‘Secret of getting ahead is getting started’

Mark Twain

Yet another defining moment in the journey of Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, when change of guard is taking place and the baton is being handed over to yours truly. Thanks friends for considering me worthy and I am suitably humbled and seized of the responsibilities. I assure you, I shall spare no efforts to rise to your expectations. Just as I am awed, stepping into the large shoes of my predecessors, I am also emboldened, as I have the shoulders of the giants to stand upon. At this juncture, I am reminded of Lord Brock, who in his prayers and musings, once said, ‘Oh God, give me new ideas, courage to apply them and tenacity of purpose to stay on course’, and I can’t wish for more.

I salute my superiors for laying such a vibrant launch pad for our journal, but excellence is not a definite point and has no end. It is poetry in motion, ever evolving and ever progressing, with no final destination. In this ongoing journey, I would endeavour to make my two pence count and I stay reminded of Madam Curie, ‘One never notices what has been done, one can only see, what remains to be done’… and that in our case is to make our journal the vox populi of the Cardiovascular & Thoracic surgeons of this country.

However, through this push towards Kaizen, I run the risk of demonstrating chutzpah as I take over the mantle of Editor-in-Chief of IJTCVS. I am also prudently aware that it should not become a cause celebre for the roguish vain in me and for all the mortal benefits of cautious optimism, it should not lead to complacency. However, I breathe easy in the confidence that the collective wisdom of crème-de-la-creme of our profession, who have very graciously joined in as Editorial Board members and Section Editors, would like a beacon, lead my way forward, and keep me from going astray.

Winston Churchil once said, ‘We are masters of the unsaid words but slave of those, we let slip out’ - wary thus I am of over speaking …. shall sign off therefore, seeking your sagacity, erudition and leadership.

Till then …. Ciao!

O.P. Yadava.

Editor-in-Chief

Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.