In 2025, 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 (2025)
Janio Szklaruk, MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
Mélodie Cyr, McGill University, Canada
Stefan Longobardi, HCA Florida Blake Hospital, USA
Alexandre A. Jácome, Oncoclinicas, Brazil
Vlasios S. Sotirchos, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA
Akira Saito, Jichi Medical University, Japan
Kiyoaki Sugiura, Eiju General Hospital, Japan
David I. LeRoy, Henry Ford Warren Hospital, USA
Oleksii Dobrzhanskyi, National Cancer Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine
Masano Sagawa, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Japan
Hajime Yokomizo, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Japan
Hiroyuki Uetake, Disaster Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
Ryan H. Moy, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, USA
Maen Abdelrahim, Houston Methodist Cancer Center, USA
Abdel Karim Dip Borunda, The National Cancer Hospital, Mexico
Alessandro Nasti, Kanazawa University, Japan
Catherine Loehr, LSU Health Sciences Center, USA
Leonardo G. Da Fonseca, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil
Chikara Kunisaki, JCHO Yokohama Hodogaya Central Hospital, Japan
Outstanding Author
Janio Szklaruk
Janio Szklaruk has been a Professor of Diagnostic Radiology at MD Anderson Cancer Center since 2000. He specializes in hepatobiliary oncologic imaging and advanced MR techniques. He earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed a Diagnostic Radiology residency at Thomas Jefferson University. Before his medical training, he obtained a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from SUNY Stony Brook. He previously served as an Assistant Professor at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. His research focuses on developing and evaluating novel MR imaging techniques and assessing their added value in oncologic imaging, particularly hepatobiliary malignancies. Through his work, he aims to improve diagnostic accuracy and optimize imaging applications in cancer care.
In Dr. Szklaruk’s view, the role of academic writing in science, particularly in imaging, is to share new discoveries, improve patient care, educate, and evaluate the added value of imaging techniques. Through peer-reviewed publications, researchers disseminate novel findings that advance imaging technology and its clinical applications. Academic writing also serves as a critical tool for educating radiologists, clinicians, and scientists about emerging techniques and best practices. By rigorously assessing the benefits and limitations of imaging modalities, scholarly work contributes to evidence-based improvements in patient diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Szklaruk thinks keeping up with advances in science is a constant challenge. To ensure that academic writing remains up-to-date and provides new insights, it is essential to conduct a thorough review of the current literature using multiple scientific search platforms. This approach allows researchers to stay informed about the latest developments and emerging trends in the field. Once he develops a hypothesis, reviewing recent studies helps refine research questions, validate methodologies, and position findings within the broader scientific context.
“Intellectual curiosity motivates me to begin a research project, driving me to explore new questions and uncover meaningful insights. The writing process, however, is fueled by my desire to share the results with the scientific community and contribute to the advancement of knowledge. More importantly, publishing research plays a crucial role in improving patient care by disseminating findings that enhance diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making. Through academic writing, I am to translate research into practical applications ensuring that innovations in imaging continue to refine and optimize medical practice,” says Dr. Szklaruk.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Atsushi Yamaguchi
Dr. Atsushi Yamaguchi is affiliated with the Department of Gastroenterology at the National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center in Hiroshima, Japan. He belongs to the Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences of Hiroshima University. His primary focus is on pancreato-biliary diseases, particularly endoscopic diagnosis, and intervention. He is especially interested in early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, nutritional therapy for pancreato-biliary cancer patients with cancer cachexia, and management of very elderly patients with benign disease.
JGO: What role does academic writing play in science?
Dr. Yamaguchi: While one manuscript, such as a case report, may not immediately change common scientific practice, over time, the accumulation of academic writing contributes to the advancement of science.
JGO: Academic writing takes a lot of time and effort. What motivates you to do so?
Dr. Yamaguchi: First, writing a manuscript creates a record of my journey as a physician, preserving our collective progress for future researchers. Second, completing a manuscript is incredibly rewarding, and I feel an even greater sense of accomplishment when my work is read and cited by others. Third, reviewing manuscripts written by peers is essential for expanding my own knowledge and capabilities. These works often present insights and experiences beyond what I could encounter on my own, ultimately helping me grow as a researcher and better serve my patients.
JGO: 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. Yamaguchi: I stay current and expand my knowledge by attending conferences, reviewing manuscripts from other researchers, and engaging in discussions with colleagues. Equally important is my hands-on involvement with patient care, which gives me a direct understanding of each patient’s background and needs, rather than relying solely on subordinates. Ultimately, medicine exists to benefit patients, and efforts aimed at improving patient outcomes drive the advancement of science.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Mélodie Cyr
Mélodie Cyr is a doctoral student in the Medical Physics Unit, Department of Oncology at McGill University in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Under the supervision of Dr. Shirin A. Enger, Mélodie’s research focuses on the effects of alpha-particle irradiation on human colorectal adenocarcinoma. Given the rising incidence of colorectal adenocarcinoma, she has refined an orthotopic intra-rectal colorectal adenocarcinoma murine model to advance pre-clinical research. This model has been instrumental in studying metal artifact reduction in magnetic resonance imaging using stainless-steel alpha-emitting interstitial sources, as well as in measuring the diffusion lengths of alpha-emitting radioactive daughters from these sources. Her work extends to the dosimetry and physics interactions of alpha-particles, utilizing radiochromic film to enhance measurement accuracy. Additionally, she investigates the radiation biology of alpha-emitting interstitial sources to better understand their therapeutic impact, mitigate toxicities, and ultimately improve the quality of life for colorectal cancer patients.
In Mélodie’s view, academic writing is essential to scientific progress, providing a structured and precise means of communicating research findings, theories, and methodologies. A well-structured scientific paper ensures rigorous documentation of experiments, analyses, and conclusions, enabling reproducibility and validation by other researchers. Moreover, it encourages collaboration and critical discourse, allowing researchers to challenge, refine, and expand upon existing knowledge, ultimately advancing multiple disciplines.
Mélodie thinks keeping academic writing up-to-date requires continuous learning, critical analysis, and strategic communication. Regularly reviewing recent publications and conference proceedings ensures that the latest findings are integrated into researchers’ work. Additionally, engaging with peers, mentors, and interdisciplinary researchers offers fresh perspectives that refine and strengthen their writing.
“Effective manuscript writing requires strategic time management, structured scheduling, and discipline. Recognizing its importance, I allocate dedicated time to writing in my schedule. To make the process more manageable, I break it down into smaller, achievable tasks, such as outlining, drafting specific sections, and revising figures. This approach allows me to integrate writing seamlessly into my busy routine. Additionally, I utilize the Pomodoro technique to maintain focus and structure my writing sessions, incorporating SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals to enhance productivity and ensure steady progress,” says Mélodie.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Stefan Longobardi
Dr. Stefan Longobardi is a PGY3 Internal Medicine Resident at HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton, Florida. He was raised in Fort Myers, Florida. His path into medicine was nontraditional; he chose to study at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, graduating in 2022. He worked hard to cultivate an understanding of the basic sciences and the pathophysiological mechanisms of disease. He holds an appreciation for how scientific advancements build on foundational knowledge, in turn shaping modern medicine. This ignited his interest in Hematology and Oncology—an innovative field that shares these principles at its core. He believes a solid foundation in the basic sciences is invaluable to transition into clinical practice. His current manuscript focuses on colorectal cancer, as it is largely preventable with an extensively studied pathophysiological basis. He focuses on the importance of colorectal cancer screening, especially in Hungary where the rates are among the world's highest. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Dr. Longobardi thinks academic writing plays a pivotal role in science and the scientific method. Although he is early in his career and relatively new to research, he deeply appreciates how academic writing can spur innovation and improve patient care outcomes. It is a way to initiate, disseminate, archive, reproduce, and validate ideas that have profound utility in society. He believes that the intersection of academic writing, modern technology, and globalization is creating an unprecedented era of discovery and advancement in the scientific community, which he feels extremely excited to witness, and privileged to take part in. It is the primary motivation for him to pursue further training in Hematology and Medical Oncology, a field that beautifully exemplifies all these elements.
To keep one’s writing up-to-date, Dr. Longobardi emphasizes the importance of thoroughly exploring the theoretical and pathophysiological foundations of a topic before writing about it. He strives to take a systematic approach. This implies compiling the existing literature on the topic and analyzing every pertinent aspect within the realm of his knowledge. Once he achieves a broad and increasingly nuanced understanding of the topic, he reads the most up-to-date literature and tries to identify gaps and/or potential areas for further investigation. He remains critical of everything he reads and even his own ideas. In this way, he tries to eliminate all biases that can significantly hinder an otherwise great research question. He adds, “I see academic writing as a means of personal development as it requires a significant commitment of time and multiple harmonizing skill sets. Additionally, keeping up with existing literature to stay up to date is extremely challenging. The fact of the matter is that it requires time, consistency, and discipline. Therefore, I prefer to write about topics that both are interesting and mean a lot to me. I believe this will show in my work; and, by definition, will provide new insights.”
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Alexandre A. Jácome
Dr. Alexandre A. Jácome has pursued a medical career offering him the triad of medical care, education, and research. After obtaining an MD degree and completing Clinical Fellowship in Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology in Brazil, he completed a Doctorate (PhD) in Sciences at the University of São Paulo (USP Ribeirão Preto), in a research project evaluating the prognostic role of EGFR family in gastric cancer, followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from 2018-2019, mainly focused on research projects in lower gastrointestinal cancers. Based on this clinical, educational, and research background, he worked as Director of Education at the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology from 2021-2023, and he has been working as the Leader of the Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Oncoclinicas, Brazil, since 2020. In his institution, he has been fully focused on the clinical management of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies, as well as working on the conception of investigator-initiated research projects and collaboration on international multicentric clinical trials. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Dr. Jácome thinks an interesting academic paper should have key elements and a stepwise elaboration: first of all, it must have an underlying relevant question. In the medical field, this question should preferentially be clinically relevant. The paper needs to fill a gap in the medical literature, originally contributing to the field. Second, it should have a clear objective. Third, appropriate and valid methods should be used to reach the objective. Fourth, the results should be reported in an objective language. At last, it states if the objectives were met, discusses its findings, contextualizes them in the medical literature, and compares its results to similar studies within the field. Obviously, the manuscript must follow the principles of appropriate scientific writing and a well-written English language.
To avoid biases in writing, Dr. Jácome believes authors must respect their data, reporting them to the scientific community in a very objective and impartial language. In the discussion section, the authors should comment on their results, comparing them to similar studies, and whether their findings agree or disagree with those published. Authors also should be thorough in the report of similar studies, bringing to the discussion as many equivalent studies as possible, in order to be impartial. As Karl Popper said, “Nothing in science is permanently established, nothing unalterable. All knowledge is provisional or temporary”. Therefore, every result is welcomed, concordant or not, and every study brings contributions to the field since it follows the core scientific methods.
Lastly,Dr. Jácome would like to say a few words to his peers, “In every scientific field, we urgently need data to enhance our understanding of nature, improve the population's quality of life, and make informed clinical decisions in medical sciences. Therefore, since the authors follow the core principles of the scientific methodology, every study is important and should be published. Reproducibility is one of the most important characteristics of a scientific hypothesis. Any study will represent the whole population of the world or will be totally representative of the truth. Therefore, the scientific truth is made of a combination of studies, each one bringing different aspects and perspectives on the topic. Thus, bring your data and you will make a meaningful contribution to your scientific field.”
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Vlasios S. Sotirchos
Dr. Vlasios S. Sotirchos is an Interventional Radiologist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Weill Cornell Medical College. Following his graduation from medical school from the University of Athens in Greece, he relocated to the United States where he completed a research fellowship focused on Interventional Oncology at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He then completed his diagnostic and interventional radiology residencies at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, as well as an imaging informatics fellowship at the same institution. His clinical practice and research are focused on the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer to the liver and lungs with locoregional methods (e.g. percutaneous ablation, yttrium-90 radioembolization) and palliative interventions for oncologic patients. Visit Dr. Sotirchos’ profile here.
The way Dr. Sotirchos sees it, a “good” paper needs to answer a specific question with clinical relevance. It is crucial to have a deep understanding of the existing literature on the topic to identify the gaps that need to be addressed. Moreover, adhering to reporting checklists (e.g. CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA) is important to ensure that all essential elements have been included in the paper, which can facilitate peer review and study reproducibility.
Scientific manuscripts are often the result of several months or even years of hard work on a very specific topic. In Dr. Sotirchos’ opinion, when preparing a paper, it is important for authors to “take a step back” and provide context, use clear language and emphasize the implications of their findings, keeping in mind that most of the journal audience will not have the same in-depth knowledge on the topic.
“There have been significant advancements in interventional oncology over the past decade that have revolutionized cancer care. Many studies reporting these developments have been published in radiology or IR-themed journals, limiting visibility among other specialties. I believe that there are benefits to publishing in journals with a broad audience, such as JGO. This can help increase awareness within the medical oncology community of what we can offer in IR and ultimately improve patient access to these minimally invasive treatments,” says Dr. Sotirchos.
(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)
Akira Saito
Akira Saito currently serves at the Department of Surgery, Division of Gastroenterological, General and Transplant Surgery, Jichi Medical University. His research areas include tumor microenvironment and effects of anti-diabetic drugs on solid tumors, with a recent focus on the usefulness of anti-claudin 18.2 antibody for peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer.
JGO: What are the key skill sets of an author?
Dr. Saito: I think the most important thing is to write in a way that anyone can understand. The more specialized the content of an academic paper is, the more difficult it becomes to write. I think a good paper is one that can be read by as many people as possible and that avoids misunderstandings. To achieve this, originality is necessary in the content, but I don't think originality is necessary in the way we write it.
JGO: How to avoid biases in one’s writing?
Dr. Saito: It's tempting to think that the conclusion we have reached is absolutely correct. However, we need to reconsider our conclusion from the perspective of whether it's wrong or if there are other ways of looking at it. When writing our conclusion, it's important to avoid making assertions and to carefully explain our results after stating our observations from different angles.
JGO: Do you have any words for your peers?
Dr. Saito: I think the most important thing is a passion for communicating the content of our research. There may be times when the conclusion we have reached differs from existing reports. If we try to post that content, it is easy to imagine that we will be met with backlash. However, if we have confidence in our conclusion and have considered it deeply on the theoretical basis, there should be a theory that leads to our results. For that reason, it is very important to consider as many existing reports as possible and to think about things from different perspectives. These tasks require a lot of perseverance. I think we need the passion to do this work without cutting corners until the end.
(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)
Kiyoaki Sugiura
Kiyoaki Sugiura, MD, PhD, is an attending staff at the Department of Surgery, Eiju General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. He obtained his PhD from the Department of Surgery at Keio University School of Medicine. His research areas cover surgery and chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, and general and gastrointestinal surgeries. Recent focuses include minimal invasive surgery/robotic surgery for colorectal cancer, and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer.
In Dr. Sugiura’s view, the role academic writing plays in science, especially in medical science, is to share the knowledge and experience to overcome individual limit. There are limits to individual effort in gaining a wide range of experience and facing new challenge in discoveries. Academic writing pushes the limits and provides every clinician with evidence-based best clinical practice, contributing to patients benefits. Through academic writing, authors contribute to the development of the entire scientific community.
To ensure one’s writing is critical, Dr. Sugiura thinks that one would be better off complying the format that is accepted in the academic field and having his/her writing checked by others, preferably someone with significant experience. Because writing and checking by oneself can often lead to self-centered thinking and a loss of critical perspective, format-based writing and peer review before and after submission are good options to introduce critical view in one’s writing.
When it comes to the importance for research to apply for institutional review board (IRB) approval, Dr. Sugiura reckons that in medical research, novel interventions should be tested to develop higher standards of clinical practice. However, novel interventions inevitably carry the potential to cause harm to human or experimental animals. Although the risk-associated novel interventions are inevitable, IRB is essential for minimizing risks and maximizing benefits, both clinically and ethically.
(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)
David I. LeRoy
Dr. David LeRoy is a PGY-2 Internal Medicine resident at Henry Ford Warren Hospital, where he will be serving as Research and Education Chief Resident during his third year of residency. He is actively pursuing a fellowship in Hematology and Oncology, with a particular interest in gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. He has been involved in multiple retrospective and population-based studies and is dedicated to contributing meaningful insights to the field.
In Dr. LeRoy’s opinion, the essential element of a good academic paper begins with a clearly defined research question. This question can help facilitate a comprehensive review of relevant literature, establishing the context of the paper and highlighting the importance of the question. Furthermore, having a well-defined research question can aid in building a well-structured methodology, which is needed to present and discuss the results in a clear way. Finally, a well-structured academic paper should include a thoughtful conclusion, acknowledging potential limitations and suggesting future research directions on the topic.
Dr. LeRoy believes that the essential skills for an author include the ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely, think critically, and conduct thorough research on their topic. Additionally, authors should be open to feedback and willing to revise their work, as writing is a dynamic process. They must also collaborate effectively, meet deadlines, and thoughtfully respond to reviewers' comments to enhance the overall quality of their work.
“Most of my interesting experiences during academic writing happened during the comprehensive literature review process,” says Dr. LeRoy, “As I dive into the research, especially in the fields of hematology/oncology, I find myself constantly learning, not just about the topic at hand, but also about the evolution of medical understanding and the nuances to bring to my patient care. Just when I think I have completed the review, I inevitably come across more articles that add new depth or context. It is a humbling reminder that writing is a dynamic process and that being a good author means remaining curious, open-minded, and committed to continual learning.”
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Oleksii Dobrzhanskyi
Dr. Oleksii Dobrzhanskyi has been a surgical oncologist since 2021 at the Upper Gastrointestinal Oncology Department, National Cancer Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine. His research areas are esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, perioperative chemotherapy, minimally invasive esophageal and gastric surgery, HIPEC and PIPAC, cytoreductive surgery, and treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis. His clinical expertise is in open and minimally invasive esophagectomy and gastrectomy, complex resections, HIPEC, and PIPAC. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
In Dr. Dobrzhanskyi’s view, a good academic paper focuses on an important real-life problem in its field. It should be well-written and clearly organized so that readers can easily understand the main message. He believes the best papers are based on carefully planned, prospective data collection. The methods should be strong and clearly explained, and the results should be useful for doctors, researchers, or patients. It also helps when the authors discuss the limits of their work and how their findings can be used in practice.
To prevent bias, Dr. Dobrzhanskyi emphasizes that authors should focus strictly on the study's aims, methods, and results, avoiding personal opinions or assumptions. It is important to rely only on trustworthy and evidence-based sources. Writers should present all relevant data, including negative or unexpected results, and avoid cherry-picking information that only supports their viewpoint. Clear and transparent reporting, including a discussion of the study’s limitations, also helps reduce bias. Getting feedback from co-authors or colleagues can provide a fresh, more objective perspective.
“Stay clear in your thinking and always remember why your research matters. Don’t rush the process — good science takes time, and careful work leads to better results. You don’t have to do everything alone; science is a team effort. Talk to colleagues, ask for feedback, and support each other. Every honest contribution moves the field forward, even if it’s small. Keep going — your work matters,” says Dr. Dobrzhanskyi.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Masano Sagawa
Dr. Masano Sagawa, PhD, RD, is affiliated with the Department of Surgery at Tokyo Women’s Medical University Adachi Medical Center. Her expertise lies in perioperative nutritional management, particularly in elderly cancer patients and those with critical illnesses. In recent years, she has focused her research on the impact of preoperative occlusal support, assessed by the Eichner index, on postoperative infectious complications. As a councillor of the Japanese Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (JSPEN), she has contributed to numerous clinical guidelines, including the 2024 Cancer Nutrition Guideline and the Japanese Critical Care Nutrition Guideline 2024. In 2025, her project “Optimal timing for parenteral nutrition and delivery route of adequate protein in critical care: an umbrella-type multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial” received a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), and the PANDRA trial is scheduled to commence soon.
In Dr. Sagawa’s view, for healthcare professionals involved in clinical practice, academic writing is their mission to reflect on and evaluate how their daily therapies affect patients. Furthermore, during the process of developing clinical guidelines, it is equally important to identify unresolved issues, plan and conduct new research, and document the results as academic papers. She believes this not only contributes to one’s growth but also benefits patients and provides a foundation for other researchers to validate and build upon.
Dr. Sagawa believes that an author should have curiosity, passion, perseverance, integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility. Research requires a strong will to persist over time, an honest approach to handling data, and flexibility to accept collaboration and feedback. These qualities improve the quality of research and foster personal growth as a researcher.
Dr. Sagawa emphasizes that data sharing is essential. It enhances transparency and reproducibility, enabling other researchers to validate findings and generate new knowledge. It prevents unnecessary duplication, improves research efficiency, and ultimately contributes significantly to the benefit of patients and society.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Hajime Yokomizo
Dr. Hajime Yokomizo is affiliated with the Department of Surgery, Tokyo Women’s Medical University Adachi Medical Center. His research focuses on colorectal cancer (especially those related to surgical treatment) and analysis of patient factors that affect the outcome of colorectal cancer surgery.
In Dr. Yokomizo’s opinion, papers that provide answers to problems and questions that arise in clinical practice, or can help lead to answers, are good papers. Although it is difficult to avoid biases in clinical papers, he believes it is important to reduce missing data. While avoiding biases is easier in prospective observational studies, he thinks that examining consecutive cases is essential in retrospective observational studies. Furthermore, exploring questions that arise in clinical practice can also be a useful paper.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Hiroyuki Uetake
Dr. Hiroyuki Uetake started his career in 1989 as a general surgeon at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU). From 1999, he was a research scholar in Prof. Peter Danenberg’s laboratory at the University of Southern California, where he studied mRNA extration from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue and analyzed gene expression using real-time PCR. After returning to Japan, he served as an associate professor in the Department of Translational Oncology from 2005 and then as a full professor in Specialized Surgeries at TMDU from January 2015 until October 2020. He is a clinical researcher, surgical oncologist, and chemotherapy specialist. He has been a principal investigator and protocol committee member for various clinical trials. During his time as a faculty member at TMDU, he participated in the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Project in Chile.
Dr. Uetake believes that academic writing serves to share research findings with fellow researchers, fosters discussions, and helps generate new research topics that can benefit society. By publishing valuable research results, he not only advances his own work but also supports his collaborators and contributes to the greater good. To stay informed, he regularly reads the latest papers, attends relevant academic conferences, and engages in discussions with other researchers.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Ryan H. Moy
Dr. Ryan Moy is a Gastrointestinal/Phase 1 medical oncologist and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He leads the esophagogastric cancer clinical trial program at Columbia, and his research focuses on developing novel combination targeted therapies and immunotherapies for gastric cancer. His laboratory utilizes patient-derived organoids, mouse models, and biospecimens from patients to identify new targets for gastric cancer and understand the mechanisms of therapeutic resistance. His recent projects include a trial initiated by investigators on defactinib (a focal adhesion kinase inhibitor) and avutometinib (a RAF/MEK inhibitor) for patients with metastatic diffuse gastric cancer.
Dr. Moy asserts that academic writing is essential because it converts critical observations and research findings into accessible knowledge that propels scientific progress. Through clear and rigorous reporting, researchers can evaluate new ideas and ensure that data are interpreted in a way that benefits the scientific community and patients. Academic writing promotes responsibility and collaboration, which are essential for advancing the field.
In Dr. Moy’s view, an effective author should be able to combine scientific rigor with clear communication. Authors must ensure that data are presented accurately and transparently, as well as be able to interpret findings within the broader clinical or biological context. Moreover, authors should be able to translate complex data into language that is accessible to a multidisciplinary audience. Strong authors are also collaborative, as impactful research often depends on teamwork across multiple disciplines.
Dr. Moy believes that balancing the demands of clinical work and research is a challenging task. However, as a translational scientist, he considers writing an essential part of patient care rather than a separate task. Publishing findings can help influence how others treat patients and improve outcomes beyond their practice. He tries to block out protected time in his schedule for writing papers, and he also makes writing a team effort by involving trainees, fellows, and collaborators.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Maen Abdelrahim
Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, PharmD, is a Professor of Medicine in GI Oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College. He is a distinguished gastrointestinal (GI) medical oncologist and transplant oncologist, renowned for his expertise in treating upper and lower GI malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), as well as malignancies managed through liver transplantation. He leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to advancing GI cancer care through innovative clinical trials, with a focus on Phase II/III studies. He is at the forefront of pioneering CAR-T cell therapy for GI cancers, including CCA and CRC, driving groundbreaking advancements in immunotherapy to improve patient outcomes. His research focuses on developing mechanism-based drugs for gastrointestinal cancers, with a particular emphasis on identifying a novel structural class of compounds that target selective transcription factors, now recognized as critical targets for new anticancer therapies. He has authored over 300 original research articles, review articles, and book chapters in prestigious journals and publishing groups. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the “Transplant Oncology” section of Cancers and Associate Editor of Frontiers in Oncology. Additionally, he edited the first-ever book on transplant oncology, Transplant Oncology. He is a member of the editorial boards of several high-impact medical journals, contributing to the field through his editorial leadership.
In Dr. Abdelrahim’s view, academic writing is the lifeblood of scientific progress, transforming raw discoveries into accessible, verifiable knowledge that drives innovation and patient care. In oncology, researchers can share clinical trial outcomes, such as CAR-T therapies for cholangiocarcinoma, facilitating global replication and refinement. Its importance lies in rigor: peer-reviewed publications ensure reproducibility, combat misinformation, and build cumulative evidence that informs guidelines, funding, and policy. Without it, breakthroughs remain siloed, denying patients timely treatments and stalling fields like transplant oncology. Ultimately, academic writing bridges lab benches to bedside, fostering collaboration and ethical advancement in medicine.
Dr. Abdelrahim believes that an exceptional academic author combines intellectual rigor with clear communication. First, they maintain unwavering curiosity and precision to distill complex data, such as novel transcription factor inhibitors, into compelling narratives. Second, ethical integrity, prioritizing transparency and reproducibility over sensationalism. Third, resilience to navigate rejections and revisions, turning feedback into stronger work. Empathy is key, crafting accessible prose for diverse readers, from clinicians to policymakers. Collaboration skills are important because working together as co-authors enhances the overall impact of their work. These traits, honed through mentorship and practice, elevate writing from mere reporting to transformative scholarship.
“Balancing clinical duties, trials, and administration demands disciplined time management. I dedicate specific ‘protected’ blocks of time, usually a few hours each day, often in the early mornings or on weekends, to writing. I use tools like the Pomodoro technique to maintain focus despite pager alerts. Prioritization is essential; manuscripts related to active trials, such as our Phase I compound, take precedence. I ensure this by sharing outlines with co-authors. Delegation helps; trainees draft sections under my review, freeing me for synthesis. I integrate writing into workflows, dictating notes post-consult to capture insights fresh. Exercise and reflection recharge me, ensuring sustainability. This structured yet flexible approach yields over 400 publications without burnout,” says Dr. Abdelrahim.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Abdel Karim Dip Borunda
Dr. Abdel Karim Dip Borunda is a medical oncologist at the National Cancer Hospital, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI (IMSS) in Mexico City, where he also serves as Head of the Medical Oncology Service. His work spans the full spectrum of solid tumors, combining clinical care, research, and institutional leadership in one of the largest cancer centers in Latin America. Throughout his career, he has participated in diverse research projects focused on systemic therapies, real-world outcomes, toxicity profiles, and the operational performance of oncology services. He is deeply committed to academic development and to strengthening residency training, ensuring that future oncologists are equipped with both scientific rigor and practical clinical judgment. His current efforts integrate patient-centered care with data-driven strategies to improve quality, efficiency, and access within complex public health systems. He believes that oncology advances when clinical experience, research, and education align to create meaningful and sustainable improvements in cancer care.
For Dr. Borunda, academic writing is the mechanism through which science becomes collective knowledge. Clinical observations or early ideas only gain value when they are structured, analyzed, and shared in a way that others can examine and build upon. Writing forces clarity, discipline, and transparency, which are essential in oncology, where decisions directly affect survival. It also democratizes scientific progress: when researchers rigorously document their findings, they enable colleagues worldwide to replicate results, refine methodologies, and ultimately deliver better patient care.
Dr. Borunda relies on a combination of continuous reading, active participation in academic networks, and day-to-day clinical experience. Working in a high-volume cancer center exposes me to patterns and challenges that often signal emerging needs or gaps in the literature. He makes an effort to align every manuscript with the most recent evidence, guidelines, and pivotal trials, while also emphasizing real-world data that can complement or challenge existing paradigms. Continuously updating his perspective allows him to frame each article not only as a summary of what is known but also as a contribution that can guide future questions.
“Writing allows me to turn clinical work into long-lasting impact. Every patient encounter carries lessons, and academic writing transforms those lessons into knowledge that can help others. I am motivated by the possibility of improving cancer care beyond the walls of my own hospital—whether by clarifying clinical questions, generating local evidence for Latin America, or contributing to global discussions. Writing also keeps me intellectually honest: it pushes me to question assumptions, refine ideas, and stay connected to innovation. In the end, the effort feels worthwhile when a paper sparks discussion, influences practice, or helps trainees think differently about oncology,” says Dr. Borunda.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Alessandro Nasti
Alessandro Nasti is a Specially Appointed Associate Professor at Kanazawa University, Japan. He completed a master's in pharmacy at the University of Naples “Federico II” (Italy, 2004) and earned a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry jointly with the University of Naples and the University of Manchester (UK, 2008). His postdoctoral research at Kanazawa University focused on advanced biomedical studies. He also obtained a PhD in Medical Sciences (2018), followed by the actual faculty position in 2022 in the Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Information-Based Medicine Development. His research focuses on blood transcriptomics and bioinformatics to identify predictive biomarkers for pancreatic cancer, metabolic diseases, immune radiotherapy, and regenerative medicine. He serves as the secretary of the Association of Italian Researchers in Japan (AIRJ) and is actively involved in teaching and mentoring. He focuses on advancing innovative methodologies and therapies in cancer biology and regenerative medicine. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Dr. Nasti emphasizes that a good academic paper must address a significant research question, ideally solving a critical problem and advancing societal knowledge. The overall paper should stand on existing literature, highlighting advances or contradictions. Methods must be rigorous and reproducible. Data and results should be logically organized and support the conclusions without overstating the implications.
In Dr. Nasti’s view, language should be precise and describe people with dignity (for example, “individuals with diabetes” instead of “diabetic person”). It is essential to analyze the literature with honesty to clearly identify limitations and biases. Abstracts, titles, and conclusions should be balanced and accurately reflect the results. One should write without preconceived opinions, seek peer feedback to identify pitfalls, and disclose conflicts of interest as well as any use of AI.
“The academic world is a challenging, unstructured environment. Building laboratories requires researchers to navigate grant searches like entrepreneurs, while securing grants demands publications and patents. Stay focused and passionate about your research, and establish international collaborations. You may not become wealthy, but you will produce new knowledge and contribute to a better society in the long term,” says Dr. Nasti.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Catherine Loehr
Dr. Catherine Loehr is a PGY-3 Internal Medicine resident at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. She earned her medical degree from LSU Shreveport. She is actively pursuing a fellowship in Gastroenterology. She has been involved in multiple case reports and retrospective studies aiming to improve diagnostic pathways, treatment strategies, and patient quality of care. Her recent work includes a quality improvement project on colorectal cancer screening rates among Spanish-speaking patients in a resident primary care clinic and an ongoing case series examining the management of incarcerated patients with IBD receiving Skyrizi. She also contributed a chapter on small bowel gastrointestinal tumors to the Capsule Endoscopy by Case Study (2nd edition) textbook published by the American College of Gastroenterology. Beyond research, she is committed to advocacy, recently representing Louisiana at the American College of Physicians (ACP) Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill to discuss step-therapy reform.
In Dr. Loehr’s view, a good academic paper addresses a meaningful question with clarity and integrity. It begins with a focused research aim, uses appropriate and reproducible methods, and presents results in a way that is transparent and unbiased. Strong papers place their findings in the context of existing literature, acknowledging limitations while highlighting their contribution to the field. Equally important is clear communication with concise writing, logical organization, and thoughtful interpretation that help readers understand why the work matters. Ultimately, a good academic paper captivates the reader, advances knowledge, invites further inquiry, and provides insights that can be translated into better clinical practice, scientific understanding, or patient care.
Dr. Loehr approaches each project with dedication to continuous learning and staying current with evidence to offer fresh insights. She intentionally and efficiently reviews recent literature, guidelines, and data from leading journals and societies, integrating high-quality studies. She also engages with the research community via conferences, webinars, and discussions to identify evolving trends and unanswered questions. In her writing, she not only summarizes knowledge but identifies gaps, highlights clinical implications, and suggests future investigations. Through thorough literature review, critical thinking, and awareness of developments, she produces timely, relevant work that adds meaningful perspectives to the field.
“Academic writing is about discovering clarity in the midst of complexity. There was a moment when I was sleep-deprived after a shift, putting in hours on a case when a particularly challenging concept finally clicked, and an entire manuscript suddenly came together. Writing is both a creative and analytical exercise, requiring patience, curiosity, and persistence. It reminds me that the most meaningful work often comes from topics that genuinely resonate with me. When I write about something I truly care about, the process becomes more fulfilling, and the final product feels more authentic and insightful,” says Dr. Loehr.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Leonardo G. Da Fonseca
Dr. Leonardo Da Fonseca works as a medical oncologist and researcher at the Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo – University of São Paulo School of Medicine in Brazil. He graduated in Medicine from the University of São Paulo, where he also completed his fellowship in clinical oncology and his PhD studying the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Subsequently, he was a fellow in Hepatic Oncology at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona – BCLC group, where he completed a Master’s in Clinical Research. His research area focuses on hepatobiliary malignancies, specifically on biomarkers, prognostic classification, real-world data, and therapeutic advancements.
In Dr. Da Fonseca’s view, academic writing is crucial because it serves as the main way scientific knowledge is validated, documented, and applied in clinical practice. In medicine, particularly in fields like hepatocellular carcinoma, where evidence changes rapidly, thorough academic writing ensures that data are presented clearly, methods are reproducible, and conclusions are understandable across various healthcare settings. In addition to sharing results, academic writing establishes a common scientific language that enables clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to evaluate evidence critically and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Da Fonseca thinks that a strong academic author should possess scientific rigor, intellectual honesty, and clinical awareness. Rigor ensures that research questions are relevant and methods are suitable; honesty guarantees transparent reporting of results, including limitations and negative findings; and clinical awareness helps translate data into meaningful implications for patient care. Additionally, good authors are curious, collaborative, and open to peer review, viewing critique as a tool to improve their work rather than as an obstacle. Clear communication is also essential—complex data must be presented accurately and clearly.
Dr. Da Fonseca asserts that data sharing is increasingly crucial. It enhances transparency, reproducibility, and scientific credibility, which are fundamental principles of high-quality research. In oncology and biomarker research, shared datasets allow independent validation, meta-analyses, and the development of new hypotheses that extend the original work. While patient privacy and ethical considerations must always be respected, responsible data sharing accelerates scientific progress, maximizes the value of research investments, and ultimately benefits patients by fostering more robust and generalizable evidence.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)
Chikara Kunisaki
Chikara Kunisaki, MD, PhD, is affiliated with JCHO Yokohama Hodogaya Central Hospital. He is the President of the hospital, an Honorary Professor and a Visiting Professor of Yokohama City University. His research fields are Upper gastrointestinal Surgery, Endoscopic surgery and Chemotherapy. His recent project focuses on a suitable reconstructive method following proximal gastrectomy, along with a multi-institutional study.
Dr. Kunisaki believes that good writing in clinical studies should have the potential to positively influence daily practice. To him, a retrospective study conducted at a single institution has limited clinical applicability. Therefore, he considers a RCT to be essential, and at a minimum, he recommends conducting a multi-institutional study in a retrospective format.
Dr. Kunisaki emphasizes that authors should diligently and persistently pursue what they believe to be right while writing. To achieve this, they must thoroughly study existing research and consider the areas that remain unclear. He believes that these gaps will help identify the next themes for research.
(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)