Since its launch in 2012, the journal Hepatobiliary Surgery and Nutrition (HBSN) has been committed to showcasing outstanding Chinese medical research and ensuring fair recognition of Chinese studies.

With the support of Wang Daoyuan, CEO of AME Publishing Company, HBSN has pursued the goal of establishing a high-caliber international surgical journal that integrates both Eastern and Western perspectives while keeping pace with modern advancements.

Building a high-level academic platform

As a bi-monthly open-access journal, HBSN has consistently followed an international development path. Its editorial board comprises more than 90 experts in the field of hepatobiliary surgery and nutrition from 15 countries, including leading scholars such as Thomas van Gulik from the Netherlands and Ronald Busuttil from the United States.

In recent years, HBSN has expanded its scope to cover a wider range of fields, including pancreatology, oncology, hepatology, and basic research.

The journal also serves as a vital platform for Chinese surgeons and researchers to share their voices with the global community. It has played a key role in promoting Chinese medical publications on the international stage.

In February 2025, HBSN published a review article, "2024 latest report on hepatitis B virus epidemiology in China: current status, changing trajectory, and challenges," authored by Chinese scholars based on the 2024 national hepatitis B survey conducted by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Global Hepatitis Report 2024 by the World Health Organization.

This article highlights China's contributions, challenges, and future directions in hepatitis B prevention and treatment, providing the latest data for academic citation worldwide.

Emphasizing diverse perspectives

Diversity of viewpoints is a core editorial philosophy of HBSN. Medicine should not be confined to scientific aspects alone — it must also embody humanistic values.

Through its "Medical Ethics & Humanities" column, HBSN invites experts to discuss key issues related to healthcare professionals, the doctor-patient relationship, and medical technology. These in-depth perspectives spark discussions among peers and the wider community, fostering valuable insights.

This column serves as a bridge that brings medicine closer to the public, making it a discipline with warmth while addressing the lack of humanistic focus of traditional medical journals.

Establishing an internationally recognized brand

Academician Chen Chao-Long from the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital once remarked, "When we communicate with international experts, we frequently hear about HBSN. With HBSN, Chinese surgeons now have a more powerful platform to voice their work."

After years of development, HBSN has been indexed by PubMed Central, a free digital archives of biomedical and life science literature, and the Science Citation Index Expanded. In the 2024 Journal Citation Reports by Clarivate Analytics, HBSN achieved an impact factor of 6.1, ranking 10th globally (Q1) among surgical journals. Since 2017, it has been recognized as a leading journal in the fields of surgery, nutrition, and gastroenterology.

Looking ahead, HBSN will continue upholding rigorous standards for quality and integrity, striving to be a respected voice in the international medical journal community.

The article is contributed by Mao Yilei. He is the editor-in-chief of HBSN, chief physician, doctoral supervisor and professor of surgery in the Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and deputy chair of the Chinese Society of Liver Surgeons.

●Journal Review

Under the meticulous stewardship of its editorial team, HBSN has evolved over 13 years into a top-tier journal in hepatobiliary surgery. Professor Mao Yilei, the editor-in-chief of HBSN, treats the journal as his own child, soliciting manuscripts and peer reviews with the utmost dedication. His commitment reflects the rigor and responsibility of a true scholar.

HBSN's success is not only a testament to academic achievements but also a symbol of the rise of Chinese scientific journals. It has facilitated the integration of hepatobiliary surgery and nutrition while making medicine more socially relevant and human-centered through its diverse perspectives and medical humanities column.

The editorial team's perseverance and original vision have established HBSN as a leading Chinese academic brand in the global surgical community and set a benchmark for other journals.

HBSN's story reminds us that a journal's character mirrors an individual's — staying true to its core values enables it to go further. We look forward to HBSN continuing to lead the field and contributing to global medical progress.

—— Yang Tian, chief physician and professor at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai) and a recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China.