In 2025, 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 (2025)

Preeti Farmah, City of Hope, USA

Diana Encalada-Soto, The University of South Florida, USA

Nikolay Semenov, Moscow Clinical Scientific Center, Russia

David Renton, East Hospital, USA

Kar Yin Fok, Sydney Adventist Hospital, Australia

Michail Koutentakis, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland

Takahiro Hiratsuka, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Japan

Outstanding Author

Preeti Kodavanti Farmah

Preeti Farmah is currently a breast surgical oncology fellow at City of Hope. She is focused on exploring clinical research in breast cancer care. Her research interests include de-escalation of axillary surgery in early-stage breast cancer and evaluating the effectiveness of regional blocks in peri-operative pain control following mastectomy. She actively collaborated with physicians at Hawassa University in Ethiopia to develop an institution-based cancer registry. This initiative aimed to analyze cancer trends, expand data collection to private and regional centers, and ultimately establish a population-based registry. As a left-handed surgeon, Dr. Farmah has faced unique challenges in her training, especially with the predominance of right-handed instruments and mentors. This experience has motivated her to raise awareness about this underrepresented minority in the surgical community, with the goal of creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all surgeons, regardless of handedness.

Dr. Farmah considers a good academic paper to be one that is not only clear and understandable, it should also be supported by rigorous data from well-conducted research trials and peer-reviewed studies, ensuring that the findings are credible and impactful. Beyond presenting facts, the paper should provide insightful analysis into the strengths and deficiencies of care related to the topic, highlighting areas where improvements can be made. Importantly, it should also open the door to further research, either by identifying unanswered questions or suggesting new avenues for exploration. A truly valuable paper contributes not only to current knowledge but also to the ongoing evolution of the field.

According to Dr. Farmah, common difficulties in academic writing include time constraints and poor time management, which hinder progress. A lack of research education can make structuring ideas challenging, while finding relevant papers to support unique arguments can be difficult, especially for less-explored topics. These challenges require effective planning, continuous learning, and persistence in sourcing appropriate references.

“What I find fascinating about academic writing is the opportunity it provides to raise awareness and highlight important research interests. It’s a platform to share insights and contribute to the broader academic conversation. Additionally, academic writing allows for continuous improvement, as receiving peer-reviewed feedback helps refine writing skills and enhance the clarity and impact of one’s work,” says Dr. Farmah.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Diana Encalada-Soto

Dr. Diana Encalada-Soto is a fellowship-trained minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon and an Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida. Her clinical practice focuses on complex gynecologic surgeries for endometriosis, fibroids, and chronic pelvic pain. She practices at Tampa General Hospital, home to the only regional Center of Excellence in endometriosis care, where she has received the Surgeon of Excellence certification. She is committed to improving outcomes for patients with complex gynecologic conditions. Her research interests center on endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and advancements in complex gynecologic surgery.

In Dr. Encalada-Soto’s view, a strong academic paper begins with a clear research question, often framed using the PICOS structure (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, Study Design). Early team discussions and diverse perspectives can enrich the study design and analysis. Additionally, seeking feedback from a wide range of sources helps refine the manuscript and strengthens its overall quality.

Dr. Encalada-Soto believes that consistency is key to preparing writing. Working on a manuscript in shorter, regular intervals can help maintain momentum without leading to burnout. Stepping away from the writing for a day or two and returning with fresh eyes often reveals areas for improvement and strengthens the final draft.

Lastly, Dr. Encalada-Soto would like to say a few words to encourage other academic writers, “Pick a topic or area you truly care about—something you want to be known for. That passion will carry you through the tough moments. Academic writing has its ups and downs, but even the smallest steps forward count. Be persistent, be kind to yourself, and remember: your work matters, even if progress feels slow at times.”

(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)

Nikolay Semenov

Dr. Nikolay Semenov does his clinical and scientific practice in the Moscow Clinical Scientific Center named after A.S. Loginov. During the last 10 years, they have been working on the improvement of gastric cancer diagnosis and treatment. His team created an automated database to collect very detailed data about gastric cancer patients, treatment modalities, and results. The most important directions of development are: the geriatric group with gastric cancer and its features, functional types of reconstruction after partial gastrectomy for cancer, and minimally invasive cancer surgery in general.

In Dr. Semenov’s view, academic writing is an important part of work and practice for any modern doctor. In the age of AI and Big Data, they can easily improve many fields of medical knowledge by collecting, describing, and sharing their real clinical experience. He also tries to encourage his colleagues to create articles even if they are talking about clinical cases because it may influence the deep understanding of many diseases. In an ideal world, all doctors should contribute to scientific development, both in general and within their specific fields of expertise.

Dr. Semenov thinks the person who sends a paper to a journal may try to push through his/her own points of view on a problem, clinical case, or optimal treatment strategy. There are two principal ways to resolve this problem. First of all, they need to have a good team that is sufficient in quantity to provide a detailed check of any paper and material arriving at the journal. The second idea is about a bigger “team”. He emphasizes that the medical community should evolve to establish a framework where authors are accountable to readers by offering unbiased and objective perspectives on any issue or topic.

“I think academic writing itself is an interesting story. When I start to create a paper, I imagine that it is a journey from my hospital to other countries where other specialists already tried to find some answers to my questions. I examine my colleagues' experiences, compare them, and seek improvements for our current practices.It is really inspiring,” says Dr. Semenov.

(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)

David Renton

David Renton attended LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA, then completed his residency in General Surgery at University of Alabama at Birmingham. He then went to The Ohio State University and completed the Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship. He now leads the East Hospital as Chief of Surgery and Associate Chief Quality Officer for Perioperative Services. His practice has changed over the last decade, and he now predominantly performs robotic surgery with an emphasis on foregut, hernia, and abdominal wall reconstruction. His research focuses on patient outcomes, with several hernia projects ongoing.

In Dr. Renton’s view, a good academic paper not only has to be well-structured and thought out, but can also add to the care of patients or practice. If a surgeon reads a paper and it changes what he/she does in practice before, during or after the OR, then that is a good paper. He adds that study design that actually measures the outcome desired without confounding factors is the key to academic writing.

“The wide variety of subjects covered is what is so fascinating about academic writing. From ergonomics for the surgeon, to device studies, to different analgesic options, there is never a lack of things to look at,” says Dr. Renton.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Kar Yin Fok

Dr. Kar Yin Fok is a general and colorectal surgeon in Sydney, Australia. She graduated from the University of New South Wales with Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Science (Medicine) Honors, and holds a Master of Surgery from the University of Sydney. She completed her surgical training in western Sydney and was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2020. She then undertook subspecialty training with fellowships in acute surgery and colorectal surgery, followed by the two-year Australia and New Zealand Training Board in Colon and Rectal Surgery (ANZTBCRS) training program at Westmead Hospital and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Her clinical interests span all aspects of colorectal surgery, with a special focus in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. Dr. Fok is currently completing a robotics fellowship at Sydney Adventist Hospital. She is actively involved in surgical education and research, and enjoys teaching medical students as a Clinical Senior Lecturer with the Australian National University.

ALES: How to ensure one’s writing is critical?

Dr. Fok: I think one of the ways to ensure one’s writing is critical is to really examine all the available literature and compare the findings and analysis to this. It is important to consider multiple perspectives and alternative explanations and discuss this with the evidence obtained, free from bias. All manner of works should be evaluated and one should be prepared to question and scrutinize published findings and one’s own. Finally, it is important to be able to communicate one’s perspective with clarity and logical reasoning, supported with evidence.

ALES: Academic writing takes a lot of time and effort. What motivates you to do so?

Dr. Fok: Good academic writing is the culmination of hard work and critical thinking. It may be a collaborative effort with multiple revisions, and is a process that requires focus and determination. What drives me is the opportunity to further share our collective knowledge so that ultimately when I am discussing with my patients, I can give them the best evidence and treatments available. At the end of the day, we strive for better patient outcomes and research allows us to do that. It can be exciting when a practice changing paper is published or there is a paradigm shift due to a landmark study, as it shows medicine is constantly changing and there are new ways to improve the care of our patients. This is the combined effort of the scientific community and I enjoy being able to contribute to that.

ALES: Is it important for authors to disclose Conflict of Interest (COI)?

Dr. Fok: Yes, it is vitally important to disclose COIs in research. A COI can affect the integrity of research performed. It may influence research at any stage starting with the research question or study design. It may impact reported results, conclusions drawn and ultimately the advice we give to patients, for example. A COI affecting researcher’s impartiality or judgement can erode trust and public confidence in the research overall, something to be mindful of always. Therefore, COI should always be disclosed, for transparency and accountability.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Michail Koutentakis

Dr. Michail Koutentakis is a Greek medical doctor and a PhD candidate at the Medical University of Warsaw. His academic work focuses on emerging technologies in surgery, with particular interest in robotics, artificial intelligence, and personalized approaches to upper gastrointestinal procedures. Alongside this, he conducts research in non-coding RNAs, multiomics, metabolic health, human physiology, and sports medicine, contributing to a broader understanding of how molecular and physiological markers influence performance and disease. He has been recognized with multiple distinctions, including competitive doctoral scholarships and the prestigious INTERSTUDENT 2025 Award as the first Laureate from his university, honoring his academic excellence, research achievements, and international engagement. He collaborates on international research initiatives through the Robotic Global Surgical Society (TROGSS) and serves as a video editor for the Obesity Surgery (OBSU) Journal, supporting high-quality surgical education. Dr. Koutentakis has also held leadership roles in InciSioN Global, Association of Academic Global Surgery (AAGS), Project IMG, and IMG Unity, contributing to mentorship, educational development, and health-equity advocacy. Connect with him on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.

ALES: What are the most commonly encountered difficulties in academic writing?

Dr. Koutentakis: One of the main challenges is expressing complex ideas in a way that remains clear, structured, and meaningful. But beyond the writing itself, collaboration can often be the most difficult part. Coordinating a manuscript across different schedules, time zones, and levels of availability requires patience. Responses may come late, tasks may be completed at the last minute, and the overall progress can slow down despite everyone’s best intentions. Navigating these dynamics while maintaining the quality and coherence of a paper is not always easy. Finally, the revision process, both individually and within a team, can be demanding. It requires openness, consistency, and the willingness to refine the work multiple times so that the final manuscript truly represents the best effort of everyone involved.

ALES: The burden of being a scientist/doctor is heavy. How do you allocate time to write papers?

Dr. Koutentakis: For me, writing becomes manageable when I treat it as part of the scientific process rather than an additional task. I try to write in small, consistent blocks of time throughout the week, instead of waiting for long, uninterrupted periods, which rarely exist. Clear outlines help me focus, and breaking a manuscript into smaller steps prevents it from feeling overwhelming. I also protect dedicated writing time the same way I do with lab work, research meetings, or study commitments. This approach keeps the process steady, and balanced.

ALES: What is fascinating about academic writing?

Dr. Koutentakis: What fascinates me most about academic writing is the way it transforms scattered ideas, observations, and data into a coherent story that can contribute to a much larger scientific conversation. The process encourages me to pause and think more deeply about what the results truly mean, how they connect to existing knowledge, and what new insights they might offer. In doing so, I often gain a clearer and more thoughtful understanding of the work itself. I also find it inspiring that a manuscript has a life beyond the place where it was created, it can reach people in different countries, spark new questions, influence clinical thinking, or motivate someone to explore a topic further. There is a sense of continuity and shared purpose in knowing that the effort you put into writing becomes part of a collective journey in science. That feeling of contributing, even in a small way, to the progress of a field is what makes academic writing genuinely meaningful for me.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Takahiro Hiratsuka

Takahiro Hiratsuka, MD, PhD, is a gastrointestinal surgeon and clinical researcher at the Department of Gastroenterological and Pediatric Surgery and the Department of Comprehensive Surgery and Community Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan. His clinical practice focuses on colorectal cancer surgery and minimally invasive approaches for obstructive colorectal cancer. His research centers on self-expandable metal stents (SEMS), particularly the development and evaluation of covered colorectal stents as bridge-to-surgery strategies. His recent work investigates how mechanical stress generated by stent expansion influences tumor biology, tumor budding, and the tumor microenvironment. By integrating clinical outcomes, translational biology, and medical engineering, he aims to clarify the oncological safety of stenting and optimize treatment strategies for malignant colorectal obstruction. Hiratsuka is also engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations in medical device innovation and sustainable surgical systems, including research on environmentally responsible operating rooms and endoscopy units. These efforts advance engineering innovation for safer cancer treatment.

Dr. Hiratsuka believes that a strong academic paper starts with an important and clearly defined scientific or clinical question. It should present a well-structured hypothesis, employ appropriate methodology, and provide results that contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the field. Beyond novelty, a strong paper clearly explains how its findings advance existing knowledge or clinical practice. Transparency in methodology and reproducibility of results are essential, allowing readers to critically evaluate the validity of the conclusions. He thinks that a good academic paper is one that not only reports findings but also stimulates further scientific inquiry and contributes to improving patient care.

From Dr. Hiratsuka’s perspective, avoiding bias begins at the stage of study design. Clearly defined hypotheses, pre-specified outcomes, and appropriate statistical methods help maintain objectivity throughout the research process. In writing, it is important to present results transparently, including findings that may not support the initial hypothesis. Acknowledging limitations is equally essential. Collaboration with co-authors and constructive feedback from peer reviewers also play a critical role, as they help identify perspectives and potential biases that a single researcher may overlook. Maintaining intellectual honesty and openness to critique is fundamental to producing balanced scientific writing.

“Scientific progress is built upon the dedication and persistence of researchers around the world. The process of research and publication is often challenging, and setbacks such as rejected manuscripts or unexpected results are part of the journey. However, every careful observation and thoughtful analysis contributes to the collective advancement of knowledge. By sharing our findings openly and engaging in constructive scientific dialogue, we strengthen the foundation of future discoveries. I encourage fellow researchers to continue their efforts with curiosity, integrity, and collaboration, as their work ultimately shapes the future of medicine and science,” says Dr. Hiratsuka.

(by Sasa Zhu, Brad Li)