Beginning of scientific publications in school of medical sciences, universiti sains malaysia.

It gives me great pleasure to write this editorial for the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences. In the year 1984, the School of Medical Sciences moved the clinical program to the new campus and the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia at Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. It was an exciting time for students and faculty alike as the new innovative educational programs and the clinical services were implemented, bringing in advanced medical care to the population of Kelantan. The rapid development of the clinical services spawned a series of research projects into the medical problems in the community and in the year 1987 Prof. Roslani and Prof. Mustaffa Embong proposed the need for a medical journal for the School of Medical Sciences. I was invited to become the founding editor for the journal which was then named Diagnosa. Diagnosa was planned initially as a quarterly journal publishing research and review articles from the faculty and staff of the medical school. It started in this manner and the first issue was published in 1987. In 1989, I moved from USM to the United Kingdom and the editorship of the Diagnosa was taken up by Prof. Chandrasekharan. In 1994, the Diagnosa journal expanded and became the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences under the able guidance and editorship of the different editors after me. I congratulate the editorial panel on their tremendous efforts and remarkable achievements in the production of the journal and wish them all success in the years to come. Best wishes: Professor Pratap Chan