In 2024, many TAU 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 (2024)

Blair R. Peters, Oregon Health & Science University, USA

Outstanding Author

Blair R. Peters

Dr. Blair Peters is a double fellowship-trained plastic surgeon who specializes in gender-affirming surgery and peripheral nerve surgery. He is an Assistant Professor in both the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Department of Urology at Oregon Health & Science University and current Director of the Advanced Gender-Affirming Surgery Fellowship. He is one of the first surgeons in North America to complete a fellowship in comprehensive gender-affirming surgery. He carries out clinical research that focuses on optimizing sensation and nerve outcomes in gender-affirming and genital surgery and individualized approaches to patient care. He is frequently invited to speak nationally and internationally regarding techniques in gender and genital surgery. And he is a recognized expert in surgical techniques and multi-disciplinary approaches to gender-affirming care. He strives to be a strong voice in medicine and surgery and focuses on shifting the culture of medicine and mentoring future generations of affirming surgeons. Connect with Dr. Peters on Instagram/Threads: @queersurgeon.

The most essential element of a paper, according to Dr. Peters, is its purpose. To him, we are in a culture of academic medicine that often demands productivity. Unfortunately, that has led to a lot of bloat of the body of literature and a push to publish just to “publish”. The best papers have a clear purpose, whether that is to answer an unanswered question, report a novel surgical technique, etc. If the purpose is clear and shines through, then the paper will carry meaning and impact.

In Dr. Peters’ opinion, during preparation of a paper, authors should keep the intended audience in mind. He adds, “No one reading your paper will know more about that specific topic than you do. There can be a tendency to want to put every pearl of wisdom or knowledge you have into a body of work. However, that can often translate into information overload and the true purpose or ‘takeaway’ of a paper getting lost. The most effective papers have a clear purpose and answer a clear question.”

Lastly, Dr. Peters shares that he chooses to publish in TAU because the journal format allows for robust coverage of topics that sometimes require a significant amount of text or figures. He explains, “It is a great journal for review articles and expert opinion pieces regarding advanced surgical techniques. Many of these types of papers from TAU are both highly cited but also beloved by surgeons and surgical trainees as they are highly clinically relevant and inform practice.”

(by Brad Li, Alisa Lu)