The Power of One Publication

A simple definition of Peer Review: A process by which a scholarly work (such as a paper or a research proposal) is checked by a group of experts in the same field to make sure it meets the necessary standards before it is published or accepted.1 There has been considerable debate over the years as to the value of publications. This commentary is going to highlight my experience with publications and how the power of one scientific report of two cases has significantly impacted my life and the life of my family. My career of forty-five years in the orthopaedic field with over one hundred and eight publications, 69 citations, sixteen medical device patents, membership in nine professional medical societies prepared me for one significant effort in my personal life “the discipline and experience” to spend nearly two years researching a treatment modality for lymphocytic hypophysitis. Conclusion: This experience demonstrates how the power of one specific paper can influence and play a positive effective role in the direction, treatment and outcome in a rare and uncommon medical condition.