Publishing is Not Dead  Monica Mikulec, BA

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a two-part series on writing and publishing for neurodiagnostic professionals.

Publishing. The very term might conjure images of a bygone era—steely printing presses; stacks of books; manuscripts painstakingly revised by the light of the midnight oil before finally packaged and submitted. But publishing is very much still alive—especially in the healthcare industry. Print and electronic academic and medical journals—like ASET’s very own The Neurodiagnostic Journal (TNJ), established in 1961—remain the preeminent vehicles for disseminating research, building professional credibility, and advancing your career.

Why the Cache?

• You’re Peer Reviewed
  Publishing in a journal is unlike publishing in most other forms of media. If your work is accepted, it means it has endured a rigorous, multi-step review and quality control process, ultimately receiving the imprimatur of respected, qualified subject matter experts in a given field. It is far from self-publishing or “getting in the door” based on who you know at The New York Times or Random House. For example, a typical manuscript published in TNJ has been reviewed by a technical, managing, and an associate editor, up to three peer reviewers, and finally, the editor-in-chief. Peer reviews determine originality, validity, and the real-world impact and application of the paper’s content and conclusions. Editors also look for conflicts of interest, use of artificial intelligence (AI), ethics violations, plagiarism, proper use of citations, and organization. In summary, a peer-reviewed publication on your resume is more than a byline—it’s a validation of your work and ideas by others in the field.
• You’re Demonstrating Skills, Not Just Listing Them
  A publication section on your resume isn’t just a listing—it carries real weight and indicates that there is “that something extra” about you as an individual and a professional. The publication process—defined not only by effective writing but also by planning, working with co-authors, and receiving and incorporating feedback—directly develops a variety of skills that employers value. Per the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ (NACE) 2025 Job Outlook survey, nearly 90% of employers indicated they are seeking evidence of problem-solving abilities, and nearly 80% are seeking candidates who have strong teamwork skills. Written communication skills, initiative, strong work ethic, and technical skills were important to at least 70% of responding employers.
  
  As Historian Mary Lewis, Robert Walton Goelet Professor of French History, told The Harvard Gazette in a June 2025 expose on the value of writing in the AI landscape (more on that in another installment of this series!): “The objective of writing is not just the product but also the process. Students who exclusively use AI to write their essays lose the process of thinking. And that is, after all, what we’re trying to do: produce new knowledge. If the goal is thinking or producing new knowledge, then a human being is the only one who can do that.”
• You’re Sustaining Science
  Take it from the National Academies of Science: “Modern journals do more than simply register the intellectual accomplishments of individual scientists; they record a collective body of knowledge. Journals are a centerpiece of the scientific enterprise and serve as a focal point for the description of scientific results. Journal articles supply information that helps scientists to develop new hypotheses, and they provide a foundation on which new scientific discoveries and inventions are built.”
  
  Journals such as TNJ serve as a platform to share real clinical outcomes, enabling the field to translate internal improvement efforts into shared knowledge that drives practice and even policy. For example, Erik Padilla, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM, CLTM; and his colleagues at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago published an article in TNJ describing the application of Lean Six Sigma methodology to prevent skin injury during video EEG. This project was conducted in collaboration with the Pressure Injury Committee, NICU skin team, Patient and Family Experience (PFE) team, and nursing staff. “Through these partnerships, NDTs not only contributed to project execution but also educated multiple teams on ND practices and demonstrated how our specialty can positively impact patient outcomes,” Padilla wrote. “As a result of this initiative, ND is now integrally involved in the organizational goal to reduce skin pressure injuries, illustrating the field’s capacity to influence institutional quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.”

In the spirit of the new year, consider a submission to TNJ as one of your goals. Resolve to share your expertise (or encourage a colleague to share theirs!) via the time-honored tradition of journal publishing. Diverse perspectives fuel innovation and discourse in the profession—both of which are critical to building the neurodiagnostic community and driving quality care for patients.