In 2024, ASJ reviewers continue to 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.
May, 2024
Jose Palacios Leon, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru
May, 2024
Jose Palacios Leon
Dr. Jose Manuel Palacios Leon graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM) in Lima, Peru in 2001, and completed his residency in General Surgery at the Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen National Hospital (HNGAI) (2003-2006) and Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Lima Heart Institute (2006-2009). He obtained a master degree in Medicine and Management in Health Services. Currently, he is an undergraduate professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the UNMSM and a tutor of residents in the Faculties of Medicine at the UNMSM and the Ricardo Palma University. He is also a member of APTOT, ISHLT, ALAT, Head of Thoracic Surgery and the Lung Transplant Program of the HNGAI, and also works at the San Felipe Clinic. His fields of specialization are Lung Transplantation, Airway Surgery, Lung Cancer and Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery. Learn more about him here.
Dr. Leon believes that reviewers must evaluate several key aspects when reviewing an article. First, scientific quality is essential. Reviewers must analyze whether the methodology is sound, whether the data are well presented, and whether the conclusions are consistent with the results. Second, the originality of the study is important. Reviewers should verify whether the work brings something new to the field. In addition, reviewers must ensure that the article follows ethical principles regarding the treatment of human or animal subjects. Third, the clarity and precision of the language is another crucial aspect, because a good article must be well written and easy for readers to follow. Fourth, reviewers must review the clinical or scientific relevance of the work, making sure that the conclusions have an impact on the field studied. Fifth, it is essential that reviewers act in an impartial and objective manner, providing constructive criticism that helps improve the articles rather than simply pointing out the errors. In addition, reviewers must maintain confidentiality throughout the review process.
“The burden of research and medical work can be quite heavy. Combining patient care with research, teaching and other responsibilities requires careful planning but it is rewarding. As for peer review of scientific papers, I usually try to allocate specific blocks of time in my schedule for this activity, outside of hours of medical care or active research. Peer review is an essential part of advancing science, as it helps to ensure the quality and credibility of published research. While it can be challenging to fit this task into a busy schedule, it's the responsibility reviewers embrace because they understand its impact on our scientific community. The review process for me is an opportunity for learning and improvement, since, by analyzing the work of others, I can apply new approaches and knowledge to my daily work,” says Dr. Leon.
(by Lareina Lim, Brad Li)
