In 2025, many AOJ 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)
Jonathan D. Hughes, University of Pittsburgh, USA
Jordan Eskenazi, University of Miami, USA
Eric N. Bowman, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA
Joseph Lyons, Wright State University, USA
Whisper Grayson, Loyola University Health System, USA
Outstanding Author
Jonathan D. Hughes
Jonathan D. Hughes is an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and a team physician for the football team of the University of Pittsburgh. He specializes in the care of athletes as well as complex knee and shoulder surgery, with a specific focus on shoulder and knee arthroscopy, shoulder arthroplasty, and complex reconstructive and open surgery of the shoulder and the knee. He is actively involved in various clinical outcome studies, both retrospective and prospective, at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) as a principal investigator and co-investigator. He has been awarded various internal grants for his research. Additionally, in collaboration with the Biodynamics Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, he serves as the Principal Investigator for the Young Investigator Grant offered by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine for a biodynamics study investigating knee kinematics after slope correcting osteotomy and revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). He is serving as a co-investigator for several nationally-funded, multicenter studies including the STaR Trial, STABILITY 2 Trial, POETT and NIMBL Studies. In another collaboration with the Biodynamics Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, he, along with several colleagues, is researching on shoulder kinematics, arthrokinematics, and clinical outcomes after superior capsule reconstruction, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, and shoulder labral repair. Learn more about Dr. Hughes here, and connect with him on X and Instagram.
AOJ: What role does academic writing play in science?
Dr. Hughes: Academic writing and research are the foundation for continued growth within our profession. Clinical decision-making should be research- and evidence-based, highlighting the scientific merit and importance of academic writing and research. I believe that academic writing and research are an essential component of an academic surgeon's calling.
AOJ: How to ensure one’s writing is critical?
Dr. Hughes: An important aspect of critical evaluation is staying up-to-date on current literature, which means constant and continued learning. This also translates into clinical practice, as clinical decision making should be based on current literature and recommendations. I constantly read new and innovative articles, attend conferences, and peer review for several international journals, which all assist in keeping me updated on current literature and recommendations. This ultimately allows me to be critical of my own work. As well, being in an academic setting, I constantly reach out to colleagues for feedback and constructive criticism, allowing me to improve in all aspects of my academic practice.
AOJ: Why is it important for a research to apply for institutional review board (IRB) approval?
Dr. Hughes: The IRB is a safe-guard to help protect patients as well as the integrity of the research methods for each study. The IRB is an essential component of research, one that shouldn't be taken lightly or omitted. When the IRB is not involved, there is a significant risk of bias and loss of scientific rigor, though unintentional. The IRB can review the research process with an unbiased eye to ensure that appropriate methodology and patient protections are in place.
(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)
Jordan Eskenazi
Jordan Eskenazi is a third-year medical student at the University of Miami in the MD/MS in the Genomic Medicine program. Beginning with his time as a clinical research assistant prior to medical school, he has focused his research in the Sports Medicine subspecialty. During the period at medical school, he has been involved with the biomechanics lab at the University of Miami. Currently, in addition to his biomechanics and Sports Medicine research, he focuses on AI applications in orthopedic surgery, with his most recent publication looking at Retrieval Augmented Generation and ChatGPT’s ability to answer orthopedic examination assessment questions. He is looking forward to applying for Orthopedic residency and plans to pursue career in academic sports medicine.
AOJ: How to ensure one’s writing is critical?
Jordan: Ensuring your writing is critical starts from understanding how to break down a study. If you are citing a study in your paper, you must fully understand the methods and statistics of the cited paper, as well as be able to come to your own conclusions, not just repackage what the original authors stated in their discussion. Further, you must include all sides of a specific topic in your own writing, and draw your own conclusions based on the data that you have access to. This is why it is critical to at least have a basic understanding of statistics if you are engaging in academic writing, as this is the only way to properly understand research. If you are rigorous with your analysis, your writing will inevitably be critical.
AOJ: Is it important for authors to disclose Conflict of Interest (COI)?
Jordan: It is essential for authors to disclose COI. While I do not think that authors intentionally deceive with their research, there are significant inherent biases that authors do not even realize when they are conducting research or writing papers. Disclosing all of your COIs to the readers allows the readers to take a step back and analyze the paper knowing there is a potential bias in the methodology or results. It is critical to know this upfront, so the readers can properly evaluate the paper to ascertain whether the results are generalizable to their population.
AOJ: Academic writing takes a lot of time and effort. What motivates you to do so?
Jordan: The foundation of academic writing should stem from the author’s own curiosity. There are so many unanswered questions in medicine, and research and academic writing are the means of answering these questions. Given my young position in the medical profession, there is so much I don’t know, and there is even more that I don’t even know that I don’t know, so every paper is an amazing opportunity for me to learn. This motivates me to continue seeking out research opportunities and drives me to formulate proper questions that need to be answered. I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about medicine, orthopedics, the scientific method, AI applications in medicine and more all from academic writing that I would not have acquired if I had not been involved in research. My motivation is then only compounded by the fact that every paper I contribute is adding to the ever-growing body of literature used to provide the best possible care to patients.
(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)
Eric N. Bowman
Dr. Eric N. Bowman is an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, specializing in Sports Medicine, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati, completed Orthopaedic residency at Campbell Clinic / University of Tennessee, followed by Sports Medicine fellowship at Kerlan-Jobe / Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, CA. He is the head team physician for the Nashville Sounds (AAA) baseball team and is a consultant for the Milwaukee Brewers (MLB); he also serves as a team physician for Vanderbilt University and local high schools. Dr. Bowman has initiated a multicenter study group researching sports-related elbow injuries, particularly elbow UCL injuries, funded by Major League Baseball. He is the Associate Director of Sports Education at Vanderbilt Orthopaedics. He lectures nationally, particularly regarding overhead and throwing athletes. In his spare time, he enjoys being outdoors with his family and has become an avid triathlete. Learn more about him here, and connect with him on Instagram and X.
AOJ: What are the most commonly encountered difficulties in academic writing?
Dr. Bowman: I teach to always begin with the end in mind. What are the conclusions you need and how are you going to get there? What study approach and statistical methods are necessary (consult a librarian / statistician at the beginning)? Too often, trainees jump into a project without adequate planning, only to realize at the end. During the writing process, it is important to focus on your conclusions and frame the manuscript around them. What are the practical applications the readers need to know? Be sure to lead back to them throughout. Keep the readers engaged by being concise; every sentence must add value!
AOJ: The burden of being a scientist/doctor is heavy. How do you allocate time to write papers?
Dr. Bowman: Focus on an area you enjoy and you’ll look forward to your research! I thrive in a team environment and students/trainees are great to work with. I enjoy sitting down with them and coming up with interesting questions and figuring out how we can best answer them. You will make time for the things that are important, and while research can be arduous, it is gratifying to see your or your students’ hard work rewarded.
AOJ: What is fascinating about academic writing?
Dr. Bowman: Contributing to the literature on a given topic is a way of not only enhancing your own understanding but also benefiting the greater academic community as a whole. I enjoy solving questions spurned from previous projects, which in turn generates new questions. It significantly deepens my understanding of a topic so I can better educate my patients, colleagues, and trainees, and provide information for others to do the same.
(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)
Joseph G. Lyons
Joseph Lyons is currently a PGY-5 orthopedic surgery resident at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, USA, and he will complete a Sports Medicine fellowship at Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine after the residency training. He has previously worked on basic research evaluating nanotechnology-based biomaterials for bone regeneration applications. His current primary research interests are related to the epidemiology of various musculoskeletal injuries, with a focus on tendon ruptures in athletics and on fractures in the elderly population.
AOJ: What are the qualities an author should possess?
Joseph: In my opinion, some of the most important qualities an author should possess include attention to detail, integrity, and perseverance. A well-designed, well-executed, and well-presented study has the ability to change the way we practice and the way we treat the individuals who come to us for help. Each study provides a foundation upon which additional work and advancements can be made. As a community, we rely on and draw from the work of others to guide our own research, and together we advance the collective body of knowledge. Adherence to ethical guidelines and meticulous attention to detail throughout the process are critical so that authors can present accurate and responsible research upon which others can build and advance the field. Scientific work can be challenging, often requiring multiple refinements and revisions throughout the process, and authors must have determination, perseverance, and willingness to accept feedback in order to present the best version of their work to the scientific community.
AOJ: Do you think following reporting guidelines (e.g. STROBE, PRISMA, and CARE) is important?
Joseph: It’s critical to follow reporting guidelines during preparation of manuscripts. Scientific advancements are the result of the collective efforts of the entire research community, with each new discovery building upon the work and efforts of others. Authors should adhere to reporting guidelines when presenting their work in order to give a clear and complete account of the work that was done. This allows readers and other researchers to fully understand the research, so that the insights gained can be used most effectively by others to continue to grow the collective body of knowledge.
AOJ: How do you make time to write out of a packed schedule?
Joseph: Throughout training, I’ve always tried to set aside small chunks of time each week dedicated to working on scientific writing. This can sometimes be hard to do, and during especially busy weeks, the amount of time spent writing that week may seem small. However, I’ve found that when this is done consistently, week after week, the cumulative results can be great.
(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)
Whisper Grayson
Whisper Grayson, MD, graduated from the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and recently completed a research fellowship with the adult reconstruction team at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. Her research has primarily been focused on joint arthroplasty and fracture management. Notable previous projects during medical school include a prospective trial evaluating the efficacy of topical antibiotic powder in the ED on reducing infection in open fractures, which won Orthopaedic Trauma Association highlight paper in 2022, as well as infection recurrence in shoulder arthroplasty, winner of the 2024 Charles S. Neer Award. More recently, her interests have shifted towards the applications of nanotechnology within orthopaedic surgery, especially in the areas of cartilage regeneration and fracture healing. She is applying for residency in orthopaedic surgery with plans of having an academic career in orthopaedic trauma where she will work clinically as well as continue conducting research. Follow Dr. Grayson on Research Gate.
A good academic paper, in Dr. Grayson’s view, is centered on a focused and well-defined research question that offers novel insight into its field. The paper should follow a logical structure with strong, reproducible methodology, tying in current literature.
According to Dr. Grayson, a commonly encountered difficulty in academic writing is translating the clinical importance of a topic based off of the data collected during the study. To offset this difficulty, having an in-depth understanding of the topic and a clear research question from the inception of the project is essential. This allows for a well-developed methodology and robust statistical analysis, as well as creating a timeline sufficient to collect the necessary data and sample size. Taking these steps allows for the statistical relevance of the project to be more easily translated into clinical relevance.
Dr. Grayson believes that academic writing has the ability to transform ideas into structured and persuasive arguments, holding the potential to improve patient care in the clinical setting. Academic writing extends beyond just presenting facts, requiring critical thinking to construct meaningful findings with evidence-based research. Research and academic writing aids heavily in improving patient outcomes and further advancing medicine. “As a student, I had the opportunities to see my research in action clinically, further imparting the potential it holds in optimizing patient care. As such, I look forward to continuing my research endeavors throughout the rest of my training and career,” says she.
(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)