In 2023, many 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 perspectives and insightful views as authors.

Outstanding Authors (2023)

Fernando Gomes Romeiro, São Paulo State University, Brazil

Harleen Kaur Chela, West Virginia University Charleston Division, USA

Harish Gopalakrishna,National Institutes of Health, USA

Michelle Y. Shi, North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center (NS/LIJ), USA

Muhammad Aziz, University of Toledo, USA

Manesh Kumar Gangwani, University of Toledo Medical Center, USA

David Friedel, New York University, USA

Outstanding Author

Fernando Gomes Romeiro

After graduating in Medicine, Dr. Fernando Romeiro concluded the Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology medical residencies at São Paulo State University (Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho), where he also concluded his Doctorate in Internal Medicine. He received the Gastroenterologist title from the Brazilian Federation of Gastroenterology, and is a member of the Brazilian Society of Hepatology. He is professor of Clinical Gastroenterology in the same University, where he is also the supervisor of the Gastroenterology Medical Residency. He is a board member of two Postgraduate courses and takes part of two Clinical Research Groups in Brazil.

Every academic paper that changes the current understanding, in Dr. Romeiro’s view, is a good paper. An essential element is the readers' trusting, which is only achieved using suitable methods and knowledge acquired from other good articles. Thus, good papers always depend on other remarkable ones.

Speaking of selecting the appropriate evidence for synthesis and analysis in academic writing, Dr. Romeiro indicates that he often looks for evidence synthesis in clinical guidelines, but sometimes they are not sufficient to manage specific situations, such as rare diseases. In these cases, he usually looks for papers written by authors who already have published high-quality scientific papers on similar topics. He thinks it is important to bear in mind that sometimes there might only be case reports, but before using them to make decisions, one should look for other options, such as randomized controlled trials.

The risk of bias is part of every scientific project. To Dr. Romeiro, it can be partially controlled when the researcher is aware of the risk and has a plan to minimize it, but clinical trials are sometimes unpredictable. For instance, it is quite common that patients participating in clinical trials do not follow the researcher instructions. In this setting, the only way to discover that something is wrong is having a good connection with the trial participants, talking to them anytime they want and showing good will to their demands. Otherwise, the researcher would never discover the bias. Another sort of bias is the one that happens during the data analysis, which can be difficult to be detected. The chance of finding this kind of bias increases when two or more individuals make the study analysis and at least one of them participates in every part of the clinical trial.

“The main motivation to do academic writing is the improvement that we can achieve in our patients’ lives after we found good results for them. However, it is a difficult aim that requires big efforts from many people and sometimes takes years to be accomplished. We can also think at the opposite side and look for situations that are clearly unacceptable and deserve our efforts to find better solutions. In other words, seeing the patients' problems is a big motivation to do something for them,” says Dr. Romeiro.

(By Brad Li, Nicole Li)

Harleen Kaur Chela

Harleen Kaur Chela is currently practicing as a General Gastroenterologist at West Virginia University Charleston Division, USA. She has completed her Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship from Columbia, Missouri. She has a variety of research interests in Gastroenterology and has recently been working on a number of review articles and research projects. Connect with Harleen on Twitter @Harleen_kaur_14.

To Harleen, finding topics that are novel or ideas that contribute new ideas to the field is challenging. Apart from that, having publications in high impact journals is another challenge to her. During this process, having a good mentor is important as they can help guide and direct the research process and help with editing and revisions.

Data sharing is prevalent in scientific writing these days. Harleen believes that authors sharing research data can not only help explain the research outcomes, but also be helpful to other researchers who can learn from their data.

“I like academic writing due to I want to contribute to the field by doing research from databases such as inpatient sample set. I also like sharing interesting topics and presenting case reports so that others can also learn from clinical cases,” says Harleen.

(By Brad Li, Nicole Li)

Harish Gopalakrishna

Dr. Harish Gopalakrishna is currently pursuing his hepatology fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. He completed his medical school in Government Medical College, Trivandrum, India and pursued an internal medicine residency in the United States in Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. When he was in medical school, he lost his father to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with cirrhosis. Seeing him suffered from hepatic encephalopathy during the last few months of his life gave him a painful first-hand experience on the difficulties that those who battle chronic liver disease have to face. This fueled his research interest in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. His other research interests include hepatitis D and liver disease in bone marrow transplant recipients, their complications, diagnostics, and treatment options. Connect with Dr. Gopalakrishna on Twitter and LinkedIn, and learn more about his work here.

The charm of medical science is that it is constantly evolving. In Dr. Gopalakrishna’s view, medical research is essential for the practice of evidence-based medicine. Hence, he thinks inculcating an interest in reading as well as writing contemporary research is extremely important.

“My teachers would always tell me patients are our textbooks. We learn so much from them. I believe our job as a medical professional is not complete without treating patients,” says Dr. Gopalakrishna. He believes it is important to analyze and evaluate all information that we come across from multiple sources, to be able to formulate questions and arguments. This helps ensure that we continue to raise valid and crucial questions which help in the betterment of our knowledge regarding all medical conditions.

On the use of reporting guidelines, such as STROBE and PRISMA, Dr. Gopalakrishna stresses that it is important to follow universal standard guidelines for publishing medical research. Not only does it help maintain the quality of evidence-based medicine, but it also helps make the work of the author seamless and straightforward.

“To become a well published academician has been my long-standing dream. I feel proud that in my own way, I am able to contribute to the medical society by continuing and publishing my research work. I would also like to keep learning and conduct as much research as I can, because learning and innovation keeps one young, active, and humble,” says Dr. Gopalakrishna.

(By Brad Li, Nicole J. Li)

Michelle Y. Shi

Dr. Michelle Shi is a chief resident at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Residency Program in Internal Medicine at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center (NS/LIJ), USA. She is a board-certified internist and will soon begin her gastroenterology fellowship training at Northwell Health at NS/LIJ. She is also a board-certified physical therapist, with a background in treating patients with pelvic floor dysfunctions. She is interested in gastrointestinal motility disorders and hepatology, with recent research projects focusing on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatitis B viral infection. Currently, as a chief resident, she dedicates her time in patient care, clinical research and education, quality improvement, resident wellness, and program development.

Academic writing is important, according to Dr. Shi, in promoting advancement in all aspects of medicine. For researchers, it is the main avenue to deliver the important findings of their innovative research regionally and globally, and it helps to identify the gaps of knowledge for future studies. For readers, it offers a platform for access and critical analysis of emerging evidence. In the current world of evidence-based medicine, academic writing promotes diagnostic and therapeutic development, shapes the day-to-day clinical practice, and improves patient outcome and safety.

The literature review is an ongoing and dynamic process that threads through concept formation to manuscript submission. As new evidence emerges, Dr. Shi believes academic writers need to modify their studies accordingly. To be a good academic writer, one has to first be a good research consumer. She explains, “Sharpening the skills of critical analysis of research articles will allow us to detect the unique nuances of individual studies and help us to identify the blind spots in research that is worth investing our time and resources.”

In addition, Dr. Shi highlights the importance for authors to disclose Conflict of Interest (COI). Such step allows readers to factor authors’ personal interest into the analysis of the evidence. COI could influence research to various extents, depending on the magnitude of COI as well as the study design. The disclosure will enhance the readers’ ability to make informed decisions.

“Academic writing can be rewarding and frustrating at the same time. It takes a devoted writer to always keep up with the current literature and to constantly brainstorm and modify the studies to give new insights to the field of research. It is quite common to go through rounds of modifications and revisions before the study is published at its best form. The final moment will be so rewarding that the lengthy process will be worth it,” says Dr. Shi.

(By Brad Li, Nicole J. Li)

Muhammad Aziz

Muhammad Aziz finished fellowship training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio. He attained a medical degree from Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan and pursued residency in Internal Medicine at University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas. He then did a chief resident year in Internal medicine at University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio. His research interest is mainly towards evidence based medicine, systematic reviews, meta-analysis and network meta-analysis in all aspects of gastroenterology and hepatology. Learn more about Dr. Aziz on ResearchGate and Google Scholar, and connect with him on Twitter.

In Dr. Aziz’s opinion, academic writing is a medium of producing, evaluating, transmitting, teaching, innovating, and disseminating new ideas, improving existing concepts, and discarding/withdrawing obsolete information. Academic writing drives the research forward which shapes our tomorrow.

As an author, Dr. Aziz believes that dedication, persistence and stubbornness to move the field forward are the key skills. Research is not easy as there are more failures than groundbreaking discoveries. The goal of authors should be to always try to improve on existing practice/information to find novel findings.

Even though academic writing takes a lot of time and effort, to Dr. Aziz, trying to improve existing knowledge that will benefit his patients; increased recognition from colleagues around the world for providing the most updated information; and being recognized as an expert in a particular field of interest are what motivate him to do academic writing.

From an author’s perspective, Dr. Aziz deems that it is important to follow the standard reporting guidelines like TREND and PRISMA as these ensure the quality of the work undertaken. A good researcher shall be well prepared to implement these while their research is ongoing.

(by Camellia Zhou, Brad Li)

Manesh Kumar Gangwani

Dr. Manesh Kumar Gangwani is associated with Department of Medicine at University of Toledo Medical Center, USA. His research focus includes topics around general gastroenterology, interventional gastroenterology and hepatology. He mostly works in the space of meta-analysis, network meta-analysis and database analysis with focus towards practice management and outcomes analysis. Learn more about Dr. Gangwani on ResearchGate, and connect with him on Twitter.

Speaking of a good academic paper, Dr. Gangwani points out that there is a wide range of article types available, each serving a specific purpose. A well-crafted research paper should exhibit clearly defined objectives. For instance, in the case of a review article, it should comprehensively cover all relevant aspects and incorporate significant milestone data. On the other hand, a comparative analysis should concentrate on outcomes, enabling a critical assessment and holistic reflection upon the results. It is crucial for a writer to adhere to a simple principle: engaging the reader and adding value to literature.

Science advances rapidly day by day. In Dr. Gangwani’s opinion, the more we read, the more we get acquainted with new trends and data. “Personally, I really enjoy diving into a bunch of articles because it helps me stay up-to-date in my writing. I find it fascinating to explore the methodologies section of research papers. It gives me a lot of insight into how data are managed and helps me understand the limitations of studies, which is crucial for truly grasping the context of the research,” adds he.

When asked about the motivation of academic writing, Dr. Gangwani deems that the driving force behind work is centered around addressing a specific question. He strives to maintain a clear focus on a topic that captivates his interest and ascertain whether there is a pertinent question that can be explored within his limitations. Ultimately, the most fulfilling aspect for him is when the study contributes meaningfully to the existing body of literature, aids in clinical decision-making, and brings added value to the readers.

Seeing the prevalence of data sharing in scientific writing in recent years, Dr. Gangwani deems that it plays a vital role in advancing the fields of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, allowing investigators to unlock the true potential hidden within the data. When each investigator has access to shared data, it opens up opportunities for diverse and innovative ideas to emerge, leading to the discovery of clinically relevant insights that can significantly improve outcomes. That is why he strongly believes in the importance of collaboration and pooling one’s unique skill sets to address relevant questions. This becomes especially crucial in situations where data are scarce, prospective studies are challenging to conduct, or when exploring new areas of research or rare clinical conditions. By joining forces, investigators can make significant strides and make a real impact on patient care.

(by Camellia Zhou, Brad Li)

David Friedel

Dr. David Friedel graduated from New York State University Medical School (Syracuse) and completed internal medicine residency at Maimonides Medical Center (Brooklyn, New York) and gastroenterology fellowship at Temple University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). He is the Associate Professor of Medicine in the Gastroenterology Department at New York University-Long Island School of Medicine. He performs a gamut of procedures including endoscopic ultrasound, Barrett’s esophagus ablation, complex polypectomies and deep enteroscopy. His research is focused on new innovations in endoscopy and cancer diagnosis and therapy.

From Dr. Friedel’s point of view, academic writing plays a role in science that scientists including academic physicians convey their perspectives and elaborate on their own experiences and research. He says, “It is a daunting task to remain informed about developments in research and practice. There is no surefire method, but reading, browsing reputable websites, conversing with colleagues and attending conferences are the best approach to keep oneself up-to-date.”

Speaking of the importance of Conflict of Interest (COI) disclosure, Dr. Friedel indicates that the interface between industry and academia is pervasive in daily practice. Thus, it is mandatory to disclose commercial associations before noting conclusions or recommendations.

(By Brad Li, Masaki Lo)