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V O L 3 2019 I S S U E
GUEST INTERVIEW : MASTER’S MIND
Interviewer : Welcome sir. We are very As part of preparation process I realized its too
honoured and thrilled to be doing this interview much for one person to do. As I don’t know half
with you. Thanks again for agreeing to do this! the things about every area of Plastic surgery,
Dr. Neligan : It’s my pleasure! I decided to have volume editors for each
volume. As a part of negotiations with Elsevier
Interviewer : What drew you to Plastic surgery it was decided that the book would be in colour
and inspired you to choose it as a career? with artwork, making the printing cost go up.
Dr. Neligan : Well, you’ll be quite disappointed So to cut down on it we decided to reduce
with my answer. What happened was, my wife 8 volumes to 6. I and Sue went through all 8
and I were both starting our internship and the volumes of Mathes and decided what could be
chairman of the board of hospital told us he cut down, what could be added and what had
will not allow both of us to intern in the same to be rewritten.
unit. So, the hospital I chose had a big plastic At that point I invited 6 volume editors to take
surgery unit and no one wanted to work there part. We met in Chicago and sat at a round table
as it was a very busy department. Within two and went through the table of contents. We
weeks I fell in love with Plastic surgery. That is decided which chapters were to be rewritten
how it started! and which could continue as they were in
Mathes. The third volume took about four
Interviewer: So a personal accident led to a years! I didn’t write many chapters. But me and
great discovery, I must say! volume editors went through all the chapters,
Dr. Neligan : But I had no idea what Plastic we kept pressurizing people to send in their
Surgery was! chapters and checking the artwork. I had to
Interviewer : And now there are thousands make frequent trips to London to Elsevier’s
and more reading your books! office to check proofs and for other decisions.
After getting corrections from Authors, me
Interviewer: Sir, How was the idea of writing and volume editors made changes to chapters
‘the’ textbook conceived? How was the entire , finalised the covers. That is it in a nutshell.
experience and what were the struggles?
Dr. Neligan: I got an email from somebody Interviewer : What does an ordinary day in
from Elseivier asking for suggestions for new your life look like?
editors for the textbook as the previous editor Dr. Neligan : I get up around 5 am and reach
had died. I gave them a list of suggestions the hospital by 6:30 am. Usually operating
and they called me after a month saying they start at 7:30 am and I attend early morning
had shortlisted few people and they wanted institutional meetings before that. I have two
to meet me. Sue Hudson from Elsievier flew major operating days in the week, sometimes
down to Seattle to see me and when we met three or four. I have one day where I see patients
she asked me what would I do to the book if all day. I tend to do writing in bursts and on
i were the editor. I gave them my ideas and a weekends. I travel a lot. Because I am travelling
month later I got an email from one of the vice for a considerable amount of time, when I am
presidents of Elsevier saying that I was the new home I mostly do clinical work.
editor!
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