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A pioneer, a role model and a mentor beyond the oceans who touched the lives of millions

2022; Elsevier BV; Volume: 137; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108788

1525-5069

Özalp Ekinci,

Epilepsy research and treatment

For a physician-scientist out of US and Europe; to become an editorial member of a journal with an impact factor of 3 is almost like a sweet dream with a long road. Moreover, to be in the editorial team of one of the highest respected journals on epilepsy as a child psychiatrist also deserves additional effort and a chance for consideration. My road of mine to this great honour started with my clinical and research experience in US back in 2006. Having a chance to work in an epilepsy center with Professor Edwin Trevathan was a great milestone in my career. After I returned to my home country, Istanbul, I started to work on a review on depression and anxiety in children and adolescents with epilepsy. Since most of the reviews are accepted upon invitation, I had doubts that my submission would not be accepted for evaluation. It was that day that I first had a chance to communicate, with e-submission, with Professor Steven Schachter. I had written clearly my motivation and rationale to write this review with my colleagues both from Turkey and US; and he had given me the chance to officially submit the review. After a couple of revisions, maybe 3 or 4; our review was accepted in the best shape that we were proud as the authors [ [1] Ekinci O. Titus J.B. Rodopman A.A. Berkem M. Trevathan E. Depression and anxiety in children and adolescents with epilepsy: prevalence, risk factors, and treatment. Epilepsy Behav. 2009; 14: 8-18https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.08.015 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (114) Google Scholar ]. It was again professor Schachter who organized the edit comments and helped to revise our paper comprehensively. I still remember the day that my review has been accepted for publication which made me feel that when you work hard to achieve a goal, there are always mentors to see you. I had known that to be the first author of a review in this respected journal would always light my way in my career and, actually, it did. Being among the first reviews on depression and anxiety in children with epilepsy, our review still gains attention and receives a high number of citations each year. Through the years, our review contributed to develop the awareness of emotional symptoms as a treatable coexisting psychiatric condition which is common in children with epilepsy.