The Romanian Journal of Cardiology, the official journal of the Romanian Society of Cardiology, has undergone a sustained period of development and transformation over recent years, reflecting both the maturation of the journal and the growing international visibility of cardiovascular research originating from Romania and beyond.
A key milestone in this evolution was the transition to a new international publisher in 2021. This change represented an important step toward streamlined editorial workflows, enhanced digital discoverability, and closer alignment with international publishing standards. Today, the journal is published by the Romanian Society of Cardiology, in partnership with Paradigm Publishing Services, a collaboration that has further strengthened the journal’s visibility and accessibility in the current digital publishing landscape.
The journal’s progress is also reflected in its indexing and reach. The Romanian Journal of Cardiology is currently indexed in several major international databases, including Scopus, DOAJ, EBSCO, and Google Scholar, among others. This indexation has significantly improved the discoverability of published articles and has contributed to an increase in submissions.
Importantly, increasing visibility has translated into meaningful readership: over the past 12 months, the journal recorded 34,000 full-text downloads, underscoring its expanding relevance to clinicians and researchers.
Importantly, quantitative growth has been accompanied by qualitative consolidation. A higher volume of submissions allows for a more selective editorial process and for a sustained emphasis on scientific rigor and clinical relevance. In 2025, the journal’s acceptance rate was 65%, reflecting a balance between selectivity and the journal’s educational mission. Equally important for authors, editorial performance has become predictable and efficient: the median times in 2025 were 21 days from submission to first decision and 41 days from submission to final decision, providing a rapid route from scientific work to dissemination.
One of the clearest editorial directions pursued in recent years has been the internationalization of the journal. As Professor Carmen Ginghină wrote in 2022 in her editorial, “The Romanian Journal of Cardiology on the path to becoming an international journal”,1 this was not only an aspiration, but a strategic trajectory assumed by the journal’s leadership.
While remaining rooted in its national mission, the Romanian Journal of Cardiology has progressively expanded its international reach, visibility, and attractiveness for authors abroad. A result of this process is that, in 2025, 79% of original article submissions came from outside Romania, spanning Europe and other regions. This growing international authorship is a marker of increased visibility and a testament to the journal’s credibility as a fair and transparent publication venue.
The journal’s accessibility model has also been central to this progress. The Romanian Journal of Cardiology is fully open access: all content is freely available in full, without subscription barriers. In addition, the journal operates without article processing charges and without submission fees, an approach that encourages submissions from diverse settings and aligns with the Society’s commitment to education and dissemination of knowledge.
This progress would not have been possible without the dedication of an outstanding international editorial board and the vital contribution of our reviewers, whose careful, constructive evaluations strengthen the clinical relevance of what we publish.
I am grateful for the strong foundations built by the previous Editors-in-Chief, Professor Eduard Apetrei and Professor Carmen Ginghină, whose work we have continued and expanded.
Building on these achievements, the journal is now entering a new strategic phase. Preparations are underway for applications for indexing in PubMed Central and Clarivate’s Web of Science, with the aim of further increasing international visibility, citation impact, and integration into the global cardiovascular literature.
As Editor, I am proud of the progress achieved and grateful to all authors, reviewers, editors, and readers, as well as to the Board of the Romanian Society of Cardiology for their continued support. Together, they have made this journey possible.
The Romanian Journal of Cardiology remains committed to its core mission: to serve as a high-quality, open, and internationally relevant platform for cardiovascular science, education, and clinical excellence.