A Professor and Chief of Plastic Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) - New Jersey Medical School, has launched a new medical journal, ePlasty, to provide open access to vital information on plastic surgery via the internet. The e-journal, created by Dr. Mark Granick in conjunction with two of his associates, Dr. Stephen Milner and Dr. John Kucan, is claimed to be the first open access journal of plastic surgery that will promote the free exchange of information at an international level.
The journal, available online at http://www.eplasty.com, seeks to provide free peer-reviewed literature and general educational materials regarding all aspects of plastic surgery and related specialties to a worldwide audience. The journal is Pub Med and Pub Central indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
In addition to the peer-reviewed journal, the site includes a forum to allow international dialogue on a variety of subjects, an education section to facilitate resident education in plastic surgery, an exhibit hall where industry can display technical as well as testimonial multimedia productions, and a presentation area where experts can place multimedia items that include lectures, operating techniques, ward rounds and a variety of other explanatory recordings.
All scientific articles submitted to ePlasty will be peer reviewed. The journal will consist of multiple sections. These include Research/Basic Science, Burns/Wounds, Cosmetic, Pediatric/Cranio-Maxillofacial, Hand, Reconstruction/Microsurgery, Oncology, Resident/Trainee, Clinical Trials and case reports and sections for allied specialties, including orthopaedics, dermatology, ophthalmology and vascular surgery. In addition to the peer-reviewed section, the journal will also have an edited, non-peer reviewed educational section of work solicited from experts in their respective fields.
Dr. Milner and Dr. Granick will be the Editors and Chief of the journal. Dr. Kucan will serve as the Managing Editor.
