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: Robert A. Arciero, MD

Affiliation: University of Connecticut Health

Years in practice: 32 years

How did you begin reviewing for other journals and for JBJS in particular?

I was asked by editors and/or associate editors because of my interests in shoulder and knee injuries in sports medicine.

What is your top piece of advice for those reviewers who aspire to reach Elite status?

It may sound trite, but the reviewer must read the manuscript thoroughly and reflect on each aspect of the purpose, hypothesis, methods, results, and conclusion. Each section should be approached with a serious number of “why”s.

I think it is important that the reviewer have some command of the published literature on the particular topic and be willing to review that literature to review or comment on the manuscript.

Reviewing is a tedious process and takes time. It takes me routinely 1 to 2 hours to review properly.

Aside from orthopaedic manuscripts, what have you been reading lately?

I have been reading a lot about the Greatest Generation lately and biographies on some of my sports heroes — Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle etc. I also practice a lot of guitar.

Learn more about the JBJS Elite Reviewers program.

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: Jeffery L. Stambough, MD, MBA

Affiliation: TriHealth Orthopedic and Sports Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio

Years in practice: 34 years

How did you begin reviewing for other journals and for JBJS in particular?

When I was a resident, my chairman, Carl T. Brighton, MD, encouraged us to get involved in orthopaedics and to give back. After my North American traveling fellowship, the late Dan Spengler, MD contacted me and, in the discussion, I asked to be involved in the fledgling Journal of Spinal Disorders. This was my first foray into the peer review process. 

What I learned from this experience is that if you want to get involved, just ask.  After gaining experience with spine journals, I volunteered to be a reviewer for JBJS. I have now been a reviewer for JBJS for about 20 years. More recently I have gotten more involved because I’ve been asked to do so.

The bottom line is that if you’re interested, fair-minded and committed, there’s an opportunity to become a peer reviewer specifically with JBJS. Just ask.

What is your top piece of advice for those reviewers who aspire to reach Elite status?

Be willing. While there may be a few perks, the bottom line is that you are interested and committed enough to do a good job. This includes but is not limited to being timely with your feedback, following a few basic rules and guidelines, and reviewing whatever you’re asked to as thoroughly as possible.

Aside from orthopaedic manuscripts, what have you been reading lately?

I frequently read The Bible.

Learn more about the JBJS Elite Reviewers program.

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: Donald D. Anderson, PhD [most people call me by my nickname, “Don.”]

Affiliation: Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Years in practice: I am a full-time academic researcher, having completed my PhD in December 1989, which I guess means that I have “been in practice” for about 30 years now.

How did you begin reviewing for other journals and for JBJS in particular?

I began accepting requests to review manuscripts immediately after finishing up my PhD. Over the years, the number of journals that rely on my reviewing talents has increased. Somewhere along the way, JBJS started reaching out, and saying “yes” to that invitation was a pretty easy decision.

What is your top piece of advice for those reviewers who aspire to reach Elite status?

Be generous with your time, especially when the manuscript you’re referred is from your area of expertise and the study sounds interesting. It is okay to say “no” on occasion, but try to make that the exception. Then set a reminder for when the review is due and find a few hours to give it your full attention. Don’t sweat grammatical issues. Just tackle the big picture and technical points that occur to you.

Aside from orthopaedic manuscripts, what have you been reading lately?

I hate to admit it, but I read so much at work lately, that I don’t do much personal reading. However, as an engineer, I do complement my “orthopaedic manuscript” review work with comparable effort in the biomechanical engineering literature.

Learn more about the JBJS Elite Reviewers program.

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: Grant L. Jones, MD

Affiliation: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Years in practice: 21 years

How did you begin reviewing for other journals and for JBJS in particular?

I first received an invitation to review articles for AJSM from a colleague I knew well.  Then through my contacts reviewing articles for AJSM, I started to receive invitations to review for JBJS.

What is your top piece of advice for those reviewers who aspire to reach Elite status?

Always accept articles to review, unless you have significant time constraints from travel or other educational activities.  If you are unable to review an article, give a detailed explanation why you are unable.  Take a significant amount of time at first when reviewing articles, as the authors have put a lot of time and thought into writing them.   Treat each article with respect. After reviewing several articles, one becomes more efficient and less time is required to review them.   Closely follow JBJS reviewer guidelines that are sent with the review invitations.  These guidelines really help you organize your reviews.   Provide constructive comments. Overly negative reviews without constructive suggestions are not helpful for the authors.  Finally, be punctual.  Start working on a review within a day or two of receiving it.  Otherwise the review loses priority and keeps on getting pushed down the to-do list, creating a situation where the reviewer has to rush to get it done to meet the deadline.

Aside from orthopaedic manuscripts, what have you been reading lately?

Other than reading JBJS, AJSM, and JSES, I read the local and national papers daily to keep up with current events.

Learn more about the JBJS Elite Reviewers program.

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: Eeric Truumees, MD

Affiliation: University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School / Ascension Seton Brain & Spine Institute, Austin, Texas

Years in practice: 20

How did you begin reviewing for other journals and for JBJS in particular?

The first part of my career was spent in a “privademic” setting.  I saw peer review as a means of keeping up with the latest ideas in orthopaedic surgery (and spine surgery in particular).  These reviews, while time consuming, both felt rewarding and were a solid contribution to the larger field.  Since then, I have served several journals, including at the Deputy Editor level. The chance to serve at JBJS is a great honor.

What is your top piece of advice for those reviewers who aspire to reach Elite status?

First, your reviews should be systematic.  There are lots of guides available, but you have to find a system that works well for you.  Once you do, your reviews will both offer more value for the authors and editors and become more efficient to perform.  Know your bandwidth and respond quickly whether you are able to provide the review or not.  Then, as with anything, a big part of success lies in being reliable.

Aside from orthopaedic manuscripts, what have you been reading lately?

As someone with an interest in healthcare re-design and working in the highly contentious field of spine surgery, I have been reading books on program building, leadership, and other business topics.

Learn more about the JBJS Elite Reviewers program.

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: Keith M. Baumgarten, MD.         

Affiliation: Orthopedic Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Years in practice: 14 years

How did you begin reviewing for other journals and for JBJS in particular?

When I began practice, I contacted the journal and volunteered to be a reviewer.  I believe that reviewing for journals is a service that we can provide to the orthopaedic community.  In addition, reviewing has helped me stay up to date in maintaining my orthopaedic knowledge base and has allowed me to become a better author as well.

What is your top piece of advice for those reviewers who aspire to reach Elite status?

My advice is two-fold. First, it is important to understand that an author’s research and submitted manuscript can often be very dear to them.  They have invested countless hours in developing, performing, and writing their research.  This should be recognized so that we spend the appropriate time understanding their manuscript, determining its place in the orthopaedic literature, and providing an unbiased review.  Second, it is important to provide this review in a timely manner.  Authors often have to wait weeks or months to determine the status of their submission, and we as reviewers should try to minimize this.

Aside from orthopaedic manuscripts, what have you been reading lately?

The last three books I have read are Start With Why by Simon Sinek, Football for a Buck:  The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL by Jeff Pearlman, and On Desperate Ground: The Marines at The Reservoir, the Korean War’s Greatest Battle by Hampton Sides.

Learn more about the JBJS Elite Reviewers program.

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: Dominik C. Meyer, Prof. Dr. Med.

Affiliation: Balgrist Orthopaedic University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland

Years in practice: 20 years

How did you begin reviewing for other journals and for JBJS in particular?

By introduction through my mentor, teacher, and chief Prof., Christian Gerber

What is your top piece of advice for those reviewers who aspire to reach Elite status?

Try to put yourself into the position of both the reader and author at the same time, and handle the manuscript with the according care and respect.

Aside from orthopaedic manuscripts, what have you been reading lately?

Instruction manuals for my 3D printing software

Learn more about the JBJS Elite Reviewers program.