In 2026, TBCR reviewers continue to make outstanding contributions to the peer review process. They demonstrated professional effort and enthusiasm in their reviews and provided comments that genuinely help the authors to enhance their work.
Hereby, we would like to highlight some of our outstanding reviewers, with a brief interview of their thoughts and insights as a reviewer. Allow us to express our heartfelt gratitude for their tremendous effort and valuable contributions to the scientific process.
Kit Cheng, Northwell Health Center, USA
Kit Cheng
Dr. Kit Cheng is a medical oncologist specializing in breast and medical gynecology /oncology at Northwell Health Center for Women’s Cancer. She is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University. She actively serves as a principal and sub-investigator for clinical trials, ensuring patients have access to cutting-edge treatment options. Dr. Cheng is also deeply committed to educating and mentoring the next generation of oncology specialists, a role she has fulfilled as former Associate Program Director and Program Director for the Hematology/Oncology fellowship at her institution. Her dedication to supporting her patients and ensuring exceptional care has earned her many accolades, including the Patient Choice Award in 2024, recognizing her commitment to outstanding patient care and experience.
Dr. Cheng points out that the rapid advancements in breast cancer diagnosis, surveillance, and treatment create a complex environment where even recognized “breast cancer experts” may not possess the specialized knowledge required for a high-quality review. Effective peer review, in her view, demands a more nuanced approach to reviewer selection, including granular profile questions and frequent updates. She recently declined a review request concerning artificial intelligence, as it fell outside her specific sub-specialty—she believes precise matching of expertise to manuscript content is essential.
Speaking of the challenge of balancing peer review with clinical responsibilities, Dr. Cheng expresses that she is always excited to be among the first to read new research and learn from her peers, but she believes in reviewing articles where she has a strong clinical and research background. By being selective, she protects her schedule and ensures time to deliver a high-quality review.
Regarding Conflict of Interest (COI) disclosure, Dr. Cheng emphasizes that physicians and researchers work to maintain their patients’ and the scientific community’s trust. COI disclosure is a basic tenet that protects this trust. In the setting of unconscious bias, individuals are often unaware of its subtle influence on their judgments and interpretations. It is better to avoid this pitfall with full disclosure.
(by Naomi Hu, Brad Li)
