In 2024, many ALES 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)

Melody Feng, Western Health, Australia

Karen M. Doersch, University of Rochester Medical Center, USA

J. Joshua Smith, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA

Outstanding Author

Melody Feng

Melody Feng is a recent graduate of Monash University School of Medicine, and is currently a PGY1 (post-graduate year 1) on Emergency Medicine rotation in Western Health, Melbourne, Australia. She is currently focused on the clinical aspects of her career but has plans to delve back into academia/ research further into her career, with a focus on surgery.

A good academic paper, according to Melody, should possess a couple of key qualities: 1) a relevant and thorough literature review to evaluate the existing body of knowledge pertaining to a specific research interest/ topic; 2) demonstrate clear contributions to the current understanding of a specific topic/ research interest; and 3) conciseness and clear communication to convey key ideas to the audience.

In Melody’s opinion, an academic author should possess the following key qualities: 1) diligence and attention to detail to ensure comprehensive writing; 2) humility – To be aware of potential shortcomings in one’s own work and a willingness to address them by seeking advice from peers; and 3) have a clear goal of what they wish to communicate with their respective readers.

“ALES is a well-respected journal within the field of surgery, and we felt our case report established a clear contribution to the current knowledge of anastomotic complications and should reach as many readers as possible with similar interests. The case report was written under the guidance of Colorectal surgeons Dr. Christopher Steen and A/Prof. Stephen Bell, whose mentorship was invaluable. The decision to publish with ALES was made under their guidance,” says Melody.

(by Brad Li, Alisa Lu)

Karen M. Doersch

Karen Doersch, MD, PhD, is currently a resident physician in the Department of Urology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York. She is finishing her residency in June 2024 and will be continuing her training as a fellow in Functional and Reconstructive Urology at the University of Colorado. Her clinical interest is in male and female reconstructive urology, especially as it applies to urinary tract strictures and voiding dysfunction. Her research interests are in understanding the immunologic and stromal factors that coordinate fibrosis in the urinary tract. Connect with Dr. Doersch on X and Instagram.

The way Dr. Doersch sees it, academic writing helps clinicians and scientists communicate their research and findings to increase our collective knowledge of the world around us. Writing allows people who would otherwise never meet to communicate ideas and increase the resources available to allow the scientific community to understand scientific and clinical phenomena.

In order to avoid biases in writing, Dr. Doersch points out that it is important to broadly read literature with an open mind. It is also helpful to collaborate with others, especially others of different backgrounds.

“From the beginning of my research career, I have been inspired by so many unique perspectives, experiences, and research studies. It is incredible how quickly our understanding of the world around us changes because of scientists and academically minded individuals who have worked hard to share new ideas,” says Dr. Doersch.

(by Brad Li, Alisa Lu)

J. Joshua Smith

Dr. J. Joshua Smith serves as an Associate Member of the Colorectal Service in the Department of Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). As a surgeon and physician-scientist, he seeks to uncover more precise treatments for each individual rectal and colon cancer patient. He actively cares for patients with rectal, colon, and anal cancer using modern surgical methods in a cutting-edge multidisciplinary setting in New York. He is the co-Chair of the GI Oncology portfolio for the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, the co-chair of the GI Surgery Committee for the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, and is a member of the NCI's Rectal Anal Task Force. He also serves as the Chair and Primary Investigator for the Janus Rectal Cancer Trial, an NCI-approved Phase II/III trial investigating clinical complete response and disease-free survival in patients with rectal cancer through the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, SWOG and NRG Oncology (NCT02008656). He leads an NCI-funded laboratory at MSK, working to understand the molecular underpinnings of disease progression in patients with rectal cancer and to develop individualized disease models facilitating both effective research and precision treatment. He also serves as PI of the T32 Surgical Oncology Training Grant at MSK. Connect with Dr. Smith on X @JoshSmithMDPhD.

There are a few essential elements of a good academic paper, in Dr. Smith’s view. They include: plain, easy-to-understand writing with simple points conveying a clear message for the reader; a short introduction that does not belabor the issues at hand or distract the reader; concise methods that are easy to understand and encourage reproducibility; Results section and figures that are simple and easy to read (at any time of the day) and on any media (phone, laptop or iPad/tablet); and lastly, Discussion section consisting of i) what the authors found, ii) why what they found is important, iii) in what context should we consider the results, iv) strengths/limitations of the study, and v) conclusions.

Science advances rapidly day by day. To ensure his writing is up-to-date, Dr. Smith reads broadly and daily. He reviews at least 3-4 papers/month to stay sharp. On the other hand, he also writes often. And he would discuss papers with colleagues in a journal club on a regular basis.

“Writing is a process. It takes time and devoted effort to become adept at writing an easy-to-understand and effective manuscript. It also takes devoted mentors and advocates who are willing to read and critique your work. I am still working on my writing skills to this day and learn from my current and past mentors every time I write a new paper or abstract. The more you read, write and seek feedback, the better you get!” says Dr. Smith.

(by Brad Li, Alisa Lu)