Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia ISSN: 1394-195X Vol. 15, Num. 4, 2008, pp. 2

EDITORIAL

Professor Dato’ Dr. Mohd Roslani Majid

Dean, School of Medical Sciences University College Sedaya International, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Code Number: mj08029

I would,first of all,like to thank the Editor for inviting me to write this editorial with regards to the history and the evolution of the MJMS. (What was previously known as Diagnosa). My interest in developing a journal for medicine originated from the time I was the Deputy Dean of Medicine in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) prior to my appointment as the Founder Dean of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya was established in 1963, UKM in 1974 and USM in 1979. At that point in time,the only local medical journal was the Medical Journal of Malaysia (MJM). As the two medical faculties were new,more so with UKM,avenues for young academic staff to publish were limited. At the same time, the MJM was, in the main,clinically oriented,leaving the young basic scientists no options for their early work to be published. Investigative resarch would require time and this situation does not provide nor encourage them to do so. That was when I initiated the move for a medical journal in UKM. A few publications of Jernal Perubatan UKM were printed but unfortunately,could not be traced in the archives of the UKM Library. I presume that it had a natural death after I left to assume the appointment in USM.

Before I assumed the USM appointment, I could recall my discussion with my late father who expressed concern should I be drawn into the quagmire of politicking, one-upmanship and back stabbing to which he was exposed and I was witnessed to. I replied that I will attempt to take defensive action to make USM the best Medical Faculty in the country. My first few years in USM occupied my time with a three-pronged planning, i.e.curriculum development, physical and infastructural development and staff development. Details can be found in my book, Changing The Mindset. As we progressed and the research teams established,the time came for an avenue for staff publication. Bearing in mind on the limited number of staff we had,I needed someone with the necessary credentials to take the lead in establishing, at least,a research newsletter. The name of DIAGNOSA was mooted and Dr Pratap Chand was identified as the editor.It was no easy task approaching staff for papers but I reassured them that any publication in DIAGNOSA is considerd a publication for their CV. Gradually, papers came in and we employed the strategy of collecting enough papers for at least three publications before proceeding. This would ensure a continuity of the future of the journal. As the first batch of students were graduating in 1986,we wanted to time the first publication to coincide with this event. We managed to do so with the first publication in 1987. Since then, DIAGNOSA has progressed from being an internal publication to being recognised as a national medical journal, the MJMS. I would like to congratulate the subsequent editorial group for this achievement. The more difficult task ahead is to be accepted internationally. This is the challenge.

Best wishes :
Professor Dato’ Dr. Mohd Roslani Majid

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