2021-02-22 OMA Agenda - Board of Trustees (002)

Reviewers: Unpaid volunteers who have notified the journal of their interest to serve as a journal reviewer, who have listed their areas of expertise via the publisher website, and who then review and comment on journal submissions. The online reviewer selection process via Elsevier means that listed reviewers may not necessarily be members of the journal medical society. Reviewers make initial recommendations regarding acceptance, rejection, or need for revision. Having a high number of quality and timely reviewers is critical to the success of any journal. For organizations the size of OMA, the typical number of needed reviewers at start of a journal would be ~100 (which includes the ~ 50 Editorial Board Members).

• MYTH: The most important experience necessary for an Editor of a journal is a high number of peer review publications.

Having a high number of publications (minimum of > 200 PubMed searchable articles) is desirable for a journal Editor. Also, an Editor should have a good understanding of the applicable science and be well-known and respected in the academic community. However, as before, and Editor must also have operational, managerial, and motivational skillsets necessary to move manuscripts through the process in a timely manner.

• MYTH: The bias of the Editor is not important, because Elsevier is running operations and the journal has a peer review process.

The Editor-in-Chief has final say over what gets published and what does not get published. Thus, if an Editor has a single- minded bias, then this will be reflected in the journal’s publications – and by extension – the affiliated medical society.

• MYTH: Elsevier will train Editors, Associate Editors, Editor Board Members, and reviewers.

While Elsevier can provide some guidance to Editors and reviewers, it is the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief to train all those involved in the evaluation and decision-making process of submitted journal articles.

• MYTH: Elsevier has an Author’s pa ge sufficient to train authors in drafting their submissions.

High quality publications require high quality submissions. Any new journal should have explicit instructions to authors regarding basic manuscript writing, that includes:

Use of passive language

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There was . . . Had been . . .

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Was discovered . . .

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Citations before or after punctuation

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Quotes with italics

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Sex vs Gender

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