In 2022, many AOJ reviewers make outstanding contributions to the peer review process. They demonstrated professional effort and enthusiasm in their reviews and provided comments that genuinely help the authors to enhance their work.
Hereby, we would like to highlight some of our outstanding reviewers, with a brief interview of their thoughts and insights as a reviewer. Allow us to express our heartfelt gratitude for their tremendous effort and valuable contributions to the scientific process.
February, 2022
Martin Sarungi, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, UK
August, 2022
Tomoki Ohori, Osaka University, Japan
February, 2022
Martin Sarungi
Dr. Martin Sarungi, MD, PhD, FRCS, is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, the UK. He joined the Orthopaedic Department of the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in 2005. He also served as the Clinical Lead of Orthopaedics from 2011-2014. Prior to joining the department, he spent a number of years training in Budapest, London and Switzerland. He completed his AO/ASIF Fellowship and his hip/knee fellowship in Switzerland with Prof. P. E. Ochsner in Liestal. His research interests include biomechanical in-vitro analysis of implant migration and wear, and outcome assessment analysis in lower limb arthroplasty. He has published several peer-reviewed publications about lower limb arthroplasty, wrote a book chapter on total hip replacement and has approximately 460 independent citations in peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Sarungi believes that a reviewer should possess several qualities, such as curiosity, impartiality, appetite to learn new things in one’s field, dedication and humility for his/her profession, and also discipline to complete the reviews on time.
Dr. Sarungi points out that it is very important that authors follow reporting guidelines (e.g., STROBE and PRISMA). This helps standardize their work when comparing different publications in different journals. To him, there is a drive-in standardization in almost every part in our life, and this should also apply to producing qualified publications.
As a reviewer, Dr. Sarungi could have unique insight of the latest research material in his profession and the special field, which he finds very interesting and professionally stimulating. He also reckons that one has an obligation to give back to his/her profession, and peer reviewing is a great example of that. He explains, “By taking part in peer reviews, one can contribute and shape of the future of our profession. It is also important however that those who do peer reviews are recognized and rewarded.”
(By Lareina Lim, Brad Li)
August, 2022
Tomoki Ohori
Dr. Tomoki Ohori (MD, PhD) is an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. He is engaged in clinical practice as an orthopaedic surgeon and the Chief of Sports, Arthroscopic and Knee Surgery Clinic as well. His research area is biomechanics of the knee joint including the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), meniscus and articular cartilage. He is also engaged in the biomechanical research of the ligaments of the ankle joint and the biological research of the progression of the remodelling (maturation) process after ACL reconstruction or the healing process after meniscus repair. Recently, Dr. Ohori’s research activities are focused on the acceleration of return to sports activity after ACL reconstruction or meniscus repair by developing a more rigid fixation product (hybrid regenerative ligament or adhesive repair device).
In Dr. Ohori’s opinion, the peer review process in science is essential to ensure the integrity and reliability of the research work by reflecting the critical assessments of various researchers. If an objective, fair and transparent peer review was conducted, potential ambiguity or mistake involved in a research work could be removed and the quality of the research would be guaranteed. He further shares his own experience, “In my review process, I try to read numerous papers on similar research studies as references, and criticize the manuscript objectively and honestly as much as possible.”
From a reviewer’s perspective, Dr. Ohori believes that disclosure of Conflict of Interest (COI) related to the study is important. COIs can greatly influence the credibility of research work as the existence of research work leading to product development is inevitable.
“Peer review is fundamental to research activities because thorough and careful review works must contribute to the development and progress of the science,” says Dr. Ohori.
(By Brad Li, Alisa Lu)
