A Note from the Publisher

Ihave known Ralph Clayman since 1986, when he first agreed to be the Co-Editor-in-Chief of a new publication, Journal of Endourology. I had been watching the field for some time, with pressure from interventional radiologists who believed these procedures were their turf. Not so, said urologic surgeons, who were equally, if not more, persuasive. Their arguments had much merit, and the names of Ralph Clayman and Arthur Smith came up constantly as the leaders in the field. At the time, Ralph and Art were editing and self-publishing a solid but small quarterly newsletter, but I was totally convinced that the field needed a peer reviewed journal to make a more significant contribution to the literature and advance the field. At that time, Ralph was at Washington University spearheading minimally invasive surgery.

I called Art Smith first, because he was geographically more accessible at Long Island Jewish Hospital. Art emphatically said “no.” Very emphatically!! No equivocation. Absolutely. And a polite but firm “Good-bye.”

And so, I placed a call to Ralph.

What happened next is best described by a letter Ralph sent to me on the occasion of the company's 20^th anniversary in 2000.

It was in this environment that on a cold winter's night in the middle of a very busy clinical week in 1986, that I received a call from Arthur Smith mentioning that he had been contacted by a publisher, Mary Ann Liebert who wanted to start a journal in endourology. My reply to Arthur was a blunt, and impassioned “NO!” I related to him how much work just the newsletter was, how poor the circulation was, and how nonexistent the profits were. After a relatively lengthy conversation, in which all pluses and minuses of such a project were addressed, I felt that both Arthur and I were in complete agreement that this was not something we were going to do or even consider. We were both just too busy to begin a project which would invariably take up a tremendous amount of our time. I hung up the phone and prepared to finally go to bed.

No more than 10 minutes later, the phone rang. It was Arthur … his instructions to me were as blunt and direct as my initial reply to him had been: “You tell her No!” Well I must admit, I had known Arthur at that time for almost a decade and I was amazed that he was unsuccessful in his attempt to tell this publisher that we were not interested. It was getting later in the evening of what had already been a long and difficult clinical day and so I almost relished the opportunity to personally share with someone else the frustration and exhaustion I was then feeling … so I said, “Sure, I'll tell her, No!” Arthur gave me Mary Ann's number, I dialed and within a matter of a half hour, I called Arthur back, tail between my legs, to tell him that: “We are going to do the journal.” That was 14 years ago … I have never forgotten the lesson or the result … if Mary Ann wants to do something, go with her … it will be successful beyond your wildest dreams … I also learned, that while men think they have the power, it is women who actually exercise it.

Now, 30 years later, this prestigious journal has achieved its goal, grown in frequency from a quarterly to monthly publication, and has launched a video companion journal, Videourology, and an online open access journal, Journal of Endourology Case Reports.

What also took place was a wonderful friendship. Ralph is not only one of the most distinguished researchers and clinicians, but a doctor who is a blessing for his patients. Not only is he responsive to them, but he gives them his personal telephone number so they can always reach him 24/7 if they need to. He is truly a Renaissance man, a wine connoisseur, art and theater appreciator, and a man who is close to his wife and family, his professional colleagues, and personal friends… who retains the elegance of a time long gone and writes thank you notes, by hand, rather than e-mail.

And when I needed health care advice for two members of my family, I reached out to him immediately, and he was there on the phone instantly…when decisions had to be made. We were, and are, grateful.

Last year, I was privileged to be invited to his Investiture at University of California, Irvine, and spent more time with Ralph and his lovely wife, Carol, and with Art and Kay Smith.

It is with the greatest of pleasure and much joy that we are publishing this Festschrift issue of Journal of Endourology in celebration of our esteemed Co-Editor, wonderful man, and good friend.

Best,

Mary Ann