JBJS is pleased once again 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:
Peter O. Newton, MD
Affiliation:
Rady Children’s Hospital, University of California, San Diego
Years in practice: 25
How did you begin reviewing for other journals and for JBJS in particular?
I have been reviewing articles for as long as I can remember. If you submit papers for publication, I believe there is a duty to participate in the review process.
What is your top piece of advice for those reviewers who aspire to reach Elite status?
Drop your own biases and beliefs and review the paper based on science. It’s too easy to be critical of findings that don’t align with your own concepts, and vice versa, to give credence to poorly done studies that confirm your own beliefs.
Give the paper a quick read, then go back and provide the detailed review and critique needed to make the paper better (assuming there are not fatal flaws in the methods). The review process can absolutely enhance the quality of the manuscript. I know my own submitted papers have been improved by thoughtful critical reviews, and I hope I have helped others in the same way.
Critical does not mean condescending; there is no place for such language in the review process. Say “no” to a review request you can’t handle and get the ones you say “yes” to done on time. Know how long it takes to do the job well and be sure you have time before saying yes.
Aside from orthopaedic manuscripts, what have you been reading lately?
Do emails count?
Learn more about the JBJS Elite Reviewers program.