In 2026, many JOMA 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 (2026)

André Luiz Ferreira Costa, Cruzeiro do Sul University (UNICSUL), Brazil

Cameron C. Lee, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, USA

Vivek Aggarwal, Jamia Millia Islamia, India

Outstanding Author

André Luiz Ferreira Costa

Dr. André Luiz Ferreira Costa is a Professor of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology at Cruzeiro do Sul University (UNICSUL) and serves in the Post Graduate Programs in Dentistry at UNICSUL and Oncology at UNICAMP, Brazil. He is also the Director of the Oral Radiology Department at FAOA/APCD. He completed his DDS at the University of São Paulo, followed by a specialization and MSc in Oral Radiology and a PhD in Medical Pathophysiology at UNICAMP, with postdoctoral training in diagnostic imaging, including an international fellowship at the University of Ottawa, Canada. His clinical and research interests focus on dentomaxillofacial imaging, particularly radiomics, artificial intelligence, and quantitative imaging applied to head and neck oncology and temporomandibular joint disorders. He has authored over 170 scientific publications and actively contributes as a reviewer for numerous international journals, while also engaging in academic training and scientific dissemination in Dentomaxillofacial Radiology. Follow him on Instagram.

In Dr. Costa’s view, an author should be curious, rigorous, and ethically committed. Curiosity helps generate relevant clinical questions, while rigor ensures reliable and reproducible results. Integrity is essential throughout the entire research process. Clear communication and openness to peer review are also key to advancing science.

Dr. Costa also emphasizes the importance of adhering to reporting guidelines during manuscript preparation. He believes these guidelines enhance clarity, transparency, and methodological rigor, making the study easier to understand, reproduce, and critically evaluate. Ultimately, this strengthens the quality and credibility of the research.

Despite a demanding schedule, Dr. Costa treats academic writing as an integral part of his routine rather than an additional burden. He integrates writing directly with his ongoing research and clinical questions, dedicating small but consistent blocks of time to it. Collaboration with students and colleagues further helps him maintain both productivity and momentum.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Cameron C. Lee

Dr. Cameron C. Lee is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon who serves as Assistant Professor and Associate Program Director in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, USA. He earned his DMD from Harvard School of Dental Medicine and his MD from Harvard Medical School, completed oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, and subsequently pursued fellowship training at the University of Maryland Medical Center. His clinical practice focuses on head and neck pathology, microvascular reconstruction, and maxillofacial trauma. His research centers on health services in oral and maxillofacial surgery, with particular interest in trauma triage, interfacility transfer patterns, and the economic burden of maxillofacial care in the United States.

A good academic paper, according to Dr. Lee, asks an important question, answers it clearly, and does so with methodological rigor. A strong paper should add something genuinely useful to the field, whether that is new knowledge or evidence that can improve patient care.

In Dr. Lee’s opinion, one of the most common difficulties in academic writing is translating a complex idea into clear and concise language. Many authors know their subject matter well, but struggle to present it in a focused way without either being too broad or too technical. Another common challenge is maintaining consistency between the study question, methods, results, and discussion so that the paper tells a coherent story.

“What I find most fascinating about academic writing is its ability to transform individual observations into a contribution with global impact. It is a way of taking clinical experience, data, or a new idea, and shaping it into something that can impact patient care far beyond the walls of one’s own clinic. It is especially rewarding when colleagues share that your work has been cited in a conference presentation or used to support clinical decision making elsewhere,” says Dr. Lee.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)

Vivek Aggarwal

Dr. Vivek Aggarwal is a Professor in the Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. He completed his Master of Dental Surgery from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and holds a DHA Specialist Certification in Endodontics. With over 100 peer-reviewed publications, he is a globally recognised researcher in dental anaesthesia, endodontics, and adhesive dentistry. His current research focuses on improving the anaesthetic success of inferior alveolar nerve blocks in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and the development of novel dental biomaterials, including silver nanoparticle-incorporated adhesives and bioactive endodontic sealers. He has been awarded research grants from DST and SERB (Government of India) and holds over 70 patents filed across India, the United Kingdom, and internationally. He serves on the editorial and review boards of more than 40 international peer-reviewed journals.

JOMA: How do you ensure the writing is critical?

Dr. Aggarwal: Critical writing, to me, begins well before the first sentence is written. It starts with a genuine question, one that challenges existing assumptions or addresses a gap. I try to make a deliberate effort to distinguish between what the evidence actually shows and what we might simply hope or assume to be true. This means studying the prior literature not merely to cite it, but to evaluate it: examining sample sizes, methodological rigour, potential biases, and the clinical relevance of reported outcomes. I also believe that honest reporting of limitations is not a weakness but a necessity. A paper that acknowledges what it cannot conclude is far more valuable than one that overstates its findings.

JOMA: Is it important for authors to disclose Conflict of Interest (COI)?

Dr. Aggarwal: COI disclosure is foundational to the trust that underpins evidence-based practice. Readers, clinicians, and patients rely on published research to make decisions, and that reliance is only justified if the conditions under which the research was conducted are transparent. A COI does not automatically invalidate a study, but it is information that every reader deserves to weigh for themselves. The extent to which a COI influences research is well-documented in the literature. Industry-funded studies, for example, are statistically more likely to report favourable outcomes for the sponsor's product, even when methodological quality appears comparable. This is precisely why structural safeguards such as pre-registration, independent data monitoring, and mandatory disclosure are essential, not optional.

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

Dr. Aggarwal: The primary motivation is straightforward: the problems I work on genuinely matter. Failure of inferior alveolar nerve block in patients with irreversible pulpitis is one of the most frustrating clinical challenges a dentist and patient can face. Every trial I design and publish moves us closer to reducing that suffering.

(by Brad Li, Masaki Lo)