JBJS is pleased to highlight our Elite Reviewers. The Elite Reviewers Program recognizes our best reviewers for their outstanding efforts. All JBJS reviewers help us maintain the highest standards for quality orthopaedic publishing.
Name: Scott Rodeo, M.D.
Affiliation:
Co-Chief Emeritus, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service
Vice Chair of Orthopaedic Research
Co-Director, Orthopaedic Soft Tissue Research Program
Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon, The Hospital for Special Surgery
Head Team Physician, New York Giants Football
Years in practice: 22
How did you begin reviewing for other journals and for JBJS in particular?
I expressed interest to journal editors on the advice of my mentors at The Hospital for Special Surgery.
What is your top piece of advice for those reviewers who aspire to reach Elite status?
Take an active interest in reviewing. Understand that this is a privilege. It is work, but it is very important work. Realize that reviewing helps you abreast of certain specialty areas – this helps you to be a thought leader in the field. Take that responsibility seriously. You know the effort that you put into your own manuscripts – recognize that authors have done the same and they deserve a thoughtful and careful review.
Realize that virtually no other profession advances and changes as rapidly as medicine, and the pace of knowledge production continues to increase. Such continued advances require and demand that we are “stewards” of the constantly expanding knowledge base, and this all starts with publications. Encourage your trainees (residents, fellows) to become true “students” of orthopaedics – encourage them to develop an on-going curiosity for the field. Develop a passion for a certain sub-specialty – become a content expert in that area, which will make you an excellent and valued reviewer. This approach has numerous benefits: it is one of the best ways to avoid “burn-out”, it keeps one engaged over the years, it makes you a better physician/surgeon, and it allows you to be a contributing member to our field.
Aside from orthopaedic manuscripts, what have you been reading lately?
I read the journal Cytotherapy, which is the official journal of the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy. I also read Nature. Reading these journals provides a window into other, diverse areas of medicine and basic research, and it also helps me understand the current state of the art related to “biologics”, cell therapy, gene therapy, etc. in other areas of medicine.
Learn more about the JBJS Elite Reviewers program.
