This document provides details on formatting requirements for manuscript submission to the Graduate Medical Education Research Journal (GMERJ).

Online Submission and Peer Review

GMERJ uses an online submission and peer review system Bepress for the processing of all manuscripts. To submit your manuscript online, please follow the steps below.

• Prepare your manuscript files according to the scientific and style instructions of the journal provided below.
• If not done already, create an account at the submission site by clicking the “Create New Account” button. You may track the status of your article or submit revisions in the future via your My Account page. If you have any questions, please contact the Publishing Advisor at hlbrown@unmc.edu
• All co-authors must be listed during the electronic submission. All authors will receive correspondence during the submission and review process. NOTE: After acceptance, the corresponding author listed on the title page of the manuscript file will receive all correspondence about copyrights, galley proofs, and publication details. 
• Provide a cover letter in the “Cover Letter” section of the online submission form.

General Formatting Requirements

Manuscript file

• Submit your manuscript in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Do not embed tables or figures. Please include the title page, abstract, main text, references, acknowledgment, and figure legends in a single file.
• Double-space your text and use a single-column format.
• The font should be 12 points Times New Roman font. Check that the same font is used for the main text, tables, figures, and captions. At no time should the font be smaller than 8-point font.
• Page size should be 8.5 x 11-inches. All margins (left, right, top, and bottom) should be 1.0 inches (2.54 cm), including tables and figures.
• Do not include page numbers or headers. You will have the opportunity to add a footer during the submission process, should you choose to do so.
• Authors should thoroughly check their manuscripts for proper grammar and spelling. Authors whose first language is not English are strongly recommended to arrange their manuscripts to be written in grammatically correct English prior to submission. The manuscript can be returned without review solely based on poor English.

Title page

This page should contain the following in order.

• The complete title of the article.
• The full names and institutional addresses of all authors.
• The corresponding author’s name, complete address, telephone number, and e-mail address.
• If available, the 16-digit  ORCID of the author(s).
• A shortened title of not more than 40 characters to serve as a running head.
• Disclosures and Funding Sources: All authors are required to disclose financial or non-financial interests that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. The name and grant number (if any) of any source of financial support for the study.

Abstract

The abstract should not exceed 300 words, structured under the subheadings: Background and Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusion. Please minimize the use of abbreviations and do not cite references in the abstract.

Keywords

Please provide four to six keywords that represent the main content of the article.

List of abbreviations

Please provide the list of abbreviations used in the text if needed.

Main Text

The main body should have the following format: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Please see the details in each category.

References

It is the author's obligation to provide complete references with the necessary information. GMERJ subscribes to the number system, meaning references are listed in numerical order (consecutively based upon appearance in text) and not in alphabetical order. All citation numbers should be superscript and appear at the end of sentences (not within) and after the punctuation. The accuracy of references is the responsibility of the author. List the first three authors followed by et al. (if applicable). The information to be given with each citation in the references is as follows:

Journal Articles

1. Are C, Stoddard HA, Huggett K, et al. A regional perspective on the attitudes of fourth-year medical students towards the field of general surgery. J Surg Educ. 2009; 66: 123–128.

Books

1. Bayless TM, Diehl AM (eds). Advanced Therapy in Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases. London: BC Decker, 2005.

Book Chapters

1. Are C, Yeo CJ. Gastrinomas. Bayless TM, Diehl AM (eds). Advanced Therapy in Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases. London: BC Decker, 2005: 156-160

Abstracts

1. Dhir M, Lynette S, Ullrich F, et al. 989 Pre-Operative Nomogram to Predict Risk of Peri-Operative Mortality Following Hepatic Resections for Malignancy. Gastroenterology 2010, Volume 138, Issue 5, S-865

Figure Legends

This section contains descriptive legends typed in double spacing for each figure. Legends must define all abbreviations and acronyms used in the figure. Any permissions needed should also be stated here.

Table and Figures

All tables, figures, and images are considered "Additional Files" and will be uploaded as separate files after the main text document has been uploaded. Use the "Description" field to label the content and add a detailed caption. Each table and figure should be clearly numbered consecutively based on the order it is referenced in the main text. If your manuscript is accepted for publication, the editor will contact you if higher-resolution, print-quality images are needed.

Table files: Each table must be in a separate Microsoft Word file and named Table 1, Table 2, etc., and should have a concise full explanatory title.

Figure files

• Each figure must be in a separate file and named Figure 1, Figure 2, etc., and each subfigure of a figure (if needed) should be named Figure 1A, 1B, etc. Individually uploaded panels (A, B) will not be accepted.
• Each figure should have a concise caption describing accurately what the figure depicts and be included in the manuscript text file, not in the figure file. Figures can be in JPEG, TIF, PDF, EPS, or PNG format and meet the minimum resolution requirement below.
• Resolution
  • 1200 dpi for line drawing (charts, simple bar graphs, or non-photographic artwork).
  • 300 dpi for halftone art (black and white photographs) and color figures.
  • 600 dpi for combination art (a combination of halftone and line art e.g., photographs that also contain line art such as labeling or thin lines). NOTE: The text of a figure should be legible at full size (100% zoom).
• Permissions: Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission from the copyright owner(s) to republish or reproduce previously published materials for both print and online formats.
• Human subjects: Authors are responsible for uploading a signed consent form with the manuscript if photographs of human subjects are used. The illustrative material must be de-identified of information such as patients’ names, initials, or hospital numbers.

Supplementary Information

Authors can upload supplementary files in any format. Include the manuscript title and the complete authors’ list.

Guidelines for Specific Submission Categories

GMERJ will publish the following types of manuscripts: Original Reports, Literature Reviews (Systematic and Meta-Analysis), Case Reports, Brief Reports, Perspectives/Commentaries, Letters to the Editor, and Creative Works.

Original Reports

Original Reports are full-length research articles that are 3,000 words or less, excluding the title page, abstract, references, tables, and/or figures. A maximum of 7 tables and/or figures may be included. Major section headings should include Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and References.

Literature Reviews (Systematic and Meta-Analysis)

Reviews must critically evaluate and synthesize the scholarly literature on a specific topic in 6,000 words or less, excluding the title page, abstract, references, tables, and/or figures. A maximum of 7 tables and/or figures may be included. We strongly recommend that reviews follow the PRISMA Guidelines Checklist.

Case Reports

A case report presents an interesting or rare clinical case that offers a novel and valuable learning opportunity. It should include the following sections: Abstract, Introduction, Case Presentation, Discussion, Conclusion, and References, and should not exceed 1500 words, excluding the title page, abstract, references, tables, and/or figures. Case reports, even if de-identified, must also include patient consent. This may be uploaded as an "additional file" at the end of the submission process.

Brief Reports

Brief reports provide a summary of a new initiative or pilot study limited to 1000 words.

Perspectives/Commentaries

Perspectives and commentaries offer views and opinions of issues that are well-supported by evidence and are limited to 1000 words.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor provide comments on articles published in the GMERJ and are limited to 500 words.

Creative Works

Creative works are original works by the author(s), including cover art, or any other novel items related to arts, humanities, and well-being in medicine (photography, sketches, sculpture, creative writing, among others). The work should include a short creative works essay (500 words or less) explaining how the meaning of the piece is relevant to medicine.