A Conversation with the Editor-in-Chief of the Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences
On August 27, 2025
‘A Conversation With…’ is an ongoing series of interviews with editors, authors and other stakeholders that are a part of KnE Publishing. In this interview, we sat down with Dr. Nazik Elmalaika Obaid Seid Ahmed Husain, editor-in-chief of the Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences (SJMS), to discuss the journal’s goals and future plans.
Can you tell me about the journal and its goals?
The Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences has been a labour of love since its launch in 2006. It is the official journal of Omdurman Islamic University’s Faculty of Medicine, but we’ve always aimed to punch above our weight!
At our core, we’re an open-access, peer-reviewed quarterly journal that’s all about getting high-quality medical research out there consistently. What started as a way to showcase Sudanese expertise has evolved to bridging local knowledge with global conversations in medicine.
But what makes us special is that we’re deeply committed to evidence-based medicine that matters for our region. Whether tackling diseases prevalent in Africa or contributing to worldwide medical discussions, we ensure every piece we publish is scientifically rigorous and genuinely relevant to the health challenges our communities face.
We like to think of ourselves as local champions with global ambitions by giving Sudanese researchers a voice while ensuring their work resonates internationally.
What would you like new readers to know about your journal?
What really excites me to share is just how far SJMS has come in its journey! We’ve hit some major milestones, and we’re now proudly indexed in both Scopus and Web of Science. PubMed indexing is next on our horizon.
The reach we’ve achieved still amazes me. Last year, our articles were accessed over 160,000 times by researchers across 178 countries! That global engagement tells us we’re filling an important niche.
Despite all the challenges, we maintained our rigorous quarterly schedule and published 51 high-quality, peer-reviewed articles. It hasn’t always been easy, but every time I see our latest issue go live, I’m reminded why this work matters so much.
At the end of the day, I want new readers to know this: SJMS combines regional relevance with international standards. Whether in Sudan or anywhere else in the world, you’ll find valuable, rigorously vetted medical research that makes a difference.
Why did you choose to go down the path of Open Access?
Choosing Open Access was never really a choice for us; it was a necessity. In medicine, knowledge shouldn’t be locked behind paywalls when lives are at stake. Whether a doctor in rural Sudan needs the latest findings or a health minister crafting national policy, everyone deserves access to quality research.
But for us, Open Access goes beyond just availability; it’s about justice in global health. For decades, vital perspectives from Sudan and across Africa have been missing from important medical conversations. SJMS changes that equation. When our research is freely available, it gets cited in global guidelines, used in classrooms worldwide, and most importantly, applied where it can improve health outcomes.
That’s the power we’re harnessing: ensure African research doesn’t just exist, but actively shapes healthcare decisions everywhere.
What advice do you have for authors looking to publish in your journal?
If I could give authors three golden rules for publishing with us, first, nail your fundamentals. A rock-solid study design and crystal-clear writing will immediately make your manuscript shine. Trust me, we can always tell when a team has put in that extra effort up front.
Second, and this is so important, treat our author guidelines like your publishing bible. Following them to the letter isn’t just about rules; it’s the fastest ticket through our editorial process. I’ve seen properly formatted papers move weeks quicker!
What excites us is research that tackles Sudan’s and Africa’s pressing health challenges. However, we’re equally keen on work with global implications. Some of our most impactful papers have been local studies with worldwide lessons.
Here’s my insider tip: The authors who succeed with us don’t rush to submit. Take that extra week to polish, get feedback, and ensure your work represents your best efforts. That final 10% of refinement makes all the difference!
How does the journal stand out in the field and industry?
You know what truly sets SJMS apart? It’s our unwavering commitment to excellence—the kind that stays steady through 18 years of challenges and growth. Since 2006, we’ve been the bridge between Sudan’s brilliant medical minds and the global research community, never compromising on rigour while always championing local relevance.
We’re not just publishing papers but building a community. Our editors tear through manuscripts at midnight to meet deadlines. Reviewers craft thoughtful feedback during their weekends. Authors persist with their research despite electricity blackouts. This incredible dedication transforms SJMS from just another journal into a movement.
That’s why I get emotional talking about our team. Their resilience has taken us from a small university bulletin to a Scopus-indexed international platform. While other journals chase impact factors, we’re making an impact that matters—one rigorous, locally grounded, globally relevant study at a time.
How does your journal engage with early-career researchers?
We are really passionate about supporting early-career researchers; it’s one of the things I love most about working with this journal. Our reviewers assess submissions, but they often go beyond that. They mentor authors, giving them detailed, actionable feedback to polish their work. It’s not just about getting a ‘yes’ or ‘no’, it’s about helping researchers grow.
We’ve had so many early-career authors tell us their publication with us helped them land grants, promotions, and even new job offers. That kind of impact is why we take the mentorship side of peer review so seriously. Academia can be tough to break into, so if we can give emerging scholars a leg up, that’s a win for everyone.
What goals do you have for the journal in 2025?
2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for us! We’re really focused on three main goals: expanding our reach, enhancing quality, and strengthening our international presence in medical research.
We had a fantastic Advisory Board meeting, during which we nailed down two key priorities. First, we’re growing our reviewer pool to bring in more diverse expertise and keep the peer review process both rigorous and timely. Let’s be honest, timely feedback makes all the difference for authors.
The second big focus is updating our policies, including those around AI-assisted writing. With how quickly this field is evolving, we want to set clear guidelines that maintain transparency while preserving the trust our community has in SJMS.
At the end of the day, it’s all about making SJMS a go-to hub for top-tier research not just in our region, but worldwide. We’ve got momentum and are excited to build on it.
How about the next 5 years?
Our five-year vision has two big bullseyes: securing PubMed/National Library of Medicine indexing and breaking into the Science Citation Index Expanded.
But we are not chasing indexes for prestige alone. Every improvement, from tightening peer review to enhancing author services, is about creating lasting value. Our roadmap focuses on organic growth through consistent quality, not shortcuts.
I’ll be honest, the climb gets steeper from here. But with our track record of overcoming challenges and the incredible team driving SJMS forward, I’ve never been more confident about our trajectory. Five years from now, I want researchers worldwide to see SJMS as essential reading, where groundbreaking work from Sudan meets global impact.
What do you like about KnE Publishing? What made you choose to publish with us?
Working with KnE Publishing has been one of the best decisions we’ve made for SJMS! We first partnered with them in 2017, and their team stood out from day one. They’re not just professional; they genuinely care. Whenever we needed support, they were right there with solutions.
This became especially meaningful during the difficult times in Sudan. Their understanding and flexibility during the conflict showed us what true partnership looks like. They didn’t just maintain our operations; they helped us grow stronger.
Practically speaking, they’ve been instrumental in transforming how we publish. From implementing DOIs and plagiarism checking to ensuring our articles are preserved long-term through Portico. Their platform made our content more accessible, and their expertise significantly boosted our indexing and visibility.
However, perhaps the biggest impact was helping us establish a proper editorial office and publication process from the ground up. That’s something we couldn’t have achieved on our own. KnE hasn’t just been a service provider; they’ve been essential partners in SJMS’s development.