SDN Partner Organization: FEP International

Posted on October 6, 2007
Filed Under Student Doctor Network

by Sean Parrish
SDN Staff Writer

Most academic authors agree that getting published is an important part of being a professional. But it can be an expensive undertaking. Whether sacrificing reasonable compensation for their work or relinquishing use of their own intellectual material, many writers must make unwanted compromises. However, potential authors have more choices than they think. Challenging the notion that academic publishing is a money-losing proposition, Free Educational Publications (FEP) International was created to cater to these very concerns. Working with authors to provide a full gambit of publishing services at no cost, FEP International provides authors with an academic publishing environment that places their ideas and their commitment first.

Dr. Andrew Doan, CEO and President of FEP International, began his publishing company with a simple ethic: provide high-quality publishing services for no cost to its authors. From his own experiences during his ophthalmology residency, Dr. Doan recognized the unpleasant realities of modern academic publishing.

For example, one of his attendings had written a popular textbook that retailed for about $100. Yet, the author averaged only $4 a book in royalties (less than 5% of the total price). With over 5,000 copies sold and the book going out of print, the attending was understandably upset to learn that he would need to purchase the rights to his own material so as to re-publish it on a university Web site. Most amazingly of all, Dr. Doan’s own referral commission for selling the very same book on Amazon.com was nearly $7 a copy!

Inspired by such experiences, Dr. Doan saw an opportunity to change the way academic publishing can be accomplished, offering authors a new method for printing their work free from many of the common drawbacks of the publishing world. Unlike “vanity publishers” where authors pay thousands of dollars to have their books produced, FEP International invests in its authors by providing all its services at no cost. From copy editing, typesetting, and artwork creation, FEP does its best to provide high quality services.

Unique in the world of publishing, FEP also allows authors to retain the use of their intellectual materials. And for those concerned about getting competitive compensation for their work, FEP can offer as high as 40% royalties based upon the retail price of the book. By using strategies that market and sell books directly to readers through the internet, FEP can justify such higher royalties for its authors.

As evidenced by its name, Free Educational Publications, FEP International has set its sights on expanding its publishing presence by providing services with affordability in mind. According to Dr. Doan, an important goal of FEP is to find corporate sponsors for their more popular books and educational resources. Through such sponsorship, they hope to offer books in an open-access format so that they are free to the world. For those who cannot afford a book, it could be read online with advertisements. If someone prefers to own the title without advertising, a printed version could still be purchased.

Similar to the model used by television, radio, or other media dependent upon sponsors, FEP hopes to pair with corporations to provide the best access to content for everyone. With all revenue, including money from advertisements, being shared with their authors, FEP places a premium on the contribution of anyone trying to succeed in academic writing. According to Dr. Doan, “Our goals are to serve academic communities, be an advocate for authors, and support philanthropy.”

FEP International has many publications of particular interest to the SDN community. For those facing the challenges of raising a family while pursuing a rewarding career, Dr. Sheila Carson’s series Mommy MD – Guide to Realistic Parenting is a must-read. Also beginning this fall, FEP is launching a new, open-access peer-reviewed journal titled The Journal of Academic Ophthalmology, supported by program directors from the top ophthalmology programs in the country. Coinciding with this release, FEP plans to print a magazine version of its popular Pearls in Ophthalmology series. Working with corporate sponsors to provide copies of the journal to every program director and copies of the Pearls to every resident and fellow, they are hopeful that this model will become a template for producing journals and magazines in every field of medicine. Please visit FEP International’s MedRounds Web site at www.medrounds.org for more information on these and other titles.

In addition, FEP International has begun publishing a series of books aimed specifically at the SDN community. In his book Caribbean Medical School Primer: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go, Dr. Marcus F. Yarbrough details a personal journey through offshore medical school, providing information and answers that are not to be found in any catalog or on any Web site.

Complimenting this title, Alfa O. Diallo, M.D., M.P.H just released his new book MCAT Pearls: A High-Yield Review of the Pre-medical Science that provides the aspiring physician with an affordable alternative to prepare for the MCAT. Coming in December, The Official Student Doctor Network Guide to Pharmacy School Admissions by Anna Peck will help guide potential pharmacy school students through the process of school selection, applications, interviews, and admissions. Included in the guide will be interviews with practitioners from various areas of the pharmacy profession. Building on this theme, a more in-depth introduction into the career paths of pharmacy will come from Sarah M. Lawrence’s book The Student Doctor Network Pharmacy Career Guide, coming in fall 2008. These books will be found by visiting the SDN section of the MedRounds Web site. Also visit SDN’s Amazon store at for these and other great SDN titles.

FEP International is actively seeking potential authors for future SDN books. Interested individuals should visit FEP International’s Web site at www.fepint.org where details and guidelines for submission are outlined.

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