The Journal of Pediatric Surgery: Its First 50 Years

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Medical Journalism

Background:

• The Journal of Pediatric Surgery (JPS) lecture at the 2017 British Association of Pediatric Surgeons meeting was renamed to honor Dr. Jay L. Grosfeld.
• Dr. Grosfeld served as Editor-in-Chief of JPS from 1994 until his passing in 2016.

Observation:

• The article commemorates the first 50 years of JPS.
• It details the foundational efforts of Drs. Koop and Gans in establishing a dedicated pediatric surgery journal.
• The paper analyzes the top ten most cited articles published in JPS over its first five decades.

Findings:

• The historical review highlights the evolution of pediatric surgery as reflected in JPS publications.
• Analysis of top citations reveals key advancements and influential research in the field.
• The journal's trajectory from its inception to its current standing is presented.

Implications:

• Understanding the history of JPS provides context for the development of pediatric surgical practices.
• Identifying seminal works aids in recognizing foundational knowledge and future research directions.
• The discussion on the future of JPS offers insights into the evolving landscape of pediatric surgical literature and innovation.