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:
David Ring
Affiliation:
Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Years in practice: 20
How did you begin reviewing for other journals and for JBJS in particular?
I’ve been involved in research since medical school, helped my mentors such as Jesse Jupiter with reviews, and was given opportunities to review starting in residency.
What is your top piece of advice for those reviewers who aspire to reach Elite status?
Get curious. Each study tells a story. First about the author’s values and concerns and how they arrived at their question. Then about the scientific methods employed. And whether the data and analysis are helpful to you and your patients.
Take it seriously and be generous. Most orthopedic research is done by volunteers that want to make a difference. Be generous and constructive in your assessments. Also, realize that if there is an error or misinterpretation there is a potential for harm. Start with a set of base principles for health and make sure the manuscript meets up with those.
Reviewing is a civic duty that makes me a better scientist. I learn so much from reviewing.
Aside from orthopaedic manuscripts, what have you been reading lately?
After finishing White Fragility, I moved on to The Broken Heart of America. As a white male I have privilege and it’s helpful to know that privilege came from violence and by design. I want to do my part to undo that and make amends. I’m also reading The Social Animal, one of many bestselling books that serve as instruction manuals for your mind. The gist is that the unconscious and irrational are more impactful than the rational. My favorite in this genre is The Invisible Gorilla.
Learn more about the JBJS Elite Reviewers program.