How Busy Clinicians Can Write Scholarly Papers

Some of the difficulties busy clinicians face are time constraints and limitations on creativity. It is difficult to have a strong clinical focus and yet find the time and energy to devote toward scholarly productivity. Often, there seems to be insufficient time to "put pen to paper." When time permits, creativity is often lacking because of fatigue or concerns about other issues. As the day-to-day responsibilities take their toll, it can be difficult to express the scholarly interest that serves as the foundation for an academic career. An interesting project or study can become lost in the shuffle of accomplishing more mundane tasks.This manuscript serves as a template to guide busy clinicians in writing papers of scholarly value. Input from surgeons at various levels of accomplishments and at wide ranging stations in their careers makes this of value to a broad audience. Our focus is on young academicians without notable experience in writing scholarly papers. In the pages that follow we elaborate on the writing of the essential elements of a peer-reviewed manuscript.