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
Ronnie Fass, The MetroHealth Medical Center, USA
Tom Ryu, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Korea
Md Deen Islam and Carla S. Coffin, The University of Calgary, Canada
Leila Tchelebi, Northwell, USA
Madeline L. D’Aquila, Yale School of Medicine, USA
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)
Ronnie Fass
Ronnie Fass, MD, MACG, RFF, FAFS, is the Medical Director of the Digestive Health Center, Chairman of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and head of the Esophageal and Swallowing Program at the MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio. He is also a tenured professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, where he subsequently became Chief Resident. He then completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of California Los Angeles, where he focused on GI motility and disorders of gut-brain interaction. His research has focused on DGBI, specifically esophageal disorders, such as functional esophageal disorders, GERD, BE, dysphagia, esophageal dysmotility, and others. Over the years, he has received many research grants from societies, academic and federal institutions, as well as drug and device companies. He has published over 500 articles, editorials, and commentaries in esteemed journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Gastroenterology, Gut, American Family Physician, American Journal of Gastroenterology, JAMA Internal Medicine, Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and Nature Reviews Disease Primer. He has published three books and has written 62 book chapters, including 2 chapters in UpToDate.
Dr. Fass believes that the most common challenges in academic writing are crafting a compelling narrative, maintaining motivation, determining which figures and tables to include, and dealing with rejection. In his view, proper study design and adequate power calculations are essential for conducting a successful study and ultimately achieving a high-quality publication. Equally important is a careful and comprehensive analysis that accounts for all potential confounding factors. Corrections for multiple comparisons are mandatory to ensure the validity of statistical findings. Tables and figures should serve as supportive elements, and data presented in them should not be repeated in the main text. Each project often generates additional interesting findings that may be incorporated into the current manuscript or explored further in future studies.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Reto Bale and Edward W. Johnston
Dr. Reto Bale is a Professor of Radiology, Deputy Director of the Institute of Radiology, and the Head of the Section of Interventional Oncology / Stereotaxy and Robotics at MUI. With a research focus on percutaneous ablation, image fusion, stereotaxy and robotics, he has published more than 140 scientific papers and is involved in many international consensus papers on local liver tumor treatment.
Dr Edward W. Johnston is an Academic Consultant in Interventional Oncology at The Royal Marsden Hospital and Associate Honorary Faculty at the Institute of Cancer Research, London. His clinical and research work focuses on image-guided tumour ablation, stereotactic and robotic interventions, and the development of quantitative imaging biomarkers to improve procedural precision and oncologic outcomes. His recent projects include the integration of CT hepatic arteriography into liver ablation workflows, the development of smart biopsy techniques, and multicentre efforts to standardise ablation margin assessment. He leads the Computer-Assisted Interventional Radiology (CAIR) group, which aims to integrate advanced imaging, navigation, and computational techniques into routine interventional oncology practice.
TGH: What are the essential elements of a good academic paper?
Dr. Bale and Dr. Johnston: A strong academic paper starts with a clear question and a focused narrative. It should explain why the topic matters, demonstrate methodological rigour, and present results transparently, without overinterpretation. Good papers are readable: they guide the audience through the rationale, methods, findings, and implications with clarity and economy. Above all, the work should be honest about its strengths and limitations. Papers that advance the field usually combine technical precision with a coherent, clinically meaningful message.
TGH: What authors have to bear in mind during the preparation of a paper?
Dr. Bale and Dr. Johnston: Consistency, clarity, and discipline. Authors should decide early what story the data can support and resist the temptation to include tangential points. Figures and tables should be designed to communicate, not decorate. Statistical methods should align with the study design, and conclusions must reflect the evidence appropriately. Finally, authors should remember the reader: a manuscript is not only a record of results, but a means of sharing knowledge in a way that others can build upon.
TGH: Would you like to encourage fellow academic writers committed to advancing science?
Dr. Bale and Dr. Johnston: Scientific writing is often challenging, but it is one of the most rewarding parts of academic work. Every paper—large or small—contributes to the collective effort to improve understanding and patient care. Progress rarely comes from single breakthroughs; it comes from many people refining ideas, testing assumptions, and sharing insights. Persistence matters more than perfection. If you keep writing, keep questioning, and keep engaging with your colleagues, your work will help move the field forward.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Tom Ryu
Dr. Tom Ryu is an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at the Institute for Digestive Research, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea. As a hepatologist and physician-scientist, his research focuses on metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), alcohol-associated liver disease, gut–liver interactions, and early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma biology. Trained through the KAIST Medical Science and Engineering Ph.D. program, he integrates clinical epidemiology, translational research, and mechanistic studies using human cohorts and experimental models. His recent work includes large-scale MASLD cohort analyses, investigations into metabolic and immune-mediated pathways driving liver disease progression, and studies on intestinal–hepatic crosstalk in alcohol-induced injury. He has received multiple national and international awards, including honors from AASLD, APASL, and the KASL. His long-term goal is to advance precision medicine strategies for metabolic liver disease and improve clinical outcomes through interdisciplinary research.
Dr. Ryu believes that academic writing is the foundation through which scientific knowledge is created, communicated, and validated. It transforms observations and data into reproducible evidence, allowing other investigators to critically evaluate and build upon the findings. Clear scientific writing not only disseminates results but also shapes how the field conceptualizes disease mechanisms, clinical practice, and research priorities. For physician-scientists, academic writing bridges basic discovery and real-world patient care, ensuring that scientific advances translate into meaningful outcomes. Ultimately, academic writing is essential for maintaining the rigor and cumulative progress that define science.
To stay current in writing, Dr. Ryu reviews emerging literature daily, follows major hepatology and metabolism conferences, and engages in collaborative discussions with colleagues across basic science, epidemiology, and clinical medicine. When preparing a manuscript, he revisits the latest data, even up to the point of submission, to ensure the context and interpretation reflect the most recent developments. Most importantly, he strives to identify unanswered questions and explain how the findings contribute new mechanistic or clinical insights. This guarantees that his writing not only summarizes current knowledge but also advances the field.
“My primary motivation in writing comes from patients and the desire to improve their outcomes through a better understanding of liver diseases. Academic writing allows me to convert scientific curiosity and clinical observations into knowledge that can benefit others beyond my own practice. The process of writing also sharpens my thinking, clarifies hypotheses, and often inspires new research directions. Additionally, contributing to collective knowledge and engaging with the global scientific community is deeply rewarding. Each manuscript represents an opportunity to advance the field, spark new ideas, and ultimately bring us closer to more effective prevention and treatment strategies for metabolic and alcohol-related liver diseases,” says Dr. Ryu.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Md Deen Islam
Dr. Md Deen Islam is a PhD candidate in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary, Canada, under the supervision of Dr. Coffin. He is interested in viral hepatitis, microbiome and bioinformatics. His current work focuses on the role of the gut microbiome in the age-dependent chronicity of the hepatitis B virus. He obtained his master’s (double) in microbiology and molecular diagnostics from the University of Manitoba, Canada and the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He received training in bacterial and viral pathogenesis, molecular biology, and epidemiology. He worked as a Research Technician at the University of Calgary and as a Research Officer at both the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba and the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research in Bangladesh. More information about him can be found here.
Carla S. Coffin
Dr. Carla Coffin is a Professor of Medicine and a clinician scientist specializing in hepatology, based in the Department of Medicine and cross-appointed to the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary. She leads a successful research program on hepatitis B virus (HBV) and related liver disease. She has established a comprehensive, integrated translational research program on the hepatitis B virus (HBV) that bridges biomedical and epidemiological studies of unique patient cohorts with pre-clinical investigations using cell culture systems and the woodchuck hepatitis virus model, and extends through to clinical trials. Her studies in viral hepatitis coinfections, hepatitis B in pregnancy, HBV biomarker development, antiviral therapies, and functional cure strategies have influenced clinical guidelines and patient care. She has supervised 35 trainees across career stages (including MSc, PhD, and postdoctoral fellows) and has played a foundational role in building Canada’s hepatitis B research capacity. She was instrumental in establishing the Canadian HBV Research Network, has served on the World Health Organization Essential Medicines Committee since 2015 (with ongoing advisory responsibilities through 2029), and was lead or corresponding author of the 2012, 2018, and 2024 Canadian HBV management guidelines. She is currently the President of the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (2024–2026) and, in recognition of her national and international leadership in hepatitis B and hepatitis D clinical care and research, was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
TGH: Academic writing takes a lot of time and effort. What motivates you to do so?
Dr. Islam: I genuinely believe that, as scientists, we have a responsibility to share the new knowledge and findings for the greater good of mankind. For practical reasons, academic writing helps researchers advance their careers. Besides, I find immense joy in successfully publishing a piece of academic writing. Funny enough, after publication, I feel a sense of immortality! I believe my work will benefit people and endure in human history for centuries to come – that is what motivates me to engage in research and academic writing!
Dr. Coffin: Mentoring junior trainees in academic writing is both a privilege and a responsibility. I was fortunate to benefit from outstanding mentors throughout my career, and supporting the development of others is my way of paying that guidance forward. By helping trainees refine their writing, clarify their thinking, and find their scholarly voice, mentoring becomes a means of sustaining academic standards, fostering confidence, and ensuring the continuity of rigorous scientific inquiry across generations.
TGH: What role does academic writing play in science?
Dr. Islam: Academic writing remains a cornerstone of science, even in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. It is the main method by which complex data are transformed into clear and understandable narratives that define research questions, highlight gaps in knowledge, and propose or assess solutions. Through the peer-review process, academic writing creates a verifiable and enduring record of scientific inquiry, one that allows findings to be critically assessed, replicated, and extended by others. In this way, academic writing transforms individual research efforts into cumulative, collective scientific progress.
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. Islam: To incorporate new insights into writing, we need to be up to date with our readings. I try to regularly read seminal journals and utilize notification systems like PubMed updates and Google Scholar alerts. For me, LinkedIn is a great platform to stay updated on my research interests. Being in an early stage of my scientific career, I graciously welcome proposal, grant, and paper writing invitations; they provide me with a learning opportunity. Participating in the peer-review process, including grant and paper reviews, is essential for staying informed about new research developments in your field. We encourage active discussions during lab meetings and seminars.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Leila Tchelebi
Leila Tchelebi, MD, is an Associate Professor of Radiation Medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. After graduating from NYU School of Medicine, she completed her residency at New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. She is a member of the American Radium Society GI Committee, the NCI Hepatobiliary Task Force, the NRG non-colorectal subcommittee, and the ASTRO gastric Task force. Her research concentrates on gastrointestinal oncology, innovation, and quality. She aims to advance the field through science, driven by her passion for ensuring the best patient outcomes.
Dr. Tchelebi believes that academic writing is essential for generating hypotheses and developing critical thinking in the field of oncology. While randomized controlled trials are the gold standard as far as advancing cancer care, they are resource heavy and not feasible for answering several clinical questions. Academic writing outside of reports of clinical trial outcomes can assist with identifying the gaps in data and the questions clinical trials are needed to answer, generating discussion among colleagues, and helping to advance the field of cancer care.
In Dr. Tchelebi’s view, in addition to the more obvious qualities needed to excel at authorship - organized writing, adequate statistical analysis, clarity of thought - a good author is open to constructive criticism and values teamwork. She finds that including at least one additional author, often several, improves the quality of her work by bringing in new perspectives and challenging her thought process.
Teamwork is essential to Dr. Tchelebi.She says, “I am lucky to be part of an incredible team of nurses, nurse practitioners, therapists, residents, physician colleagues, and administrators who help me optimize my time efficiently while in clinic to allow time for authorship. The wonderful team I work with understands the value of academic medicine to positively impact, not just the patients in our clinic, but the many patients who benefit from our contribution to the study of oncology and the scholarly work that leads to innovation.”
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Madeline L. D’Aquila
Madeline L. D’Aquila, MD, is a General Surgery resident at Yale School of Medicine. Her current research focuses on the contribution of social and behavioral comorbidities to postoperative outcomes and their implications for equitable surgical care. She is specifically interested in team-based, translational approaches to identifying and addressing socio-behavioral risk. She also investigates the application of artificial intelligence and natural language processing methods to improve socio-behavioral screening within surgical care pathways. She works under the mentorship of Dr. Ira L. Leeds, MD, FACS.
According to Dr. D’Aquila, academic writing provides the foundation for collaborative science. It transforms individual clinical observations into shared knowledge that can be tested, refined, and applied across systems. In the field of surgery, academic writing enables rigorous scrutiny of clinical practice and supports collaborative, systematic advancement to improve patient outcomes at scale.
Dr. D’Aquila considers that critical writing begins with collaboration and intellectual honesty about uncertainty and bias. In practice, it requires clearly defining research questions, exposures, and outcomes while critically examining data sources and assumptions. Most importantly, engaging collaborators from different disciplines (including but not limited to clinicians, data scientists, statisticians, and epidemiologists) naturally strengthens a critical perspective.
“In collaborative clinical research, multiple disciplines often examine the same findings through different lenses. During the writing process, these perspectives begin to overlap and inform one another, leading to a more unified and nuanced interpretation. I have found this convergence particularly rewarding, as it demonstrates how complementary expertise can advance patient care and transform individual observations into shared understanding. Experiences like these have shaped my perspective on the importance of team science and collaborative research,” says Dr. D’Aquila.
(by Sasa Zhu, Masaki Lo)