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

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)