The Power of Peer Review
Peer review strengthens research while building skills and career connections
Peer review plays a critical role in determining which research findings make it into scientific literature and how those findings are strengthened along the way. Across RSNA’s six peer-reviewed journals, reviewers and editors evaluate research from around the world, helping to ensure that published studies are rigorous, credible and relevant to imaging practice.
Peer Review Week, an annual global event highlighting the role of peer review in maintaining research quality, will take place Sept. 14–18. The 2026 theme, “Peer Review Capacity: Volume, Speed, and Quality,” calls attention to the challenge of accommodating growing submission volumes and expectations for timely decisions while preserving the trust and integrity of published research.
“Peer review is much more than a quality control mechanism,” said Suhny Abbara, MD, editor of Radiology and editor-in-chief of RSNA’s journal portfolio. “It is a collaborative process through which researchers help one another improve the scientific quality, clarity, reproducibility and clinical relevance of their work.”
Effective peer review provides authors with constructive, respectful feedback that helps them communicate their findings more clearly and address opportunities for improvement in their work.
“A thoughtful reviewer can substantially improve a manuscript,” said Eugenio Zalaquett, MD, MS, an abdominal radiologist at UC CHRISTUS in Santiago, Chile, and a manuscript author and peer reviewer for RadioGraphics. “The reviewer should not merely identify deficiencies, but help authors clarify their central message, strengthen their reasoning and ensure that their conclusions remain proportional to the evidence.”
Michael N. Patlas, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Medical Imaging, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Toronto, and editor-in-chief of the Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal, similarly emphasized the reviewer’s role in improving a manuscript.
“Peer reviewers have the ability to enhance the scientific and/or educational quality of the manuscript and highlight its limitations,” Dr. Patlas said.
In addition to assessing whether images and annotations support a manuscript’s claims, reviewers must meet deadlines, disclose conflicts of interest and prioritize scientific validity and clinical relevance. "While timely publication is important, it should not come at the expense of rigor," Dr. Zalaquett emphasized.
Even when a manuscript is not accepted, actionable feedback can help authors strengthen their work in the future.
Advancing Knowledge Through Service
The benefits of peer review extend beyond the manuscript. Reviewing for an RSNA journal introduces radiologists to emerging research and technologies while strengthening the critical thinking, writing and communication skills they use in their own clinical, research and educational work.
Dr. Patlas said RSNA journals help him remain current and quickly locate useful information when he encounters challenging cases. “RSNA journals are extremely useful when I teach residents and fellows or prepare a presentation for a national or international meeting,” he said. “Reviewing skills are equally useful for radiologists in academic and private practice because they help them critically appraise the existing literature.”
For Pedro V. Staziaki, MD, peer review created a pathway to mentorship and greater involvement with RSNA journals. Dr. Staziaki, a cardiothoracic radiologist at the University of Vermont (UVM) Medical Center in Burlington, began reviewing in 2019 as a trainee member of the RadioGraphics Cardiac Imaging Panel. He later joined the Radiology: Artificial Intelligence Trainee Editorial Board.
Dr. Staziaki also serves as associate editor for Radiology Advances and provides peer review for four of the Society's six journals. “Peer reviewing for RSNA is a privilege and a great opportunity,” he said. “You not only contribute to the advancement of radiology but also gain knowledge, practice critical thinking and meet colleagues and mentors.”
Peer review can also help radiologists form career connections with mentors, collaborators and colleagues.
Julia Niemierko, MD, a cardiothoracic radiologist at the Medical University of Gdansk in Poland and former member of the RadioGraphics Trainee Editorial Board, described how peer review can foster those relationships. “Peer review has been a way of meeting people through the work itself,” Dr. Niemierko said. “The connection starts with an academic exchange, rather than simply with where you work or who you already know.”
Those connections may grow from a shared approach to research or exposure to work outside a reviewer’s immediate specialty. “It is not only about getting to know senior mentors, but also colleagues at a similar stage of their career, who can later become collaborators, speakers or leaders in the field,” Dr. Niemierko said.
The continuous exposure to new research informs Dr. Staziaki's clinical practice as well.
“By frequently reviewing manuscripts, I consistently read about diseases relevant to my practice and am introduced to new concepts, classifications and approaches,” he said. “Additionally, I am always up to date with new technologies. I keep a finger on the pulse of what is coming next.”
Radiologists interested in peer review can develop a focused area of expertise, explore trainee editorial boards or review panels, and seek guidance from an experienced reviewer. Choosing assignments that align with their expertise and availability can help them provide thoughtful, constructive feedback.
By supporting authors, developing reviewers and serving readers, RSNA journals foster a cycle of learning, contribution and mentorship.
“As radiology continues to evolve, peer reviewers will play an increasingly important role not only in evaluating the validity of new science but also in placing it into context,” Dr. Abbara said. “They help the scientific community understand how emerging technologies and discoveries fit within existing evidence, identify their potential clinical significance, and guide the responsible translation of innovation into patient care.”
For More Information
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A Personal Path Through Peer Review
My involvement with RSNA peer review began in 2019, when I was selected as a trainee reviewer for the RadioGraphics Cardiac Imaging Panel. I reviewed educational exhibits, joined the panel’s discussion at the RSNA annual meeting and helped identify exhibits for potential publication. The experience expanded my cardiac imaging knowledge, introduced me to colleagues and mentors and led to my first full manuscript review.
Eager to pursue editorial work, I began reviewing AI and cardiothoracic imaging manuscripts for several journals. I later applied to the Radiology: Artificial Intelligence Trainee Editorial Board. Although I was not selected initially, I strengthened my experience and reapplied successfully the following year.
Today, I remain on the RadioGraphics Cardiac Imaging Panel and serve as an associate editor for Radiology: Artificial Intelligence and Radiology Advances. Peer review has sharpened my critical thinking, writing and editing while creating a lasting path to learning, mentorship and service.