Dear Reader,

We would like to take this opportunity to mark the 30th year of continuous publication of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis. Over the past 30 years, the field of hematology has undergone tremendous change. Conditions that were once fatal are now treatable with the advent of new drugs and procedures. Throughout its illustrious history, Seminars has sought to enable the medical community by providing specialists with a review forum to publish and discuss important trends in the field. Over the past three decades, the journal has not only succeeded but also excelled in this endeavor, and we count many of the world's leading specialists as contributors to the journal. The success of the journal would not have been possible without the continued and sustained efforts of Editor in Chief Eberhard Mammen, M.D. As the journal's sole Editor in Chief he has presided over the journal from its humble beginnings to its present position as the premier review journal in the specialty.

In 1974, Dr. Mammen was approached by Henry Stratton, founder of Stratton Intercontinental (which would later become Thieme Publishers New York) to lead what at that time was the first review journal covering the field of hemostasis and thrombotic disorders. By his own admission, Dr. Mammen was at first reluctant to accept, believing that there were enough journals already covering the specialty. Mr. Stratton's response was to the effect “I will only accept no if you can name or find any quality review journal in the specialty.” After some research, Dr. Mammen decided that Mr. Stratton was right in his assessment and accepted the challenge of overseeing a startup publication. Thirty years later, we are most grateful that he did.

Dr. Mammen was born in Carolinensiel, Germany, in 1930. After receiving his M.D. from the University of Giessen in 1956, Dr. Mammen completed his medical training at the University of Marburg/Lahn in Lahn, Germany, in 1957. Upon completion of his training, Dr. Mammen accepted a position in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Wayne State University in Detroit, immigrating to the United States with his wife Hanna in 1958. Like his editorship of Seminars, his tenure at Wayne State was long and significant, and he received numerous accolades and prestigious honors up until his retirement in 1996.

Himself the son of a doctor, Dr. Mammen once related a story of how his father braved all types of extreme weather and conditions, often traveling great distances on an old bicycle, always making every effort to serve his patients. It is very apparent that this commitment to medicine and his patients influenced his son. Whether working at Wayne State, or running Seminars, Dr. Mammen has always demonstrated a lasting dedication to his work. This is so much the case that even in his “retirement” he still devotes a great deal of time and energy recruiting issues and authors and ensuring that the journal continues to be of the highest quality and scientific relevance.

Please join us in congratulating and thanking Dr. Mammen on a job well done.

Sincerely,