Thomas Papadimos
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Chief, Anesthesiology Critical Care Unit, Medical College of Ohio, USA
Thomas Papadimos is currently pursuing a project on the expression of Toll-like receptors in septic obese patients, several projects about infection control in operating suites, and two epidemiologic studies involving care in cardiovascular intensive care units. This fall he will begin an online Bioethics and Professionalism fellowship through the Medical College of Wisconsin.
What prompted you to submit a manuscript to one of BioMed Central's open access journals?
I was prompted to submit to BioMed Central for several reasons:
- The speed of publication
- The potential of international readership
- The fact that there are no limitations on the length or number of articles per month
- Most importantly, I have tired of the exorbitant prices requested by print journals for access to publications. The fact that I am affiliated with an academic institution makes much of the literature accessible to me. However, I am sure there are clinicians, researchers, and teachers around the world who cannot afford the monetary investment necessary to get reprints. So, in the end, it is this philosophy of "open access" that is important.
What was your assessment of the electronic submission and peer review process?
My assessment of the electronic submission and review process is very favorable. The peer-review process is interesting, as making the reviewers identify themselves is novel.
What do you think you gained from publishing in an open access journal?
There is much to gain from publishing in an open access journal, especially for junior faculty. I have currently been recommended for an associate professorship by my chairman, and not having to wait a year for the publication of my manuscripts has helped with my academic advancement.
Fortunately or unfortunately many people, including the press, have ready access to your work, and you may get requests for interviews that are totally unexpected and would not have occurred if you published in print journals. This is a double-edged sword, but if handled well can be satisfying. Unexpected exposure (I know from personal experience) will definitely hone your media skills whether you like it or not. So if you are game for "open access", the world may open up to you quicker than you may realize.
