Dr. Rengarajan Rajagopal and Dr. Jan Hinrichs, both recipients of awards for outstanding services to CIRSE’s journals, spoke to us on the importance of peer reviewing and the impact it has had on their careers.
Reviewing for CIRSE’s journals: Words of wisdom from Dr. Rajagopal and Dr. Hinrichs
Dr. Rengarajan Rajagopal
Dr. Jan Hinrichs
CIRSE: Why is peer reviewing important for science, research, and advancing the field of IR?
Rajagopal: Interventional radiology is rapidly evolving, with new procedures and devices being developed each day. We rely on sound research to guide our day-to-day practice. Peer review, therefore, acts as a gate keeping process to refine this research, address weaknesses and biases, and as a means of quality control. Peer reviewers also learn from their reviews, build upon the research, and ultimately help in progress of the field.
Hinrichs: Peer reviewing is important to maintain the integrity, safety, and progress of interventional radiology. Peer reviewing ensures that research is based on a strong scientific and ethic principle and that it is relevant to clinical practice by promoting innovations and keeping up to high standards in patient care and treatment outcomes.
CIRSE: What motivated you to become a reviewer for CVIR or CVIR Endovascular? What do you find most rewarding about reviewing?
CVIR and CVIR Endovascular are leading journals in IR and enjoy large readership. My mentor during my IR training was the initial motivating spirit for me to understand the concept of journal reviewing. During the initial days, I used several online resources on critical appraisal.
The most rewarding aspect about reviewing for CIRSE journals is that outstanding reviewers are appreciated each year, which is a valuable recognition from senior editors (who are international experts) and colleagues.
Hinrichs: I became a reviewer because wanted to be part of and to contribute to advancements in IR, and I also wanted to stay up to date with the newest research in IR. Peer reviewing offers the opportunity to stay informed and sometimes to challenge yourself with new topics.
CIRSE: How has being a reviewer for CIRSE’s journal(s) contributed to your professional growth and expertise? Can you share a memorable experience when reviewing a manuscript had a positive impact on your own research or clinical practice?
Rajagopal: Being a CVIR and CVIR Endovascular reviewer and being recognized as an outstanding reviewer for the past three years has been a big boost to my academic profile. This had led to invitations for reviewing for other leading international radiology and IR journals, the opportunity to serve as section editor, and engagement in teaching critical appraisal to residents and young IRs.
A memorable experience was when we used a technique for percutaneous recanalization of central venous occlusion from manuscript that I had reviewed!
Hinrichs: In general, being a reviewer has helped me progress in that I always learn new things and new ways to manage problems by reviewing manuscripts.
CIRSE: What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a reviewer for the first time?
Rajagopal: CVIR Endovascular provides peer review reports along with the article. This could be a starting point to understand how reviewers appraise a manuscript. The CIRSE journals teams also organize regular reviewer workshops online and during conferences. Attending these would be insightful for beginners. There are also several other online resources which are available from publishers.
Hinrichs: Reviewing an article for the first time is challenging. Be organized and keep focus on your aim in writing an accurate and constructive review outlining the strength and flaws of the respective manuscript.
CIRSE: How do you balance your reviewing responsibilities with your clinical and research work?
Rajagopal: I try to complete the review in the initial few days after accepting to review by allotting a few hours to do a short literature search in the topic and then reading the manuscript. I do it during after hours so that it does not affect my clinical work. Original research articles require a little more time, as they have to be read multiple times to understand the author’s perspective.
Hinrichs: I’d advise any reviewer to set themself explicit priorities. It’s vital to manage your time efficiently while working in your daily routine while considering the required deadlines.
CIRSE: Why should other professionals in IR consider becoming reviewers for CIRSE journals?
Rajagopal: Being a reviewer for CIRSE journals is very rewarding. Reviewing for CVIR and CVIR Endovascular helps us to tune our minds to look for important pieces of information in any manuscript. Serving as a reviewer improves our academic image as diligent physicians and scientists. Reviewers interact with the editors and each other during several events, which helps in networking and creating avenues for possible research collaborations. Senior reviewers also have the opportunity to be invited to the editorial board.
Hinrichs: Reviewing for CIRSE journals is an excellent way to stay informed concerning the latest research in the field of IR. The reviewing process itself enhances critical and analytical thinking. You get to know new ideas and new ways to solve problems.