice guidelines across cardio-thoracic surgical journals and the expansion into new guideline domains, reinforcing the journals’ role in setting both clinical and scientific standards.9–12 At the same time, the challenges of interdisciplinary guideline development—highlighted by recent divergences in collaboration with partner societies—have underscored the complexity of maintaining consensus in an increasingly specialized landscape, while preserving successful joint efforts such as the valvular heart disease guidelines.13,14 In addition, there has been a growing emphasis on education in clinical trial design, fostering critical discussion and methodological rigour within the community.15,16 Complementing this, the inclusion of lighter and more reflective content has added a valuable human and intellectual dimension to the journals.17,18 Taken together, the past 5 years have seen a remarkable transformation of the publication ecosystem. Despite these substantial changes, key performance indicators—including impact factors—have remained stable, positioning EJCTS firmly among the leading journals in cardio-thoracic surgery for original scientific work, now supported by modern, forward-looking structures. My vision for EJCTS is based on my belief that there is no separation between academic and clinical practice, and the 2 things go hand-in-hand. My key goal is to make sure that the journal fits the needs of the cardio-thoracic surgery community and becomes part of the everyday life of cardio-thoracic surgeons across the globe. This is not a one-person job, and I will be supported by an amazing group of Editors, including Matthias. This diverse and incredibly brilliant team of people will be the key to EJCTS success. The journal will serve and reflect a very diverse community, both geographically and professionally. My ambition is for the journal to be truly global and to be the to-go place for updates and news on our profession, and not only for scientific publication. We have introduced a number of new formats, such as the Surgeon’s Notebook19,20 the Residents Corner,21 the Clinical Trials Corner22,23 and the Data Capsule24 to serve our community beyond scientific publications. In the new Instructions, we have minimized the formatting requirements for first submissions for an easier and faster authors’ experience. We have also substantially modified the peer review process, which will now be heavily based on in-house assessment, to guarantee a quick turnaround time. We know well how important fast decisions are for our authors. From my personal experience, manuscripts are generally accepted for 2 key reasons–high originality or excellent methodology (rarely both). My advice to authors is to be creative and smart and explore new ideas, rather than repeating someone else’s work. One of the best advice I got from one of my mentors is that every day in your clinical work (either in the operating room, in the intensive care unit, in the ward or in the clinic), something happens that deserves a study and could be the subject of an academic publication. And if you do not see it, you are just not paying enough attention. Therefore, take inspiration from your clinical work and do not invest your time in repetition. Think out of the beaten path and conventional boxes. This will most likely grab our attention at EJCTS! The authors report no conflicts of interest.