Pulsus Group

Pulsus Group is a Canadian-origin medical publishing and health-information company established in 1984 by Robert Kalina. It was created to give Canadian physicians an alternative to relying primarily on medical journals published in the United States. The company’s principal activity has been the publication of peer-reviewed scientific, technical, and medical literature, including both subscription-supported hybrid journals and fully open-access titles. By 2016, Pulsus was reported to publish 98 journals, with 15 serving as official publications of affiliated medical or scientific societies. Its publishing model has therefore combined editorial and distribution services for professional societies with the operation of journals intended for researchers, clinicians, and other health-sector audiences. In addition to journal publishing, the group has conducted conferences in cooperation with scientific societies and has developed services connected with health informatics and digital marketing. Pulsus underwent significant ownership and portfolio changes in the middle of the 2010s. In December 2015, it sold four journals to Hindawi Publishing Corporation. In 2016, OMICS Publishing Group acquired Pulsus, a transaction that generated controversy because OMICS had been widely criticized as a predatory open-access publisher. The acquisition prompted questions about the editorial independence and long-term stewardship of Pulsus journals. Several editors-in-chief resigned after the takeover, while some scientific and medical societies moved their journals to other publishers. OMICS stated that the journals would remain operationally independent under their respective societies and that its role would primarily cover hosting, document formatting, and design. Pulsus was also included on Jeffrey Beall’s list of publishers considered potentially, possibly, or probably predatory before that list ceased operation in 2017. In 2019, reports alleged that some Pulsus journal mastheads continued to list University of Toronto professors who had either ended their association with the journals or had never consented to serve in the stated roles. The names were subsequently removed. These events have become an important part of the group’s reputation and publishing-history profile. The group later expanded its activities in India, with operations reported in Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Visakhapatnam. Those activities have been described as covering health technology, health informatics, medical publishing, pharmacovigilance, conference support, and multilingual information services. Its Indian offices have reportedly translated conference and journal material into languages including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali. The company has also promoted employment initiatives, women’s employment in and around Andhra Pradesh, public campaigns, and entrepreneurship and employment events. Pulsus has organized the G20 Health, G20 Pharma, and G20 Global Tech Summit Series across G20 countries, presenting themes around artificial intelligence in healthcare, pharmaceutical technology, and broader technological development. It has also reported plans for an AI-focused pharmaceutical and healthcare information-technology hub in Telangana, linking scientific publishing with digital healthcare, life sciences, bioinformatics, and healthcare global capability-center services. The precise current ownership structure, headquarters, journal portfolio, and financial position are not established by the supplied reference material.

Pulsus Group was founded in 1984 by Robert Kalina as a Canadian medical publishing venture. Its original purpose was to provide Canadian doctors with a domestic alternative to medical journals produced in the United States. The company developed a portfolio of peer-reviewed medical, scientific, and technical journals, working both independently and in association with professional societies. Over time, Pulsus expanded beyond conventional journal publishing. Its activities came to include hybrid journals, fully open-access titles, scientific and medical conferences, health informatics, and digital marketing. By 2016, the group was reported to publish 98 journals, 15 of which had been adopted as official publications of related medical societies. The society relationship was central to the group’s identity because it connected Pulsus with established clinical and scientific communities while also giving the journals an institutional readership. The company’s ownership and portfolio changed substantially between 2015 and 2016. In December 2015, Pulsus transferred four journals to Hindawi Publishing Corporation. In 2016, OMICS Publishing Group acquired Pulsus. OMICS was broadly criticized for practices associated with predatory open-access publishing, and its purchase of Pulsus led to concern about the future of the journals and the protection of society relationships. Robert Kalina was retiring and had reportedly been unable to find buyers for the remaining journals. He stated that the OMICS transaction was intended to preserve the interests of the societies associated with the publications. The takeover was followed by editorial and institutional departures. Several editors-in-chief resigned, and some societies chose to move their journals to other publishers. OMICS’s chief executive said that Pulsus journals would be run independently by their respective societies, with OMICS providing infrastructure and production services such as hosting, PDF formatting, and design. Despite these assurances, Pulsus was listed by Jeffrey Beall among publishers considered potentially, possibly, or probably predatory. Beall’s list ended in 2017, but the episode remained a significant reputational issue for the company and its journals. Pulsus also broadened its corporate footprint in 2016 by acquiring Andrew John Publishing. The transaction brought 17 medical journals associated with societies in Canada and the Middle East, together with certain journals connected to Future Science Publishing Group activities operating under the openaccessjournals.com name. In 2019, reporting raised a separate concern about the accuracy of editorial affiliations. Three professors from the University of Toronto appeared on journal mastheads even though two had ended their association with the relevant journals in earlier years and the third had never agreed to be listed. Their names were removed after the issue was identified. The incident reinforced questions about editorial governance and the reliability of published affiliations. Pulsus’s later reported operations in India include offices or activities in Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Visakhapatnam. These operations have been associated with health technology, health informatics, medical publishing, pharmacovigilance, conference services, and translation of journal and event information into Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali. The group has also promoted employment initiatives in Andhra Pradesh, including efforts focused on women’s employment, public-awareness campaigns, and events addressing entrepreneurship and employment. The company has organized the G20 Health, G20 Pharma, and G20 Global Tech Summit Series in G20 countries. These events have been positioned around artificial intelligence in healthcare, pharmaceutical innovation, and technology policy. Pulsus has additionally reported development of an AI-based pharmaceutical and healthcare IT hub in Telangana, with an intended focus on digital healthcare, life sciences, bioinformatics, scientific publishing, and healthcare global capability-center services. The supplied references do not establish the project’s completed status, current ownership arrangements, financial performance, or the complete list of active journals.

• 2019

  Disputed academic affiliations are removed

  [1]Pulsus Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Names of three University of Toronto professors were removed from journal mastheads after questions were raised about whether the affiliations were authorized.

• 2017

  Jeffrey Beall’s list is discontinued

  [1]Pulsus Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The list on which Pulsus had been identified as a potentially predatory publisher ceased operation.

• 2016

  OMICS acquires Pulsus

  [1]Pulsus Groupen.wikipedia.org

  OMICS Publishing Group acquired Pulsus in a transaction that generated controversy over journal governance and editorial independence.

• 2016

  Andrew John Publishing is acquired

  [1]Pulsus Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Pulsus acquired Andrew John Publishing and its associated medical journal assets.

• 2016

  Journal portfolio reaches 98 titles

  [1]Pulsus Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Pulsus was reported to publish 98 hybrid and fully open-access journals, including 15 official publications of related medical societies.

• 2015

  Four journals are sold to Hindawi

  [1]Pulsus Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Pulsus sold four journals to Hindawi Publishing Corporation in December.

• 1984

  Pulsus Group is founded in Canada

  [1]Pulsus Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Robert Kalina founded Pulsus to provide Canadian physicians with an alternative to medical journals primarily published in the United States.

A medical and scientific publishing group combining professional-society journal services with open-access publishing, conferences, health informatics, and related healthcare technology services.

• Medical and scientific publishing · 1984

  Pulsus medical journals

  Pulsus’s core offering is a portfolio of peer-reviewed medical, scientific, and technical journals. The portfolio has included hybrid titles funded through a combination of subscriptions and open-access publication, as well as fully open-access journals. A number of titles have been associated with professional medical and scientific societies and have served as their official publications.

• Publishing services

  Scientific society publishing services

  The group has worked with medical and scientific societies on journal publishing, distribution, production, hosting, and related editorial infrastructure. These services are intended to support society-owned or society-affiliated publications and may include digital presentation and document production.

• Scientific and technology conferences

  G20 summit series

  Pulsus has organized the G20 Health, G20 Pharma, and G20 Global Tech Summit Series across G20 countries. The events have addressed healthcare, pharmaceutical development, artificial intelligence, and technology-related policy and innovation themes.

• Health information services

  Health informatics and healthcare technology services

  Reported Indian operations include health informatics, health technology, pharmacovigilance, digital marketing, and related healthcare information services. The group has also described multilingual support for conferences and medical publishing content.

• 2019

  Unauthorized or disputed university affiliations on journal mastheads

  Three University of Toronto professors were reportedly listed on Pulsus journal mastheads despite questions about their consent or continuing association. The names were removed after the issue was reported.

  Source

• 2016

  OMICS acquisition controversy

  OMICS Publishing Group’s acquisition of Pulsus raised concerns because OMICS was widely criticized as a predatory open-access publisher. The transaction led to questions about the independence and future of Pulsus journals.

  Source

• 2016

  Listing on Jeffrey Beall’s predatory-publisher list

  Pulsus was placed on Jeffrey Beall’s list of publishers considered potentially, possibly, or probably predatory. The list later shut down.

  Source

Read more

• 2024Yuva Sakthi Sadassu

  India · Andhra Pradesh

  A youth-focused event held on 9 February addressed entrepreneurship and employment challenges and opportunities in Andhra Pradesh.

  Source
• G20 Health, G20 Pharma, and G20 Global Tech Summit Series

  G20 countries

  Pulsus organized a series of international summits focused on health, pharmaceuticals, and technology, with particular emphasis on artificial intelligence in healthcare and technological advancement.

  Source
• Say No to Plastic campaign

  India · Andhra Pradesh

  Employees in Visakhapatnam reportedly conducted a plastic-reduction awareness campaign and rallies in association with Software Technology Parks of India.

  Source
• Women’s employment and workplace safety initiatives

  India · Andhra Pradesh

  Pulsus’s Visakhapatnam operations reportedly promoted women’s employment through campus placements and supported rallies related to the Andhra Pradesh Disha Act and the security of women employees.

  Source

• 2016

  Accept OMICS Publishing Group acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Founder and owner Robert Kalina was retiring and had reportedly been unable to find buyers for the remaining journals.

  Action taken

  Pulsus was acquired by OMICS Publishing Group, with assurances that society-affiliated journals would retain operational independence.

  Aftermath

  Several editors-in-chief resigned, some societies moved their journals elsewhere, and the transaction contributed to predatory-publishing concerns.

  Source

• 2016

  Acquire Andrew John PublishingM&A

  Background

  Pulsus sought to expand its medical publishing portfolio and society relationships.

  Action taken

  The company acquired Andrew John Publishing, including 17 medical journals and related publishing assets.

  Source

• 2015

  Sell four journals to HindawiM&A

  Background

  Pulsus adjusted its publishing portfolio during a period of ownership and journal-market changes.

  Action taken

  The company sold four journals to Hindawi Publishing Corporation.

  Source

• Develop an AI-based pharmaceutical and healthcare IT hubStrategy

  Background

  Pulsus has reported plans to connect healthcare technology, artificial intelligence, life sciences, bioinformatics, and scientific publishing.

  Action taken

  The group began developing an AI-based pharmaceutical and healthcare IT hub on a reported 35-acre information-technology special economic zone campus in Hyderabad.

  Source

1. 1Pulsus Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Pulsus Group official websitepulsus.com