In 2025, 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 (2025)

Andrej M. Sodoma, South Shore University Hospital, USA

Ulrike Bauer, TUM University Hospital, Germany

Nicolò Fabbri, Local Health Agency of Ferrara, Italy

Outstanding Author

Andrej M. Sodoma

Dr. Andrej M. Sodoma, DO, is a second-year internal medicine resident at South Shore University Hospital, a Northwell Hospital partnered with the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra. He obtained his doctoral degree from the NYIT School of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, New York. Before medical school, he researched the interplay of pharmacokinetics and cellular biology of glioblastoma multiforme at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, while obtaining his bachelor's degree in biochemistry at Arizona State University. His research focus is now on gastroenterology. Within the field of gastroenterology, with the help of his mentor, Dr. James R. Pellegrini Jr., MD, he has published and continues to publish on a variety of topics, including cirrhosis, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and inflammatory bowel disease.

TGH: What role does academic writing play in science?

Dr. Sodoma: The field of medicine requires both individual and team effort. It requires constant reference to a collective fund of knowledge built on the work of mentors who came before us. Academic writing builds on this collective fund of knowledge and helps the individual in medicine by developing one’s scientific process.

TGH: Science advances rapidly day by day. How do you ensure your writing is up-to-date and can give new insights into the field of research?

Dr. Sodoma: The scientific world grows larger every second; being aware of every publication is nearly impossible. Checking if the idea is novel is vital to prevent redundancy when creating new advances. Using trusted organizations within the field under study is the best way to achieve this. Then, we form ideas by thoroughly questioning the current guidelines. We then use search engines to see if the concept has been done before, the current research behind the idea, and how it compares to the current idea. After all of this workup, research becomes collaborative with colleagues, mentors, and experts in the field of study.

TGH: Academic writing takes a lot of time and effort. What motivates you to do so?

Dr. Sodoma: My interest in academic writing began as a way to stay current on guidelines. After reading a complete manuscript, I am proud and excited, as I hope to share it with the scientific community. This interest has developed into a career.

(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)

Ulrike Bauer

Dr. Ulrike Bauer is a gastroenterologist at TUM University Hospital, Technical University of Munich, specializing in hepatology. Her work centers on liver diseases, with a focus on hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation. By participating in both national and international research projects, she aims to make a meaningful contribution to clinical practice and scientific understanding in her field.

Dr. Bauer thinks a good academic paper should address a relevant topic. Furthermore, it should have a clearly structured design. The introduction should provide a comprehensive overview of the field by highlighting the state-of-the-art. Both the hypothesis and the results should be clearly articulated (accompanied by appropriate adequate figures and detailed descriptions). Finally, the results should be critically discussed in the context of current knowledge.

Speaking of what researchers have to bear in mind when constructing a paper, Dr. Bauer emphasizes the importance of recognizing the sources used in a literature review, as well as understanding their strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, they must acknowledge the limitations of their studies. Figures and tables should be clear and easy to interpret, and supplementary materials can offer further insights. Finally, they should always consider their intended audience.

“Most of the time you have to take minor steps, but you must not forget, that they all contribute to your goal. Research might be challenging sometimes, but it is important to always bear in mind that your work is not only useful in gaining scientific knowledge but can really help people and even change their lives,” says Dr. Bauer.

(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)

Nicolò Fabbri

Dr. Nicolò Fabbri is a General Surgeon at the Local Health Agency of Ferrara, Italy. He earned his medical degree and specialization in General Surgery from the University of Ferrara, where he developed an interest in laparoscopic surgery, senology, clinical ultrasound, and perioperative recovery strategies. He holds certifications in advanced ultrasound and has gained clinical experience in Breast Surgery at the Oncological Reference Center of Aviano (Italy), completing over 1,200 hours of fieldwork. His research has received prestigious recognition, including the Alberto Barioni Award for studies on perianal fistulas treated with micro-fragmented autologous adipose tissue and the application of telemedicine in surgery. He has presented at international conferences such as SAGES 2024, covering topics like intraoperative fluorescence in emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy and multimodal prehabilitation in colorectal cancer. With over 120 scientific publications, he has contributed significantly to oncological surgery and perioperative management. He is an active reviewer and editor for leading medical journals.

Dr. Fabbri believes that academic literature is crucial in medicine and other fields because it enables scientists to share their experiences and insights. The aim is to standardize the measurement tools used to evaluate various effects as much as possible. Without a unified method, it would be much more difficult to reach agreements on medical, therapeutic, and diagnostic decisions. At the same time, this method enables self-assessment through the replication of research by other scientists, ensuring reliability and scientific progress.

Dr. Fabbri thinks scientific authors must primarily be free and independent in carrying out their mission as both a scientist and a physician, driven by curiosity. This is essential to questioning the reasons behind the scientific phenomena they encounter. They must also adhere to a rigorous method of data collection and, most importantly, be patient, knowing how to wait for accurate results without being influenced by external pressures.

“Balancing the roles of both a physician and a researcher is not easy. This is one of the reasons why research is often considered the last priority in a doctor's work, except in centers where it is intensely pursued due to funding and sponsorship opportunities. Working in a hospital without a university affiliation may seem like an insurmountable challenge to some. However, I believe that any physician can conduct research within their institution, provided they apply their skills in proportion to the available resources. Finding time to write scientific papers is only possible after a thorough process of data collection and analysis. While these tasks may not always be delegated, they can be carried out both at home and in the hospital, especially with the support of colleagues who, even if not directly involved in research, help ease the researcher’s clinical workload,” shares Dr. Fabbri.

(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)