Publish or Perish: Rethinking Productivity in Academic Surgery.

The article focuses on the impact of the "publish or perish" culture in academic surgery, highlighting how an overreliance on quantitative metrics—such as publication counts, impact factors, and citation indices—has shifted the definition of academic excellence from meaningful scientific contribution to volume of output. It distinguishes between surgeon-scientists who produce innovative, high-impact work driven by intellectual curiosity and those who prioritize quantity to meet institutional expectations, often resulting in fragmented and low-impact publications. The authors advocate for an ethic of differentiated excellence that values diverse academic contributions, encourages mentorship, and aligns institutional incentives with quality and innovation rather than mere productivity. They also note the emerging role of artificial intelligence in manuscript production, emphasizing that human creativity and rigor remain essential for authentic scholarly value.