In 2024, PM 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.
February, 2024
Kaja Giżewska-Kacprzak, Pomeranian Medical University, Poland
September, 2024
Aude Aguilaniu, University of Liège, Belgium
February, 2024
Kaja Giżewska-Kacprzak
Kaja Giżewska-Kacprzak is a Pediatric Surgery Consultant and Hand Surgeon FEBHS. She is also Head of the Department of Pediatric and Oncological Surgery, Urology and Hand Surgery at Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland. Dedicated herself to hand surgery with an emphasis on pediatric hand trauma and congenital hand differences as well as general pediatric surgery minimally invasive surgery and newborn surgery, Dr. Giżewska-Kacprzak is devoted to implementing the most up-to-date surgical techniques in the pediatric population. She is actively involved in dedicated public ambulatory for children with congenital and traumatic hand conditions with continuous general surgical care at the department. She is also a researcher, academic lecturer, congress presenter and active member of international and scientific societies. She promotes the benefits of multidisciplinary approach for the best treatment perspectives of both common and rare pediatric conditions that require surgical interventions.
As a self-controlling tool of the scientific field, Dr. Giżewska-Kacprzak reckons that the most important aspect of a peer review is a combination of unbiased ethics with expertise in the field.
According to Dr. Giżewska-Kacprzak, reviewers should be fair to their fellow research colleagues that are being reviewed. A review should enrich the experience of the sending authors and give a better-quality manuscript to the readers. The rules of good research methodology should be expected from the authors so readers can learn good practices from the papers they read.
“Peer reviewing should be based on honest devotion to improvement of the surrounding world including the scientific society. As a reviewer, my motivation is to make a positive change,” says Dr. Giżewska-Kacprzak.
(by Lareina Lim, Brad Li)
September, 2024
Aude Aguilaniu
Aude Aguilaniu is a post-doctoral researcher working on the Interreg Meuse-Rhine Blue Zone project at the University of Liège, Belgium. She is also actively involved in the Healthy Active project at the Luxembourg Institute of Research in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, and Science (LIROMS). After earning her degree as a sports physiotherapist and gaining field experience, she pursued a PhD focused on ankle sprains, a field she continues to research alongside her other professional activities. Her publications can be accessed on the institutional website. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Dr. Aguilaniu reckons that peer review is essential for ensuring that the evaluation of an article is as unbiased and objective as possible. It provides an independent and critical assessment by experts in the field, who can identify nuances and potential issues that others might overlook. The overall quality and credibility of a scientific article can be accurately determined by reviewers who have the experience and knowledge to scrutinize its content thoroughly.
Dr. Aguilaniu advocates reviewers to review papers as they would want their own work to be reviewed: with fairness, genuine interest, care, and honesty. Also, she believes reviewers should strive to provide constructive feedback that helps authors improve their work, maintain a balanced approach, and be mindful of the responsibility they carry as a gatekeeper of quality in one’s field.
Lastly, Dr. Aguilaniu would like to say a few words to other reviewers, “While peer review may initially seem time-consuming, it is a rewarding process that benefits you as well. By participating, you gain valuable perspective and insight, strengthen your critical thinking skills, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of research in your field. Your dedication plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and progress of scientific inquiry.”
(by Lareina Lim, Brad Li)
