Write Medicine

Show Notes Are you angsting over the potential impact of generative AI on your work? Are you hyper-dialed into ethical considerations around the potential for copyright infringement, data ownership, and authorship when using generative AI tools like ChatGPT? Whatever your questions or concerns are about generative AI, this technology is poised to transform how we create continuing education content for health professionals.  Today’s episode is the first in a 2-part series of episodes that focus on writing, reasoning, and the ethical considerations surrounding generative AI. My guest is Núria Negrao, a medical writer specializing in CME/CPD and a generative AI enthusiast who's been playing with ChatGPT since it burst onto the horizon in 2022. We review different ways to use gen-AI tools like Bing and Bard for tasks like summarization and identifying key points, and touch on copyright issues, using OpenAI's API, and how to use gen-AI to create formulas that support scientific writing. And we also explore the value of bringing a human perspective and cultural knowledge into the writing and content creation process and the potential benefits and legal challenges of using AI tools, like ChatGPT.  Time Stamps: (03:30) - Introducing Núria (07:06) - The questions she was tinkering with and asking in the early phases of Generative AI (10:10) - Her thoughts on navigating the GenAI landscape for beginners (12:50) - Practical use cases of Generative AI implementation (17:18) - Handling the client conversation around using GenAI (22:50) - Listener Question: Around legal and ethical implications for submitting your own text for analysis by generative AI (29:11) - Exploring the dangers of using Generative AI as our collaborators  Click Here for the Transcript Resources API = application programming interface About Guest Núria is a medical writer in the continuing education field. Núria brings her scientific training as well as her vast experience in teaching effective science and medical communication to every project, helping craft engaging and effective educational experiences that support, inspire, and motivate learners. Connect with Núria LinkedIn Grab Your Gen-AI Cheatsheet About Write Medicine Hosted by Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP Produced by Golden Goose Creative 📰 Want more tips and tools from Alex and podcast guests? Subscribe to the newsletter. Twice a month from me to you. Biweekly Newsletter 📍 Grab your WriteCME Roadmap! Get access to this complimentary ebook, designed to help you break into CME, find clients, and hone your craft. ➡️ Ready for skills, scaffolding, and support? Join WriteCME Pro 🎙️ Know someone who would love this podcast? Share the podcast ☕ Want to say thanks? Buy me a Coffee

Show Notes Are you running correlation analysis in your education activity and program evaluation? Are you having conversations with your colleagues, as listener Natalie Goldberg is, about how access to practice data is potentially redefining how we think about Moores outcomes at levels 5, 6, and 7? In part 1 of this 2-part series of conversations with Katie Lucero Ph.D., Vice President, Audience, Analytics, Outcomes & Insights at Medscape we began to open up the black box that houses the relationship between self-efficacy, commitment to change, and intent to change. In part 2, we focus on how access to health data is evolving and what this means for measuring outcomes, the power of reinforcement and what that looks like, and tips for enhancing outcomes measures and strategies for measuring the impact of education programs. Time Stamps: (02:26) - The relationship between self-efficacy and commitment to change (05:37) - Unpacking the concept of commitment to change (10:09) - Listener Question: Are the definitions of what constitutes Moore’s Levels changing or evolving (12:28) - The research Katie has been doing with Don Moore (16:26) - Her sense of how much correlation people are doing in this field (18:23) - Practical steps to optimize available resources for enhanced outcome measurement in education programs (22:02) - What she is seeing in the future that excites her in terms of outcomes (23:55) - How to stay in touch with Katie and her work Click Here for the Transcript Resources Lucero KS, Williams B, Moore DE Jr PhD. The Emerging Role of Reinforcement in the Clinician's Path from Continuing Education to Practice. J Cont Ed Health Prof. Nov 14, 2023. Alliance Podcast. ‘Assessing Assessments.’ Jim Morgante, PhD Assessing Assessments: Are your questions any good? Alliance Annual Conference, 2023. Jason Olivieri, MPH, Jim Morgante, PhD About Katie As Vice President at Medscape, Katie leads content marketing, analytics, outcomes & insights. Katie previously was PI and lead evaluator on federal grants and local contracts, directed QI-CME and health outcomes studies, and evaluated public health programs at the CDC. Katie was named 2020 Brian P. Russell CME Professional of the Year. She earned a PhD at Auburn University in Human Development. Connect with Katie email: [email protected] LinkedIn 💥 Black Friday Blowout: Details Here About Write Medicine Hosted by Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP Produced by Golden Goose Creative 📍Grab the WriteCME Roadmap 📰 Want more tips and tools from Alex and podcast guests? Subscribe to the newsletter. Twice a month from me to you. Biweekly Newsletter ➡️ Grab your WriteCME Roadmap! Get access to this complimentary ebook, designed to help you break into CME, find clients, and hone your craft. ➡️ Ready for skills, scaffolding, and support? Join WriteCME Pro 🎙️ Know someone who would love this podcast? Share the podcast ☕ Want to say thanks? Buy me a Coffee

Show Notes If you’re a continuing medical education provider, do you ever feel as though your approach to outcomes measures could use some spice? Do you wonder what are we missing when we don't include process measures in outcomes evaluation? Or when you are working on outcomes measurement, analysis, and crucially, writing that outcomes report, do you find yourself wondering how to use confidence as an indicator of behavior change, or where self-efficacy fits into the outcomes mix? That’s our focus today with Katie Lucero PhD, Vice President, Audience, Analytics, Outcomes & Insights at Medscape. We’re also talking about frameworks for behavior change, user experience in learning, and the meaning of confidence and self-efficacy as education outcome measures.  Today’s episode is the first in a 2-part series of episodes that focus on outcomes evaluation that dig into questions like the significance of self-reported confidence, competence, intent or commitment to change, the value of using claims data and digital footprint to study practice change at scale, and asking open-ended questions for qualitative data. Time Stamps: (02:44) - Introducing Katie (06:36) - Digging into process and outcomes evaluation in program evaluation (08:03) - Exploring process measures in outcomes evaluation (09:20) - What kind of checks and markers to be thinking about (11:05) - Katie’s thoughts on success metrics with pre and post-test scores (15:30) - Importance of user experience when thinking about outcomes (19:07) - Self-efficacy important for behavior change (23:03) - Considerations for measuring confidence Click Here for the Transcript Resources Lucero KS, Williams B, Moore DE Jr PhD. The Emerging Role of Reinforcement in the Clinician's Path from Continuing Education to Practice. J Cont Ed Health Prof. Nov 14, 2023. Alliance Podcast. ‘Assessing Assessments.’ Jim Morgante, PhD Assessing Assessments: Are your questions any good? Alliance Annual Conference, 2023. Jason Olivieri, MPH, Jim Morgante, PhD About Katie As Vice President at Medscape, Katie leads content marketing, analytics, outcomes & insights. Katie previously was PI and lead evaluator on federal grants and local contracts, directed QI-CME and health outcomes studies, and evaluated public health programs at the CDC. Katie was named 2020 Brian P. Russell CME Professional of the Year. She earned a PhD at Auburn University in Human Development. Connect with Katie email: [email protected] LinkedIn 💥 Black Friday Blowout: Details Here About Write Medicine Hosted by Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP Produced by Golden Goose Creative 📍Grab the WriteCME Roadmap 📰 Want more tips and tools from Alex and podcast guests? Subscribe to the newsletter. Twice a month from me to you. Biweekly Newsletter ➡️ Grab your WriteCME Roadmap! Get access to this complimentary ebook, designed to help you break into CME, find clients, and hone your craft. ➡️ Ready for skills, scaffolding, and support? Join WriteCME Pro 🎙️ Know someone who would love this podcast? Share the podcast ☕ Want to say thanks? Buy me a Coffee

If you work in CME, especially in oncology, then sooner or later you’re going to consult American Cancer Society resources. But how much do you know about the history of this organization? And how much do you know about Mary Lasker and her contributions to cancer research? Hello, hello, and welcome back to Write Medicine, the podcast that explores best practices in creating continuing education content for health professionals. I'm your host, Alex Howson, and in today's episode, we explore a story that shaped the field of medicine and cancer research in particular. My guest is Judy Pearson, an author, cancer survivor, and catalyst for change who shares her extensive research on Mary Lasker, a woman whose name may not be widely known, but whose impact on cancer research and treatment is immeasurable.  We explore how Mary's partnership with her husband Albert played a pivotal role in transforming the American Society for the Control of Cancer into what is now known as the American Cancer Society. Mary believed in the power of research and was determined to use her life, her money, and her social connections to make a difference and was dedicated to education, civic-mindedness, and relentlessly pursuing change, even when it meant challenging the status quo.  So grab your pens and notebooks, as Judy Pearson takes us on a journey through the extraordinary life of Mary Lasker, a fascinating woman who shaped the world of medicine, right here on Write Medicine. Time Stamps: (3:25) - Introducing Judy (6:58) - Exploring the life of Mary Lasker (12:21) - Where Mary and Margaret Sanger’s crossed paths (14:19) - The contributions of the Lasker's (17:03) - Mary's belief in research (27:34) - Judy’s writing and research process (32:21) - When to stop going down the rabbit hole (35:38) - Obstacles Mary faced and how she overcame them Click Here for the Transcript Resources Judy Pearson. Crusade to Heal America: The Remarkable Life of Mary Lasker. 2023. [affiliate link] Emma Donahue. The Pull of the Stars: A Novel. 2020 [affiliate link] About Judy Judy Pearson is a writer and cancer survivor who discovered her passion for writing at the age of twelve. Sitting in a tree in her parents' backyard, she began to express her preteen angst through words. Although she initially pursued a career as a French teacher, she later transitioned into advertising and marketing. Around 20 years ago, Judy started writing for publication, and her journey as a cancer survivor led her to explore the history of cancer treatment and health. Her latest book, Crusade to Heal America, focuses on the biography of the cancer survivorship movement, showcasing her dedication to raising awareness and understanding the heroines and heroes who have faced cancer. Writing has become Judy's favorite activity, allowing her to share her personal experiences and make a significant impact on others' lives. Her previous books include From Shadows to Life: A Biography of the Cancer Survivorship Movement (which won the 2022 Nautilus Gold Award), Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America’s Greatest Female Spy, and Belly of the Beast: A POW’s Story of Faith, Courage, and Survival Aboard a WWII Hell Ship. About Write Medicine Hosted by Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP Produced by Golden Goose Creative 📍Grab the WriteCME Roadmap 📰 Want more tips and tools from Alex and podcast guests? Subscribe to the newsletter. Twice a month from me to you. Biweekly Newsletter ➡️ Grab your WriteCME Roadmap! Get access to this complimentary ebook, designed to help you break into CME, find clients, and hone your craft. ➡️ Ready for skills, scaffolding, and support? Join WriteCME Pro 🎙️ Know someone who would love this podcast? Share the podcast ☕ Want to say thanks? Buy me a Coffee

If you are a Write Medicine listener and are tuning into our First Friday Feature, you are likely a medical writer who is curious about medical writing in the specialized world of CME and I think you'll enjoy this conversation with Dr. David Mendes, who shares insights from his journey transitioning out of academia and into a career in medical writing.  David completed his PhD in neuroscience at McGill University in Montreal. During his graduate studies, he realized that landing a professorship was unlikely, so he started exploring alternative careers. After finishing his PhD, he secured his first role as a medical writer at an agency and has since worked as a freelance medical writer and translator. In today's episode, David reflects on the skills he developed during his PhD that helped him move into medical writing.  Key Takeaways: Only around 10-20% of PhDs end up in academic positions. So it's important for graduate students to explore alternative careers early in their graduate training. Resilience, communication skills, project management, and data analysis are only some of the skills that PhDs and academics can use in medical writing and in CME. But you’ve got to do the work to figure out what those skills are.  And treat networking and informational interviews as a long game rather than expecting immediate jobs. Time Stamps: (4:21) - Introducing David (09:55) - David’s transition from academia to teaching writing and how that informs the work that he does (15:16) - The prevalence of failure discourse for academics transitioning in or out of a PhD program (19:51) - What helped David find work that works for him outside an academic context (24:31) - Evaluating skillset for a transition into medical writing (31:00) - Key skills to help successfully transition from academia into something else (40:50) - His actionable advice for PhD students considering alternative career paths (47:33) - Where to connect with David About David In 2019, David started a podcast called Beyond the Thesis, where he interviews PhDs about the fulfilling careers they have built outside of academia. Through these conversations, David aims to inspire current graduate students to start exploring non-academic career options much earlier in their studies. Website and podcast Beyond the Thesis LinkedIn About Write Medicine Hosted by Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP Produced by Golden Goose Creative 📍Grab the WriteCME Roadmap ⭐ What's on your mind? What would you like to hear about on the podcast? Share your thoughts in a written or voice review. Review the podcast 📰 Want more tips and tools from Alex and podcast guests? Subscribe to the newsletter. Twice a month from me to you. Biweekly Newsletter ➡️ Grab your WriteCME Roadmap! Get access to this complimentary 5-episode private podcast + ebook, designed to help you break into CME, find clients, and hone your craft. ➡️ Ready for skills, scaffolding, and support? Join WriteCME Pro 🎙️ Know someone who would love this podcast? Share the podcast ☕ Want to say thanks? Buy me a Coffee

Plain language is a communication style that aims to simplify complex information and make it more accessible to a wider audience. It involves using clear, concise, and jargon-free language to convey information in a way that is easily understood by the intended audience. The goal of plain language is to eliminate confusion, improve comprehension, and enhance communication between the sender and receiver. In this episode, I speak with Ahava Leibtag, an expert in plain language and digital content strategy. Ahava is a 2020 inductee into the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame as an Innovative Individual and has 20+ years of experience in content development. She is the president and owner of Aha Media Group, LLC, a copywriting, content strategy and content marketing consultancy. She is also the author of The Digital Crown: Winning at Content on the Web. Today we're talking strategies for writing clear, understandable content for online education and digital platforms.  Key Takeaways Plain language focuses on questions like: Can people find what they're looking for? Can they understand it? Can they act on it? Break up content into small chunks with headings, bullet points, short paragraphs and plenty of white space. This makes digital content more scannable. Limit sentences to no more than 14 words. Long, complex sentences are harder for readers to process.  Plain language does not mean "dumbing down" - you can still communicate sophisticated ideas clearly. Writing should have cadence and rhythm, not just simplicity. Read content aloud to check flow.  Complexity does not equal authority. Clear communication better builds trust and credibility. Stories and analogies are powerful tools for explaining complex medical concepts plainly.  Do keyword research to understand what terminology your audience uses and link plain language to those search terms. Resources Free ebook. How to Write About Complex, How to Write About Sensitive and Difficult Topics American Medical Writers Association Plain Language Checklist.  Connect with Ahava Aha Media Group LinkedIn Support the show 📍Grab the WriteCME Roadmap ⭐ Review the podcast 🗞️ Biweekly Newsletter with tips and resources to enrich your CME content niche ➡️ Join WriteCME Pro for ongoing professional development 🌐 Podcast website 🎙️ Share the podcast

As we know, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many in-person events to go virtual. While platforms like Zoom made the transition possible, “Zoom fatigue” quickly set in. Audiences have tuned out of long presentations and passive learning formats that are also typical of in-person conferences.  To combat Zoom fatigue, virtual event organizers need to completely rethink their approach. So to get some ideas on how to do this, I spoke with Chris Elmitt, an expert facilitator and CEO of the virtual event platform Livve, to get his tips on engaging audiences in the virtual environment. As Chris notes, virtual platforms also have their limitations. “It’s more boring being in a virtual meeting than in a face-to-face meeting,” he says. With less social pressure to remain focused, audiences can easily check out. To keep audience attention, break content into smaller chunks, limit speaker monologues to 9 minutes maximum, and structure overall sessions to 30 minutes or less. Key Takeaways: Design virtual events for shorter attention spans - content should be in small chunks rather than long monologues. Keep presentations under 9 minutes. Don't expect networking to happen organically in virtual events. Intentionally build in discussion activities. Leverage the convenience of virtual events by spacing out content over multiple shorter sessions vs one long session. Have presenters share information through dialogue and conversation rather than PowerPoint slides. Let the audience choose topics on the fly that they want to be covered rather than sticking to a pre-planned agenda. I love StreamAlive for this.  Take advantage of simple equipment like mics and lighting to improve the audio and video quality for virtual presenters. Rethink presentation style for the realities of virtual events rather than transposing what works for in-person events. Connect with Chris LinkedIn Livve e: [email protected] Support the show 📍Grab the WriteCME Roadmap ⭐ Review the podcast 🗞️ Biweekly Newsletter with tips and resources to enrich your CME content niche ➡️ Join WriteCME Pro for ongoing professional development 🌐 Podcast website 🎙️ Share the podcast

In today’s episode, I speak with nurse educator Martha Johnson MSN, RN, CEN, otherwise known as Breakout RN, about using active learning strategies to engage nursing students for whom it is also often challenging to connect theory to bedside practice, especially in the context of unique patient scenarios. As a new educator, Martha's first theory course was PowerPoint-heavy with a scripted lecture.  She started BreakoutRN to develop a learner-centered model and saw firsthand the improvements in student engagement and their ability to apply what they were learning to a clinical scenario. She encourages all nurse educators to embrace active learning while emphasizing that you don’t have to do it all at once, just take it one activity at a time.  Key Takeaways:1. Active Learning: Martha emphasizes that traditional lectures are not enough. Active learning strategies like escape rooms and card decks engage learners mentally, physically, and emotionally, enhancing both understanding and retention.2. The Nursing Process: This systematic approach to patient care involves assessment, problem identification, intervention planning, and evaluation. Martha's card decks are designed to guide students through this process in a simulated environment.3. Educational Escape Rooms: Unlike entertainment escape rooms, educational ones have clear objectives and are meant to apply previously learned knowledge. They also offer opportunities to practice skills and professional behaviors like teamwork and communication.4. Storytelling: Storytelling helps make learning stick in both in escape rooms and card decks. Real-world settings, clinical data, and even social determinants of health can add depth to the learning experience.6. Interdisciplinary Learning: Martha mentions that some simulations involve interdisciplinary teams, including law enforcement and paramedic students, to mimic real-world scenarios.Connect with MarthaLinkedInBreakout RNResourcesHrach S. Minding Bodies.  Inclusive, low-tech, low-cost strategies that deepen embodied learning and the development of disciplinary knowledge and skills. [Use this affiliate link to support the podcast at no cost to you.]Support the show📍Grab the WriteCME Roadmap⭐ Review the podcast🗞️ Biweekly Newsletter with tips and resources to enrich your CME content niche➡️ Join WriteCME Pro for ongoing professional development 🌐 Podcast website🎙️ Share the podcast