In 2024, many JGO 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 (2024)

Taku Noumi, Okayama University, Japan

Kingsley Nnawuba, The University of Arkansas, USA

Silvio Matsas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, Brazil

Outstanding Author

Taku Noumi

Taku Noumi now is a graduate student in the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan, after the Japanese Red Cross Society Himeji Hospital. He is dedicated to researching morphological analysis of sarcoma with pleomorphism and clonal evolution of lung cancer. He is also a part-time respiratory medicine physician at the Japanese Red Cross Kobe Hospital, working on lung cancer chemotherapy and benign respiratory disease. He is interested in controlling the toxicities of chemotherapy and immunotherapy for the better lives of cancer patients.

Dr. Noumi reckons that a good academic paper should enlighten the readers and improve daily practice. While new scientific discoveries are important, it is crucial that they are presented in a way that is accessible and understandable to a broad readers.

From Dr. Noumi’s perspective, authors should carefully study what is generally accepted on the topic, including guidelines and their evidence level. In addition, authors can sincerely consult co-authors and specialists around them. Finally, authors should systematically verify the new theories and sophisticate them comprehensively to the readers.

“I am a rookie at academic activities, but I believe continuing writing is essential. One submission of ours can progress the future of medicine. Even one small case report can support somebody in trouble or suffering from similar symptoms. Our efforts can change patients' futures,” Dr. Noumi says.

(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)

Kingsley Nnawuba

Kingsley Nnawuba, MD, is an internal medicine resident physician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). He enjoys diagnosing and treating complex medical conditions, especially blood disorders. His research focuses on disease mechanisms, treatment optimization and improving medical access for underserved populations. Recently, he has investigated novel therapies and healthcare disparities in racial minorities. Through his dedication to research and patient care, Dr. Nnawuba makes significant contributions to internal medicine, oncology, and hematology. His long-term goal involves enhancing the quality of healthcare for patients irrespective of their socio-economic status. Connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

From Dr. Nnawuba’s perspective, academic writing is crucial in spreading research findings. It is a medium to facilitate scholarly discourse while fostering scientific knowledge. It basically provides a structured framework for conveying complex ideas through outlined; methodologies, results, and interpretations. In addition, it acts as a fund of knowledge for future researchers to draw from.

Dr. Nnawuba points out that selecting appropriate evidence for synthesis and analysis in academic writing involves prioritizing peer-reviewed sources from reputable journals, focusing on their relevance, credibility, and quality. Authors should favor studies directly addressing the research question, emphasizing systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials. Objectivity, transparency, critical evaluation of strengths and limitations are also crucial to avoiding bias and ensuring accuracy. On the same note, coherent organization and clear connections between sources enhance readability and comprehension.

“I believe that it is pertinent for authors to share their research data in scientific writing for several reasons. Firstly, it promotes transparency and accountability in research, allowing peers to verify and replicate these findings. Additionally, it enhances the credibility and reliability of scientific literature. This reproducibility facilitates collaboration and accelerates scientific progress by enabling researchers to build upon existing data sets, leading to novel discoveries and innovations. Similarly, data sharing promotes efficiency and cost-effectiveness by reducing duplication of efforts on already researched projects and maximizing the utility of collected data,” Dr. Nnawuba says.

(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)

Silvio Matsas

Dr. Silvio Matsas pursued his medical degree at the Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, Brazil, where his fascination with Oncology began and led him to engage in research from his second year of study. He graduated in 2023 and has since been working as a generalist physician. Currently, he is preparing for the USMLE exams with an aspiration to specialize in Internal Medicine and Hematology-Oncology in the United States. Connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

In Dr. Matsas’s view, writing serves the purpose of presenting ideas to an audience, whether for educational or entertainment purposes. Scientific writing shares this objective but places a greater emphasis on presenting clear ideas supported by reliable data. Medical education in various countries lacks formal instruction on scientific methods and writing skills. As a result, few people are interested in developing research projects and advancing science. Moreover, insufficient public funding for scientific research adds to this burden. Interest in scientific development and writing is growing in many developing countries due to the updating of medical school curricula, but there is still a long way to go.

Dr. Matsas thinks it is challenging to stay fully updated with every scientific advancement nowadays, as the number of published papers far exceeds our capacity to read. Therefore, authors must read as many papers as possible within their area of interest. Doing so not only helps them stay informed but also nurtures critical thinking skills. These skills are essential for identifying gaps in knowledge, and presenting opportunities to contribute to scientific literature through the development of new articles. It is also crucial to share ideas with colleagues and teammates. Collaborative efforts enhance writing and help in staying current, as teamwork is often more effective than individual efforts.

Balancing the demanding roles of an author or doctor can be challenging. In view of this, Dr. Matsas shares, “Many individuals are unable to reduce their work commitments to engage in research or lack interest in participating in research projects. Those who can manage both bear the responsibility of conducting research in developing countries. This is due to a lack of public funding and incentives for scientific project development in these regions. Therefore, allocating a portion of time that would otherwise be devoted to other activities is necessary. The amount of time, however, can be significantly reduced by working with a team, with multiple people involved in different tasks and engaged in double-checking. I primarily work or study, but I also dedicate part of my time to research projects.”

(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)