In 2023, many MED authors make outstanding contributions to our journal. Their articles published with us have received very well feedback in the field and stimulate a lot of discussions and new insights among the peers.
Hereby, we would like to highlight some of our outstanding authors who have been making immense efforts in their research fields, with a brief interview of their unique perspective and insightful view as authors.
Outstanding Authors (2023)
Nestor Villamizar, University of Miami, USA
Mona Sarkiss, University of Miami, USA
Georgina Planas, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Spain
Marc Hartert, Katholisches Klinikum Koblenz-Montabaur, Germany
Yosuke Yamada, Kyoto University Hospital, Japan
Luka Brcic, Medical University of Graz, Austria
Michal Benej, Vienna Healthcare Group, Austria
Outstanding Author
Nestor Villamizar
Dr. Nestor Villamizar is an Associate Professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. He is the Program Director for the Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency and he is co-director of the lung cancer screening program at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Villamizar did his residency in general surgery at Duke University Medical Center, and completed his fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He has a particular interest in minimally invasive robotic thoracic surgery including complex mediastinal tumors, lung sparing complex segmentectomy, complex lung resections after induction therapy and operations for esophageal diseases.
In Dr. Villamizar’s view, investing time to produce a good quality paper is the most commonly encountered difficulty while dedicated time for academic productivity is limited and often competes with clinical responsibilities. To ensure his writing is critical, he believes it is important to pay attention to details, review data carefully, be skeptical about the findings, and attempt to reject one’s own hypothesis.
Dr. Villamizar reckons that data sharing is vital in scientific writing. Science advances more quickly, efficiently and effectively when data are shared, reducing repetition and fostering collaboration.
Speaking of the reason he chooses to publish in MED, Dr. Villamizar says, “MED is focused on diseases of the Mediastinum which is a very interesting region in the chest with diverse pathology.”
(By Lareina Lim, Brad Li)
Mona Sarkiss
Dr. Mona Sarkiss is a Professor of Anaesthesiology with 21-year experience in providing Anaesthesia for Interventional Pulmonary procedures. With her unwavering dedication over the past 20 years, she has made significant contributions to the understanding and Anaesthesia management of complex interventional pulmonary procedures. She obtained her medical degree from Cairo University Medical school and completed her residency in anaesthesiology at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. She pursued a career in Anaesthesiology specializing in Anaesthesia for Interventional Pulmonary procedure at MD Anderson Cancer Centre. She established the first out of OR bronchoscopy suite fully equipped to provide safe Anaesthesia for interventional pulmonary procedures in the US. She was also involved in research and has written multiple book chapters that have national and international recognition. She is deeply committed to improving the care of patients undergoing interventional pulmonary procedures, offering them her expertise and contributing to this emerging field.
MED: What role does academic writing play in science?
Dr. Sarkiss: Academic writing is the foundation of scientific communication. It enables scientists and researchers to exchange their knowledge and validate their research. Without the exchange of knowledge and peer-review-based validation, it would be impossible to advance science. Academic writing also plays a critical role to encourage critical thinking as well as establishing standards and guidelines. The growth of human knowledge cannot be achieved without academic writing.
MED: How to ensure one’s writing is critical?
Dr. Sarkiss: The backbones of critical writing are having a question, studying the topic, developing a hypothesis, evaluating the evidence, considering arguments and counterarguments, seeking for peer review, and publishing your findings with open mind for feedback and further investigation of relevant new questions.
MED: Would you like to say a few words to encourage other academic writers who have been devoting themselves to advancing scientific progress?
Dr. Sarkiss: To all the hard-working researchers, please never lose sight of the impact of your hard work on the advancement of human knowledge. Keep researching, writing, editing, and revising despite all the obstacles and push back you receive. Your dedication is the reason for human advancement and better future for our children.
MED: Is it important for authors to disclose Conflict of Interest (COI)? To what extent would a COI influence a research?
Dr. Sarkiss: Of course, the disclosure of COI has a great importance. It is the basis for transparency that allows the readers to evaluate the integrity of the researchers and their findings and appropriate peer review of the data. It is impossible to ensure the credibility of the scientific work without appropriate disclosure of COI.
(By Lareina Lim, Brad Li)
Georgina Planas
Dr. Georgina Planas is currently in her last year of residency in thoracic surgery at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain. Her clinical focus is minimally invasive thoracic surgery (VATS and RATS) for lung cancer and thymic malignancies, and the surgical treatment and reconstruction of thoracic connective tissue tumors. Their team is also actively working on the implementation of a lung cancer screening program in Spain. Her clinical research has been focused on the application of minimally invasive thoracic surgery in oncological and non-oncological mediastinal pathologies, as well as the investigation of risk factors that may contribute to prognosis of chest wall sarcomas.
In this growing world, Dr. Planas believes that academic writing remains the best tool to expand scientific knowledge. It is a transversal communication channel, due to its ability to involve scientists, students, physicians and other healthcare workers for the benefit of patients. It is an antidote to dogma, keeping one’s mind doubting and asking for the best option. And finally, it is an unmissable opportunity to explore new horizons.
As science advances rapidly day by day, Dr. Planas reckons that sharing new articles either informally or through formal bibliographic sessions among colleagues is a good way to stay up to date. To her, it is very useful to participate in the peer-review processes and attend national and international conferences. However, staying active in “frontline” healthcare and trying to solve everyday questions is the key to exploring new insights.
In addition, Dr. Planas points out that applying for institutional review board (IRB) approval is a necessary process to assess the ethical aspects and scientific quality of clinical research. In her opinion, this process cannot be omitted because only scientific projects with all the requirements of objectivity, plausibility and ethical commitment can show noteworthy conclusions.
To encourage other academic writers, Dr. Planas says, “We should not stop. There is an implicit responsibility for us to contribute to expanding scientific knowledge because it has a direct impact in the quality of our healthcare.”
(By Lareina Lim, Brad Li)
Marc Hartert
Marc Hartert, MD, serves as senior consultant at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Katholisches Klinikum Koblenz-Montabaur. He studied at Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Germany and Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany. He has completed his cardiothoracic residency at the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. His researches focus on lung transplantation, minimally invasive thoracic surgery for lung cancer and minimally invasive thymectomy. He is currently active in basic and outcome research and he is also member of national and international scientific societies.
MED: What role does academic writing play in science?
Dr. Hartert: Academic writing is mandatory for the development of any academic field. Without academic writing, there is no progression. It provides a platform to highlight advances in medical sciences and its reasoning behind. It allows a precise presentation of complex issues "in her or his own write". In this sense, academic writing plays a crucial role in science. It is an important tool of communicating the knowledge one has gained and in evaluation and analysis of these findings. It promotes critical thinking for both writers and readers, which in turn may lead to further discussion and hypothesis generation.
Furthermore, the concise presentation of scientific facts practices one's analytical skills in a remarkable way, which should never be underestimated. Steady scientific writing shapes a scientific personality. As in so many other areas of rapidly developing fields, the "KISS" principle – Keep It Simple and Stupid – is also applicable to academic writing. Following the "KISS" principle, one can focus on the essential elements of the question that needs to be answered. Is the hypothesis stated clearly and focused on a single problem? Is the problem relevant and explorable? Is the writing itself as unique and original to attract the attention of the reader? Hypothesis sets the tone for the quality of the manuscript. In order to avoid biases, peer review helps. We all have biases – as it is inherent to human nature – the key is to recognize them and to be open to criticism. That’s why it is important to share your research with friends and colleagues for constructive criticism and subsequently to a thorough peer-review process.
Academic writing does not require any "special" writing ability – maybe just an underlying sense of general storytelling. Someone who has never written an academic manuscript may feel a sense of dread or disgust at the thought of the arduous journey ahead. Progressively narrowing one’s focus is a natural phenomenon during scientific discovery. So, do not let yourself become tunnel-visioned in your writing. Keep it "bird by bird" (following the excellent instructions on prose writing by Anne Lamott) before a paper is published. A major step to finish this rocky journey is to find a caring mentor who can guide her or him into the right direction. Discovering the "inner signpost" will be the guide to the final destination and serves as persistent logical consistency.
Finally, through academic writing, we can communicate with people – in our own field of research or even outside of it – whom we have otherwise never reached. It places your own academic effort into a more accessible light for younger professionals to develop their interests and broaden their knowledge. Science is a collaborative human endeavor which academic writing facilitates.
MED: Academic writing often involves evidence synthesis. Can you share tips on selecting the appropriate evidence for synthesis and analysis? What do authors have to bear in mind during the process?
Dr. Hartert: Academic writing often involves evidence synthesis. Getting a clear picture of what is the purpose of the study and expressing a clear and simple (but yet concise) question is mandatory for any successful research. It is often supported by a thorough review of the existing literature. I advise the following: 1. sufficient examination of previous research; 2. confirmation of accuracy and transparency of data and results; 3. respect the patients who cooperated; and 4. proceed and write with a sense of speed.
A "good" academic study should be well designed, should have a clear scientific basis for the results and should be reproducible. In addition, it is very important for any academic study to follow a specific reporting guideline (such as STROBE, TREND, PRISMA or CONSORT). These guidelines make manuscripts more organized, objective, and authoritative. Therefore, I am always conscious of whether the research design and composition are in line with these guidelines during preparation of my manuscripts.
One can identify positive outcomes for evidence synthesis algorithm criteria's everywhere – the key is recognizing which ones are truly significant and which are not. Delineating which pieces of evidence to select and include in analysis should be based on the underlying hypothesis and asking oneself “what possible answers could explain my research hypothesis, and have I explored each of them adequately?” What authors should bear in mind during the process of writing: Current scientific writing is the echoing a common opinion of findings that have been outlined in numerous related papers before, instead of synthesizing a unique compilation of findings focused on a single hypothesis. Free your mind, be unique!
MED: Would you like to say a few words to encourage other academic writers who have been devoting themselves to advancing scientific progress?
Dr. Hartert: Understanding that the journey of academic writing can be arduous and requires an immense dedication and perseverance, I like to encourage other academic writers who devote themselves to advancing scientific progress: please remember that your work is invaluable, and every word you put on paper is a stepping stone towards progress. Your manuscripts have the potential to transform medical care, enhance understanding, and inspire fellow researchers around the world. Let's gather at any international conference, share our discoveries, and celebrate the collective pursuit of scientific truth. Continue our remarkable journeys as academic writers, united by a common mission to advance scientific progress. Keep writing, keep exploring, and keep inspiring!
(By Lareina Lim, Brad Li)
Yosuke Yamada
Dr. Yosuke Yamada is a lecturer in the Department of Diagnostic Pathology at Kyoto University Hospital. He is a pathologist focusing on thoracic tumors and is particularly interested in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), especially their unique gene/protein expression profiles and the underlying mechanisms. In this context, he has revealed under-recognized features of TETs, exemplified by the expression of thymoproteasome beta5t in type B thymomas and tuft cell-like properties in thymic carcinomas.
The way Dr. Yamada sees it, a good academic paper should be humble, based on and pay respect to the previous studies of other researchers. At the same time, it should be interesting to read and should convey the joy of scientific research.
When Dr. Yamada writes a paper, he searches for studies by other researchers in relevant fields to ensure he can provide new insights. Also, he values personal hypotheses based on his own experiences. At the same time, however, he usually conducts studies with collaborators, and they provide valuable opinions, including those on a study’s novelty. He adds, “It is always possible that one’s studies are found to be not new and to overlap with other research being conducted. Therefore, opinions by other researchers through peer review are highly appreciated.”
“I recognize that academic writing is not always fun and can be exhausting sometimes. However, it is the standard method by which we communicate new scientific discoveries to the world and contribute to scientific progress. A good academic paper can connect the author with researchers worldwide and expand their scientific and non-scientific communities, sometimes more than expected. It will enrich their life,” says Dr. Yamada.
(by Brad Li, Alisa Lu)
Luka Brcic
Research Prof. Luka Brcic, MD, PhD, currently serves at the Diagnostic & Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. His main diagnostic and research interest is respiratory system pathology, especially mesothelioma, lung carcinoma, and recently, artificial intelligence applications. He is the local PI of a project financed through ERANET TRANSCAN-3, coordinated by the University of Padova about mesothelioma microenvironment and therapy response. He is also the PI of BBMRI.at project consisting of and linking Austrian universities and biobanks to develop the national biobanking research infrastructure for supporting and accelerating biomedical research. Prof. Brcic has published more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and some book chapters. He is currently the International Secretary of the Austrian Society of Pathology/IAP Austria and a member of the Pulmonary Pathology Society membership and awards committee, as well as the Rare Diseases committee of IASLC.
The biggest difficulty faced in academic writing, according to Prof. Brcic, is time: finding time to prepare for publication writing, which includes literature search, drafting, and writing the manuscript itself. Occasionally, the inability to access needed literature because of “pay for access” might cause some problems, too.
On the other hand, as science advances rapidly day by day, trying to stay up to date, in Prof. Brcic’s view, is another big issue, which can sometimes cause great frustration. To him, one should perform a thorough literature search before starting a research project. This should be followed by producing good-quality results as soon as possible and preparing for publication. He adds, “However, all this takes time, and it happens that another group publishes something similar or even identical at this time. In that case, it is needed to find additional value of own project and to present the results from this angle.”
In addition, Prof. Brcic emphasizes that it is very important for authors to disclose Conflict of Interest (COI) in order to provide readers insight into connections with different stakeholders, which might consciously or unconsciously influence presented results and/or conclusions. Being aware of COI disclosure should provide constant reminders for the researchers about the need for impartiality.
(by Brad Li, Alisa Lu)
Michal Benej
Dr. Michal Benej, Ph.D., is a consultant thoracic surgeon at the Department of Thoracic Surgery in Vienna Healthcare Group in Vienna, Austria. He is clinically interested in advanced minimal-invasive surgery of the mediastinum (particularly thymectomy and video-assisted mediastinal lymphadenectomy-VAMLA) and lung (with lung-sparing resections), and also in extended broncho-vascular reconstructions using extracorporal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). His research interest includes mediastinal staging of lung carcinoma with the impact of lymphadenectomy on prognosis and overall survival.
Scientific articles are an irreplaceable tool, in Dr. Benej’s opinion, to ensure research progress and data sharing. In this way, academic writing facilitates the continued advancement of knowledge within the given scientific field. This creates new opportunities for cooperation at the national and international levels despite the regional differences between medical centers in different parts of the world. Today, more than at any time in the past, publications represent a globally standardized way of presenting clinical results, forming an objective basis for reproducible procedures and mutual comparison of the success of surgical interventions.
As an academic writer, Dr. Benej believes that lifelong learning is essential, i.e., continuous study of currently published scientific contributions relevant to the given professional field. It is also necessary to maintain an up-to-date overview by participating in professional events organized by the main medical commissions/committees, using online information resources. In basic research projects, it is essential to substantiate hypotheses with supportive evidence. Applied research requires independent verification of the validity of the methodology.
Dr. Benej further points out that academic writing is a globally respected way of measuring the professional quality of authors - it is an integral part of professional growth and the motivation of every professional. He adds, “At the same time, the publication track record also functions as a method of documenting the achieved results not only for one's own use but also for others. Scientific articles together with monographs form an integral part of information resources that help in fulfilling the main challenges of contemporary medicine.”
(by Brad Li, Alisa Lu)