Writing for SDN Review: Author Guidelines

Mission

SDN Review publishes high-quality articles that inform, inspire, and support future health professionals. We welcome original feature articles (1,000–2,000 words) across healthcare fields, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, rehabilitation sciences, psychology, and veterinary medicine. SDN Review does not accept paid placements.

1. Pitching Your Idea
   • Before writing, email a one-paragraph pitch and tentative title to [email protected]. Pitches help ensure topic relevance and prevent duplication. While this step is optional, it improves your chance of acceptance.
2. Manuscript Requirements
   • Word Count: 1,000–2,000 words.
   • Audience: Primarily U.S.–based pre-health and health-professional students and trainees.
   • Tone: Educational and editorial, not promotional.
     • In-text links to commercial content are disallowed.
     • You may include one neutral, informative link in an “About the Author” note at the end.
   • Structure:
     • Clear topic focus, logical flow, and practical takeaways.
     • Use personal narrative and grounded experience where appropriate, and cite reputable sources and peer-reviewed literature.
3. Disclosures and Permissions
   • Authors must execute a publication agreement, granting SDN Review the right to publish accepted work.
   • Conflicts of interest: Disclose all relevant financial, corporate, or institutional relationships (e.g., consultancy, grants, funding, or employment). Transparency is essential.
   • Authors are responsible for securing permission to reproduce any third-party material (figures, images, tables, etc.).
   • Authors will note use of AI in accordance with our AI Generated Content Policy.
4. Peer Review Process
   • SDN Review follows a single-editorial peer review process, designed in accordance with COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers:
     • Initial Editorial Screening: Submissions are reviewed for scope, originality, and compliance with journal standards. Submissions may be declined at this stage.
     • Peer Review: Suitable manuscripts are sent to at least one subject-matter expert. Reviewers evaluate clarity, accuracy, originality, and value to our audience.
     • Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential and disclose any conflicts of interest.
     • Author Revisions: Authors may be asked to revise manuscripts in response to reviewer or editor feedback.
     • Final Decision: The editor makes the final decision to accept, request further revision, or decline.
     • Copyediting: Accepted articles undergo editorial copyediting. Minor grammar/style changes may be made without author resubmission.
5. Editorial and Publication Process
   • Submit manuscripts to [email protected].
   • Authors typically receive an initial decision within 2–3 weeks.
   • Once accepted, articles are scheduled for online publication. Publication dates are subject to change.
6. Corrections Policy
   • SDN Review follows COPE guidelines on corrections, retractions, and version control.
   • Minor corrections (e.g., typographical or formatting errors) are corrected without formal notice.
   • Substantive corrections (e.g., factual inaccuracies or errors affecting interpretation) are accompanied by a dated Correction Notice appended to the article.
   • Retractions: If an article is found to contain fundamental errors, ethical breaches, or misconduct, it may be retracted. Retractions remain visible and are labeled clearly.
   • All corrections, revisions, and retractions are permanent parts of the scholarly record.
   • Our full corrections policy can be found on our corrections policy page.

Editorial Best Practices

• Revise with distance: Draft, then revisit after several hours to tighten and clarify.
• Prioritize clarity: Write for an informed but non-specialist audience; avoid jargon.
• Know your audience: Tailor your article to specific readers (e.g., dental students, MSTP applicants, nontraditional learners).

Summary