The Hall of Distinguished Failures

March 2026 · Matthew Bowker

Desk rejection without any feedback. Rejection without feedback is the worst kind of rejection!

January 2026 · Matthew Bowker

This one really stung as I (respectfully) disagree with the grounds of the rejection. Onwards.

January 2026 · Matthew Bowker

We submitted a 'Twelve Tips' article on supporting Muslim med students during Ramadan. The reject was personalised, complementary and gave the very reasonable feedback that the points made were valid, but perhaps too anecdotal for the format. Will resubmit as a Letter to the Editor.

March 2025 · Matthew Bowker

Peer reviewed, revisions requested. I made the revisions, and then it got rejected. I'm still unsure why.

March 2024 · Matthew Bowker

I accidentally spoke about killing "simulated patients" (i.e. role players) rather than "patient simulators" (i.e. manikins). A very reasonable desk rejection.

October 2025 · Matthew Bowker

Useful review feedback from the Socratic Method paper. Will need a bit of a redo.

July 2025 · Matthew Bowker

1000 words of genuinely useful feedback... even if it was devastating. A paper on the Socratic method.

December 2025 · Matthew Bowker

Useful peer review feedback from Medical Education. Will need a significant edit.

January 2026 · Matthew Bowker

Desk rejection for the same IPA paper I've been working on for a year.