In 2025, many HBSN authors make outstanding contributions to our journal. Their articles published with us have received very well feedback in the field and stimulate a lot of discussions and new insights among the peers.

Hereby, we would like to highlight some of our outstanding authors who have been making immense efforts in their research fields, with a brief interview of their unique perspective and insightful view as authors.

Outstanding Authors (2025)

Kenei Furukawa, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Japan

Fatima Cody Stanford, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA

Huan-Fang Lee, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

Stylianos Tzedakis, University Paris Cité, France

Danila Capoccia, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Outstanding Author

Kenei Furukawa

Kenei Furukawa currently serves at the Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Japan. His research area is liver resection, especially for colorectal liver metastases and living donor liver transplantation. His recent focus is on interventions and evaluation focusing on osteopenia before hepatectomy.

In Dr. Furukawa’s view, a good academic paper is one that scientifically answers simple questions derived from clinical practice with logical proof gained from basic research, and that is attractive to many readers.

To Dr. Furukawa, the difficulty researchers encounter in academic writing is consulting many references and examining research results logically and from a molecular biological perspective in discussions.

“I believe that doctors are also scientists, so I think that proving something new based on scientific evidence is one of the missions of a doctor in academic writing. I also think that the greatest attraction of academic writing in English is that it has the potential to help not only the patients I meet, but patients all over the world,” says Dr. Furukawa.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Fatima Cody Stanford

Dr. Fatima Stanford is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and one of the first fellowship-trained obesity medicine physicians globally. She is a highly cited physician-scientist with over 250 peer-reviewed publications. She earned her BS and MPH from Emory University, MD from the Medical College of Georgia, MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, and executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology. She completed her residency at the University of South Carolina and a fellowship in Obesity Medicine & Nutrition at MGH/HMS. Her accolades include the AMA Inspirational Physician Award, HMS Amos Diversity Award, and The Obesity Society Clinician of the Year. In 2021, she received the Emory Rollins School of Public Health Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 2022, she was named a Scholar in Diagnostic Excellence by the National Academy of Medicine. She serves on the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Follow Dr. Stanford on LinkedIn, Instagram and her homepage.

HBSN: What are the essential elements of a good academic paper?

Dr. Stanford: A good academic scientific paper begins with a clear and concise title that reflects the main research question. The abstract provides a brief summary of the research question, methodology, results, and conclusions. The introduction offers necessary background, states the research question or hypothesis, and outlines the paper’s objectives. A literature review surveys existing research, highlighting gaps that the study addresses. The methodology details the research design, methods, and procedures for data collection and analysis. Results are presented with tables, figures, and statistical analyses. The discussion interprets these findings, addressing their implications and significance in relation to existing research. A concise conclusion summarizes key findings and suggests areas for further investigation. A comprehensive reference list cites all sources used, formatted in a specific citation style like APA or MLA. Appendices may be included for additional material such as raw data or supplementary information, ensuring a clear and rigorous presentation of the research.

HBSN: What authors have to bear in mind during preparation of a paper?

Dr. Stanford: When preparing a scientific paper on, for example, obesity research, authors should begin with a clear research question or hypothesis that addresses a specific aspect of obesity. This focus guides the study and ensures that the research remains targeted and relevant. Conducting a thorough literature review is crucial to understanding the current state of research, identifying gaps, and positioning the study within the broader scientific context. Methodological rigor is essential; researchers should use robust and appropriate data collection and analysis methodologies, such as precise measurements of body composition, dietary assessments, and statistical analyses that account for confounding variables.

Ethical considerations are paramount, especially when involving human subjects, requiring appropriate approvals from institutional review boards. Data should be presented clearly and accurately, utilizing tables, graphs, and figures to highlight key findings—visual representation can be especially effective in obesity research for illustrating complex data. In discussing findings, authors should interpret them in the context of existing research, highlighting implications for clinical practice, public health, or policy and suggesting directions for future research.

Clarity and precision in writing are vital, as well as avoiding jargon and ensuring that the data support arguments and conclusions. Authors must adhere to their target journal’s specific formatting and submission guidelines, including citation style, word count, and structure. Being prepared for peer review and responding constructively to feedback is also important, as this process can significantly enhance the quality and impact of the paper. Lastly, authors should consider the relevance and potential impact of their research on the field of obesity, ensuring that it contributes valuable insights or advancements. By focusing on these considerations, authors can improve the quality and significance of their scientific papers in obesity research.

HBSN: Why do you choose to publish in HBSN?

Dr. Stanford: Publishing in HBSN offers several advantages, especially if your research intersects with these fields. The journal targets a specialized audience interested in hepatobiliary surgery, nutrition, and related areas, ensuring that your research reaches professionals specifically interested in these topics. If your work in obesity has implications for liver health, metabolic syndrome, or nutritional interventions, this journal provides a relevant platform, as obesity often impacts liver function and nutrition. Known for its high-quality standards, the journal enhances the visibility and credibility of your research. Its interdisciplinary focus encourages collaboration and provides a comprehensive view of issues that benefit from multifaceted approaches. The rigorous peer-review process can improve your paper’s quality through expert feedback. Overall, publishing here allows you to contribute to advancing knowledge in hepatobiliary surgery and nutrition, potentially influencing clinical practices and guiding future research in related areas.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Huan-Fang Lee

Huan-Fang Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing at the College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. Her research focuses on nursing science, with an emphasis on nurse well-being, resilience, and burnout, as well as enhancing the quality of patient care. She is also actively involved in developing and evaluating training programs to improve nursing competence. Her article in the Journal of Nursing Management was the most cited in 2020. Learn more about her on YouTube and her homepage.

To be a successful author, Huan-Fang believes that it requires not merely a single ability, but rather a combination of factors that contribute to success. The required key skills include:

• Deep subject matter expertise: A thorough understanding of the theoretical knowledge, the latest research advancements, and clinical practice within the field is crucial for writing insightful and impactful articles. This requires continuous learning and refinement, maintaining a sharp awareness of new developments in the field.
• Clear logical thinking and analytical skills: A good scientific paper requires a clear structure, rigorous logic, and sufficient evidence. This demands strong analytical skills to present complex research processes and results concisely and understandably to the readers. Proficient data analysis skills are also essential, ensuring correct interpretation and meaningful conclusions.
• Precise communication skills: This encompasses both written and visual communication. The author needs to use precise language to clearly express the research aims, methods, results, and conclusions, avoiding ambiguity. Figures and tables should be used effectively to support, not overshadow, the written text.
• Effective literature review and application skills: All academic research builds upon previous work. Authors must effectively review and select relevant literature, appropriately integrating it into their research to support their arguments and avoid repetition or errors. Correct citation formatting is also paramount.
• Strong time management and self-discipline: Writing a scientific paper demands significant time and effort. Effective time management and self-discipline are essential for timely completion of various stages, including writing, revision, and submission.
• Proactive communication and collaboration skills: Writing often involves teamwork. Strong communication facilitates effective collaboration with research team members, editors, and reviewers to produce high-quality work.

Beyond these skills, she reckons that continuous learning, consistent self-reflection and improvement, and a genuine passion and commitment to research are equally critical. Cultivating these abilities takes time and experience.

“My motivation to write is a blend of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The intellectual stimulation of research and the satisfaction of contributing to the advancement of knowledge are undeniably powerful drivers. However, beyond that, the potential for tangible impact is equally compelling. Seeing my research translated into improved clinical practices or better patient care is extremely rewarding. Recognition, such as this award, also provides further incentive to continue pushing the boundaries of my field,” says Huan-Fang.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Stylianos Tzedakis

Stylianos Tzedakis is a surgeon of Greek origin, currently working in the Department of Hepatobiliary, Digestive and Endocrine Surgery of the Cochin University Hospital in Paris and as an Assistant Professor in the University Paris Cité. His main fields of activity are minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robotic) and open liver and biliary tract surgeries. His research interests include analysis of Big Data and Machine Learning techniques in the field of hepatobiliary surgery and the management of primary and secondary liver tumors. In parallel, he is part of the educational committee of the Grand Paris Surgical Campus, where his activity is centered on the training and evaluation of surgical skills using video and new digital solutions. He is an elected administrative member of the French Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Association and member-at-large of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA). Connect with Dr. Tzedakis on LinkedIn.

HBSN: What role does academic writing play in science?

Dr. Tzedakis: Academic writing is the foundation of scientific communication, ensuring that research findings are systematically documented, critically analyzed, and effectively communicated to the scientific community and across disciplines, thus, fostering collaborative research, cross-pollination of ideas, and the integration of knowledge from multiple fields. It provides a structured platform for researchers to share new findings, theories or methodologies. As such, scientific progress is built upon the foundation of previously published academic work, and without clear, precise, and accessible academic writing, the transmission of knowledge would be hindered.

On the other hand, scientific research must be systematic and replicable for it to hold validity, while transparency is essential for verifying findings, refining methodologies, and generating new insights. It also involves critical thinking to ensure the robustness of scientific arguments, reduce bias, and enhance the credibility of research. Academic writing is much more than a method of presenting research—it is a critical pillar of scientific integrity, innovation, and communication. By adhering to rigorous writing standards, researchers ensure transparency, reproducibility, and the continued progression of scientific knowledge.

Finally, although academic writing is primarily directed at scientists, it also plays a role in translating research into practical applications that benefit society. Well-structured publications can influence policymaking, clinical guidelines, technological advancements, and public health interventions.

HBSN: How to ensure one’s writing is critical?

Dr. Tzedakis: Critical writing is essential in academic and scientific discourse and requires a combination of analytical thinking, structured reasoning, and evidence-based argumentation. To ensure critical writing, one must go beyond merely describing findings and engage in deep analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information. Critical writing involves critically assessing different viewpoints, strengths, and limitations of existing literature, exploring different viewpoints and assessing their validity instead of merely summarizing existing literature. Moreover, strong critical writing should rely on credible evidence rather than personal opinions supported by high-quality sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles including randomized trials, high-quality observational studies, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses. A critical writer should be permenantly asking "why" and "how", going beyond fact description, continuously questioning underlying assumptions, methodologies, and interpretations. Finally, critical writing requires logical progression of ideas, avoiding logical fallacies, contributing to a more rigorous and thoughtful academic discourse. Like all research qualities, critical writing is an evolving skill that researchers refine and develop throughout their careers. By using evidence-based reasoning, questioning assumptions, structuring arguments logically, maintaining precision, and revising rigorously, researchers can ensure that their writing is both critical and impactful.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Danila Capoccia

Dr. Danila Capoccia is an endocrinologist at Sapienza University of Rome and she works in the Diabetes Unit of SM Goretti Hospital in Latin, Italy. Under her postgraduate in Endocrinology and Metabolism Diseases, she has acquired the knowledge related to clinical studies on the metabolism, with a good experience in researching patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, and patients undergoing bariatric surgery. She also has rich experience in managing patients with morbid obesity and has carried out several clinical trials in this area. She received three research grants, from 2016 to 2020, for her research on obesity, bariatric surgery, diabetes and other obesity-related comorbidities. Over the past few years, she has been involved in research on MASLD by noninvasive assessment of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. She is an author and co-author of several publications. Several of her research results have been published and presented in national and international congresses.

HBSN: What are the key skill sets of an author?

Dr. Capoccia: In the academic world, authors need a specific set of skills to produce high-quality, credible, and impactful work. These skills go beyond basic writing ability and focus on rigorous research, critical thinking, and the effective communication of complex ideas. An academic author must be able to form logical, coherent arguments and support them with solid evidence. Academic authors must be able to identify gaps or inconsistencies in existing research and propose ways to fill those gaps with new research or theoretical advancements.

HBSN: How to avoid biases in one’s writing?

Dr. Capoccia: The first step is to acknowledge that everyone has inherent biases. These biases could stem from personal beliefs, cultural influences, or past experiences. Being aware of your own biases helps you recognize when they might influence your academic writing. Before writing, every author should think about his/her own stance on the topic and how it may shape the way he/she presents information. This can help each author step back and see the bigger picture, ensuring he/she doesn’t unintentionally favor one perspective than other.

HBSN: Academic writing takes a lot of time and effort. What motivates you to do so?

Dr. Capoccia: Academic writing can be incredibly time-consuming and mentally demanding, but it also offers a chance to add your voice and perspective to an ongoing conversation in your field. The thought of contributing to a larger body of knowledge, influencing future research, or even impacting real-world applications can keep motivation high. Writing is a process of discovery. It helps refine your thinking, improve your skills, and expand your understanding of the world of science.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)