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Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and frustrated when searching for relevant studies on PubMed for your medical writing projects? As a medical writer, you know that conducting a comprehensive literature review is crucial for delivering high-quality work to your clients and audiences. However, the process can be time-consuming and challenging, especially if you don't have a clear strategy. This episode of Monday Mentor will provide you with the tools and techniques you need to streamline your literature review process and find the most relevant, high-quality studies to inform your work. Listen in to gain: Best practices for efficiently searching databases like PubMed Steps to find the most relevant and high-quality sources. Tools and resources to stay organized and produce a rigorous literature review Tune in now to discover how you can elevate your literature review skills and deliver stronger, more valuable work to your clients and audiences! Takeaways 1. Defining your research question or objectives is crucial for guiding your search strategy and ensuring a focused, efficient literature review process. Before diving into your literature search, take the time to clearly articulate your research question or objectives using frameworks like PICO, SPIDER, or PEO. 2. Using a combination of keyword searches, subject heading/index term searches (like MeSH terms), and database filters can help you capture a wide range of potentially relevant sources while narrowing down your results. Familiarize yourself with the search functionalities and controlled vocabularies of databases like PubMed, and experiment with different combinations of keywords, subject headings, and filters to optimize your search results. 3. Leveraging citation management tools, note-taking techniques, and reporting guidelines can help you stay organized, maintain transparency, and produce a rigorous literature review. Explore and implement tools like EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley for citation management, and develop a structured note-taking system (e.g., literature matrices or apps like Notion or Roam Research) to synthesize and report your findings effectively. Resources NYU Libraries Literature Search Template Literature Review Typologies  Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:47 Defining the research question 03:43 Establishing search terms 06:17 Exploring various databases 10:30 Grey literature sources 13:32 Additional search techniques 15:07 Tools and resources that can help you 20:28 The power of literature reviews Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Virginia Chachati is a pharmacist turned medical writer who embarked on her freelance journey after moving to Germany in 2020. Inspired by the need to work remotely and make a living online, Virginia started a travel health blog that caught a client's attention on Upwork. Despite being underpaid for her valuable work, this experience motivated her to create a community of medical writers focused on fair compensation and support. Virginia established a presence on LinkedIn, where a medical communications agency found and recruited her. Now a full-time freelancer, Virginia enjoys the flexibility of working from home while being able to travel back to the UK for work and family visits. Join us as Virginia shares her insights on building a thriving medical writing career. 1. Learn how to identify and attract high-quality clients who value your skills and expertise 2. Discover the power of community in setting fair rates and supporting your professional growth Connect with Virginia LinkedIn Resources Free 61 tips Ebook for medical writers Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Virginia’s journey into medical writing 04:02 Her experience with Upwork 06:31 Being picky about clients 08:29 Importance of writers knowing their worth and setting ground rules 12:56 The power of community in medical writing and solving the problem of Upwork 17:52 Setting fair value in medical writing 21:56 The future of medical writing: AI and social media 26:15 Takeaways from today’s conversation with Virginia Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you measuring CME outcomes effectively or just tacking them on at the end? If you're involved in developing, measuring and reporting on CME outcomes, you know it's become an expected part of the process. But many CME providers still struggle with integrating outcomes throughout program design and implementation. This leads to poor practices like tacking on outcomes at the end, writing vague questions, and creating reports that fail to tell a compelling story. To truly demonstrate the value and impact of your education, outcomes measurement needs to be woven in from the very beginning. In episode 113 of Write Medicine Wendy Cerenzia and Emily Belcher of CE Outcomes share their hard-won insights on outcomes measurements. Tune in to: 1. Learn why and how to integrate outcomes planning into the earliest stages of educational design  2. Discover tips for writing effective outcomes questions that align with learning objectives and avoid common pitfalls 3. Understand what makes a compelling outcomes report that ties the story together for stakeholders Ready to uplevel your outcomes game? Takeaways 1. Outcomes measurement must be integrated from the beginning of educational planning and design, not tacked on at the end. Take action today by reviewing your process for integrating outcomes measurement into educational design. This will help you identify opportunities to involve outcomes experts earlier.  2. Effective outcomes questions align with learning objectives, avoid vagueness and confusing options, and consider the target audience, education format, and intended data use. Work with your faculty to carefully craft outcomes questions that align with objectives and will yield meaningful data. And consider pilot testing questions. 3. A compelling outcomes report ties the story together by connecting program goals, educational design, key findings, and important learnings. When you are writing your next outcomes report, challenge yourself to weave a coherent narrative that demonstrates the "why" behind the education and interprets the data to extract relevant insights. Focus on clearly communicating the impact and value. Connect with Wendy and Emily CE Outcomes [email protected] Emily Belcher, Director of Research and Analytics: [email protected] Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 1:05 Measuring Continuing Medical Education Outcomes 2:46 Current State of Outcomes in CME and CPD 5:58 Poor Practices in Measuring Outcomes 10:13 Root Cause of Not Starting with the End in Mind 10:26 Outcomes Standardization Project 18:07 Importance of Internal Consistency in Definitions 19:19 Effectiveness of Outcomes Measurement Frameworks 22:21 Expectations from Supporters in Outcomes Reporting 26:45 Cautious Approach to Using AI in Outcomes Analysis 31:36 Elements of a Good Outcome Story 34:45 Future Directions in Outcomes Analysis and Reporting 38:24 Three Takeaways and Action Steps from Episode 113 Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you struggling to find the most relevant papers for your medical writing projects on PubMed? You know the importance of having a solid research foundation when working on medical writing projects like clinical practice guidelines, grant proposals, or CME materials. But searching databases like PubMed can feel like falling down a rabbit hole, leaving you frustrated and unsure if you've found the most pertinent literature. This episode of Monday Mentor will help you understand what literature reviews are and how to choose the right type of review for your project, setting you up for more efficient and effective database searches. Listen to this episode to discover: 1. The essential purposes and elements of a well-crafted literature review  2. How literature reviews inform a wide range of medical writing projects 3. The different types of literature reviews and when to use each one Tune in now to learn how to master the art of the literature review and take your medical writing to the next level! Takeaways Here are three key takeaways from this episode of Monday Mentor: 1. Literature reviews are essential for providing context, identifying gaps, and synthesizing evidence to support various medical writing projects, from clinical practice guidelines to grant proposals and CME materials. 2. Different types of literature reviews serve different purposes and follow distinct methodologies, such as narrative reviews for broad, critical analysis; systematic reviews for answering focused questions; scoping reviews for mapping research activity; and realist reviews for understanding complex interventions. 3. Selecting the appropriate type of literature review based on your research objectives is crucial for conducting an efficient and effective review that informs evidence-based decision-making in your medical writing projects. Resources Literature Review Typologies Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to searching relevant literature 01:03 What literature reviews are and the different types 02:04 Why do a literature review at all 03:18 What type of medical writing projects do literature reviews serve 06:48 Common types of literature reviews Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

If you are an education provider, are you curious about how to use social media platforms like X/formerly Twitter to deliver engaging and accredited CME content? If you're a writer, do you want to know more about how to create social-media-based short-form content? As a medical educator or content creator, you may be looking for innovative ways to reach healthcare professionals where they already spend time - on social media. Episode 111 jumps into the world of "tweetorials" and explores how you can adapt your educational content for platforms like X/Twitter while maintaining the quality and accreditation standards of traditional CME. Julie Merten PharmD is my guest, a clinical pharmacist at the forefront of medical writing and CME content development at Chimeric Medical Communications. In today's episode, she shares her strategy for distilling complex medical topics into bite-sized educational content. We'll explore how to take a full clinical data paper, sharpen the key messages, and deliver them in a way that not only educates but engages and fosters interaction. What is the role of imagery, ethical considerations, and the importance of tapping into the right medical niches? Join us to learn more about crafting compelling short-form CME and take your content to the next level on social media! Takeaways 1. When creating short-form content for social-media-based CME, keep the scope narrow and focused. If a topic is too complex, consider breaking it up into multiple threads or supplementing with other formats like expert videos. 2. Invest time in creating high-quality, engaging visuals that are optimized for mobile viewing. Infographic-style images and square aspect ratios work well for tweetorials. 3. Emojis, design elements, and questioning techniques are practical tools to hook an audience and convey information quickly. If you adopt these stylistic elements, be aware of cultural interpretations and maintain factual accuracy and appropriateness for mobile consumption. Connect with Julie Email: [email protected] Chimeric Medical Communications, LLC LinkedIn Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:29 Introducing Julie 04:02 What a Tweetorial is and how it works 05:27 How long threads have been around 06:53 Crafting a Tweetorial tutorial 08:11 Assessing learner engagement on Tweetorials - how people respond and sign up for them 10:56 Creating private communities on X 11:57 Looking at the interaction of learners in a Tweetorial 13:01 Some of the challenges when creating this short-form content 14:33 Teaching and learning considerations with short-form content 15:45 All about emojis 18:01 Moving from long-form to short-form content 19:55 Figuring out what the key messages are 21:10 The scope for patient cases and tutorials 21:40 Ethical concerns 23:16 Considerations on how Tweetorials are assessed 24:01 Evaluating outcome metrics for Tweetorials 25:42 Finding CME on X as a learner 27:08 Key skills to develop for creating effective accredited education content for social media 31:40 Final thoughts on trying short-form content 32:37 Where to connect with Julie 33:21 Tips for creating short-form content for social media-based CME Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you crafting compelling stories of transformation in your CME needs assessments? As a CME writer, your ability to identify clinical practice gaps and translate them into actionable learning objectives is crucial for creating needs assessments that lead to impactful education. Episode 110 equips you a framework for developing practice and performance gaps and learning objectives for robust needs assessments that justify the need for education. Tune in to: Understand what clinical practice and performance gaps are and how to substantiate them through thorough research Learn a framework for conducting a comprehensive gap analysis to pinpoint the root causes of practice shortfalls Discover the key components of well-crafted learning objectives and how to align them with desired outcomes Let's jump in. Takeaways 1. Use the question-based framework I shared in the episode to conduct a thorough gap analysis, considering the what, why, who, when, where, and how of the identified practice gap. You'll also find a template for gap analysis in the show notes. 2. Ensure your learning objectives are actionable, measurable, relevant, and aligned with the desired outcome level (e.g., knowledge, competence, performance, patient outcomes). 3. Push yourself to create learning objectives that go beyond knowledge gains and foster practical skill application to drive meaningful practice change. Resources Gap Analysis Framework ACS Tips for Writing Learning Objectives Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Identifying clinical practice and performance gaps 07:34 Crafting effective learning objectives 08:03 4 rules of thumb when creating learning objectives 09:37 TLDR on learning objectives Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you unknowingly excluding audiences with your medical writing and CME content?  As a CME professional, ensuring that your content reaches and resonates with diverse audiences is crucial. In a field that shapes the clinical practice and well-being of so many, accuracy and accessibility are non-negotiable.  Virginia Chachati, a pharmacist turned medical writer, joins me to explore strategies and best practices for crafting inclusive, accessible content that empowers readers and improves health outcomes.  In EP 109, you’ll: 1. Learn how to optimize your content for people with varying levels of health literacy and digital skills 2. Discover tools and resources to help you create content that meets accessibility standards 3. Understand the impact of inclusive writing on audience engagement and health equity Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your inclusive content creation skills. Takeaways 3 Steps you can take toward accessibility and inclusivity.  1. Familiarize yourself with health literacy principles and accessibility guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Patient Information Forum's PIF TICK standard. 2. Audit your existing content for accessibility and inclusivity, identifying areas for improvement and implementing best practices. 3. Continuously educate yourself on inclusive writing strategies by following thought leaders, attending workshops, and engaging with resources shared in the episode's show notes. Resources Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Patient Information Forum TICK standard How to Write Clearly by Tom Albrighton  Writing Tools: 55 essential strategies for every writer by Roy Clark  Health literacy as a social determinant of health National Institutes of Health: What is health literacy? CME/CE Content Creator's Toolkit The Utility of Social Media in CME The Checklist Revolution: Streamlining Healthcare Content for Better Understanding Cultivating a Visual Mindset: Infographics in Continuing Healthcare Education Connect with Virginia Email: [email protected] LinkedIn Website Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:22 Virginia’s approach to making medical writing accessible and inclusive 08:59 Resources to support accessibility work 13:06 Takeaways from today’s conversation on accessibility and inclusive content creation Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you ready to master the art of medical writing and stand out as a CME content creator? As a medical writer, you know that crafting compelling continuing medical education (CME) content requires a unique set of competencies. But what exactly are these essential skills, and how can you develop them to stand out in this competitive field? In this episode, we'll explore the core abilities that will help you excel as a CME writer and deliver exceptional educational content that meets the needs of both your clients and healthcare professionals. In this episode, you'll unlock: 1. A breakdown of the essential writing skills needed to articulate complex medical information simply and effectively. 2. A peak into the most valuable sources for compelling and robust needs assessments. 3. How fostering your communication and collaboration abilities prepares you to work seamlessly with clients and subject matter experts to achieve excellence in medical education content. Discover how to enhance your CME writing expertise—tune in for valuable insights to transform your approach and elevate your industry standing. Resources ACCME. Standards for Integrity and Independence in Continuing Education. 2020 Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction 00:34 CME writing demands strong foundational writing skills 01:22 You need technical proficiency with reference management software 02:15 Importance of research skills 04:11 Communication and collaboration skills 05:32 Understanding assessment and outcomes frameworks 06:47 Summary of today’s mini-episode Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

What challenges and opportunities await US-based CME providers looking to expand into Europe? As a CME provider, understanding Europe's accreditation landscape and cultural nuances is crucial for successfully delivering education to international audiences. In today’s episode of Write Medicine, Susan Yarbrough joins me in dissecting the complexities of CME in Europe and guiding us through the accreditation mosaic. We’ll explore key considerations and strategies for navigating European CME, including the need for a strong dose of cultural humility.  In episode 107, you’ll: 1. Gain insights into the differences between US and European CME accreditation systems 2. Learn practical advice for partnering with local organizations to deliver relevant education 3. Discover the importance of cultural humility and adaptability when expanding CME offerings internationally Tune in now to equip yourself with the knowledge and strategies needed to expand your CME programs confidently into Europe and beyond! Takeaways While European CME accreditation differs significantly from the US, focusing on approving activities rather than providers, the accreditation landscape in Europe is evolving, with a slow but steady movement towards alignment and reciprocity.  Reciprocal agreements allow for the exchange of CME credits, but disparities in accepting and using CPD credits across jurisdictions remain a concern. As a US-based CME provider, if you want to expand your offerings to Europe and beyond, as a first step, research the accreditation requirements and cultural nuances of your target European countries or regions. Education providers who want to successfully deliver CME in Europe must cultivate cultural humility as a key ingredient. As a US-based provider, you’ll need to understand local guidelines, perform a gap analysis and needs assessment, and have a local footprint to effectively deliver education that is appropriately accredited and tailored to the European audience. Connect with Susan Email: [email protected] Instagram Abbreviations EACCME: European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education ( ECMEC®: The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement to mutually recognize continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Physicians (MDs, DOs, or equivalent international degree holders) may apply to the AMA to have their EACCME European CME Credits (ECMEC®s) converted to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Resources Ghidinellli M, Pozniak E, Kolanko C, Wilson S. The ongoing challenges faced by providers of CME-CPD in Europe. J CME. 2023;12(1) Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:44 Introducing Susan 03:50 Some of the key challenges she sees in accreditation domestically 05:26 Updated guidelines for virtual credit in EACME 3.0 10:03 Differences and similarities between European and US accreditation 12:30 Impact of territoriality on CME content 15:51 Uniformity or standardization for reciprocal agreements in CME accreditation 17:13 Independence in Europe versus the US 21:48 Why the ABPI is attached to having control over content 24:26 How US education providers go about addressing specific needs and gaps in Europe 28:35 What tactical changes may look like to be an effective educator 31:03 Winners and losers in European accreditation 33:34 The extent of international and global CME and how is that going to change 36:03 Susan’s practical advice for CME providers 37:50 Key takeaways from today’s episode Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you trapped in the generalist rut as a medical writer? Discover the power of nourishing your niche in CME writing. Specializing in CME writing can help you crack the client mindset code, build authority, generate higher revenue, and optimize your marketing efforts. This Monday Mentor episode explores how focusing on CME can lead to a thriving medical writing career and help you: 1. Understand the rewards and risks of specializing in CME writing 2. Learn how to identify and develop your CME niche based on your skills and interests 3. Discover strategies to market your CME writing services effectively and command higher rates Ready to take your medical writing career to the next level? Grab this niche discovery checklist to start exploring your CME writing niche today! Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction to niche specialization 01:33 Breaking down the benefits of nourishing a niche 04:45 Overcoming concerns and challenges of specializing 06:57 When and how to find a niche Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you a medical writer struggling to stay competitive and confident in the rapidly evolving industry landscape? Experienced medical writer and educator Michelle Guillemard shares her insights today on how aspiring and established medical writers can navigate the challenges of an increasingly crowded field, economic fluctuations, and the rise of AI writing tools. Whether you're looking to break into medical writing, specialize in a niche, or future-proof your skills, Michelle's advice will help you chart a path to success and fulfillment in your writing career. Listen to this episode to discover: Strategies for differentiating yourself and targeting your ideal clients in a competitive market Tips for staying up-to-date with industry trends, health communication best practices, and emerging technologies Insights on building confidence, resilience, and a well-rounded lifestyle as a freelance medical writer Tune in now to learn how you can thrive as a medical writer in 2023 and beyond and gain the knowledge and inspiration you need to take your career to the next level. Takeaways 1. Identify your niche: Reflect on your unique skills, interests, and background to determine your specialization in medical writing. Develop a targeted marketing message and online presence that communicates your expertise to potential clients. 2. Curate your learning: Set aside dedicated time to stay informed about the latest trends, best practices, and technologies in medical writing. Focus on resources that align with your niche and goals, such as industry blogs, newsletters, webinars, and journals. 3. Embrace AI as a tool: Familiarize yourself with AI writing tools and explore ways to incorporate them into your writing process. Experiment with using AI to generate outlines, edit sentences, or streamline your brainstorming while maintaining your commitment to quality, evidence-based content. Connect with Michelle Health Writer Hub LinkedIn Timestamps 00:00 Intro 02:47 Introducing Michelle 05:11 Her medical writing journey 09:45 Exploring the changes: Insights on who’s moving into the field, their motivations, and what that means for training and professional development 15:47 Specialization as a benefit in developing business 19:15 Crucial strategies for writers to help them stay resilient during times of economic fluctuation 23:29 Resources to help keep pace with industry trends 27:24 Designing effective medical writing courses 33:25 Is AI a threat or an opportunity in medical writing? 40:02 Key takeaways from Michelle’s episode Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you measuring educational outcomes but failing to capture the true impact on your learners? As a CME/CPD professional, you know that proving the effectiveness of your educational programs is crucial. But in the rush to gather data and report metrics, it's easy to overlook the individual learner's experience and perspective. Relying solely on quantitative measurements can cause you to miss valuable insights that could help enhance your activities and programs. In this episode, physician and longtime medical educator Dr. Dean Jenkins shares: 1. Why it's essential to focus on the learner's needs and desired outcomes when designing education 2. The importance of qualitative data in capturing the complexity of healthcare and the learner's voice  3. How defining your target outcomes upfront can improve your learning design and measurement approach Tune in to discover how putting the learner at the center of your outcomes strategy can help you deliver more impactful and meaningful education! Takeaways CME must evolve to meet learners' complex and personalized needs, incorporating a more dynamic, qualitative approach to assess learning outcomes. The CME field has been steadily shifting toward valuing outcomes beyond attendance and satisfaction for over a decade. However, analyzing the collected data and using it to improve the learning experience further remains challenging. Standardization of outcomes measurement is vital for the professionalization of CME/CPD. Sharing insights and validated findings within the CME/CPD community is beneficial and necessary to foster improvement in education and patient care. Engaging with the broader community of educators, learners, and health professionals through discussion forums, journals, or social media networks is valuable. Share your findings, experiences, and strategies for measuring and improving educational outcomes, as Dean Jenkins does through his work with Outcomes Engine. Connect with Dean [email protected] Outcomes Engine Time Stamps (02:41) - Introducing Dean (07:28) - How to package education for learners in ways to address learners' needs and learning styles (09:22) - Some of the strategies that he uses to determine what those needs are (13:59) - What Dean is talking about when talking about Pharma-led education (18:24) - Evolution of measuring and evaluation: assessing learning effectiveness across these different contexts (20:50) - His involvement in the Outcomes Standardization Project (21:56) - How Dean sees the field moving forward in terms of outcomes measurement, evaluation, and analysis (25:12) - His thoughts on whether we are headed toward internal capacity building within the field. (27:58) - The degree of collaboration between medical affairs teams and colleagues in independent medical education in Europe and the UK (29:40) - What is Outcomes Engine, and why it’s important (31:50) - Capturing the learner's voice (33:26) - How Outcomes Engine will capture the learner’s voice (35:10) - Dean’s final thoughts (36:37) - Key takeaways Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you unknowingly sabotaging your spine health every time you sit down to write? As a medical writer, you pour your mental energy into crafting high-quality documents. But while you're focused on engaging your mind, your body may suffer silently.  Poor posture, repetitive movements, and prolonged periods of sitting can lead to neck strain, back pain, and other musculoskeletal problems that impact your physical well-being and ability to think clearly and creatively. In this episode of Monday Mentor, chiropractor, researcher and medical writer Peter Stein PhD, DC shares some of his insights about spine health, including: 1. How your spine supports your cognitive performance and creativity as a writer 2. Practical strategies for integrating better ergonomics and physical variety into your writing routine  3. Quick and simple "micro-breaks" you can take to alleviate spine tension, even when racing to meet a deadline Don't let poor spine health derail your writing - tune in now to give your body the same attention and care you give your words! Time Stamps (01:24) - Introducing Peter (02:15) - Spine health importance for writers (07:51) - His insights on injuries that stem from keyboard work (11:31) - Some of the immediate and actionable things that writers can do to protect, support, and promote spine health. (15:46) - Connecting with work tools (17:23) - Other ways we can integrate movement into our everyday routine (20:42) - Things Peter sees as being important for spine health in general (23:59) - His final thoughts on spine health (26:24) - Key takeaways from Monday Mentor Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

If you are a medical writer my guess is that you occasionally struggle to engage your target audience. Health professionals have less time and shorter attention spans, making it critical for medical writers to master storytelling techniques that get their audiences interested and engaged with content, whether we’re talking about slide decks, manuscripts, or omni-channel content. My guest in episode 102 is Eleanor Steele, also known as MedComms Mentor, who shares how she transitioned from agency work to running a successful freelance business in medical communications. Join us to learn more about the gaps Eleanor identified in the market for specialized training and development and get practical advice from Eleanor about: Storytelling frameworks that support a logical flow of information and answer audience questions How to frame content around audience needs and interests The skills you need to write "bite-sized" short-form content optimized for different formats This conversation with Eleanor is part of our first Friday series, which profiles medical writers and how they have broken into the field. It's also the last episode of season 7. Resources Content Alchemy. Tip Sheet for Medical Writers Connect with Eleanor Email: [email protected] Website YouTube Time Stamps (03:47) - Eleanor’s journey and transition into Medical Communications (06:02) - Some of the gaps she’s seeing in the training and professional development market for medical writers (07:39) - What Eleanor does and who she does it for (11:57) - What she encourages writers to do to learn a little bit more about the audience they’re writing for (16:31) - Navigating the challenges for writers with limited clinical exposure (20:03) - Storytelling frameworks (22:44) - The main challenges Eleanor sees in ongoing training and professional development (25:53) - Her YouTube Channel: MedComms Mentor (31:07) - Key challenges she sees for freelance medical writers (33:37) - The future of MedComms (36:15) - A shift towards not only engagement but outcomes in the omni-channel assets (38:47) - Where to connect with Eleanor Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Have you ever wondered how biases in medical research and education can significantly impact women's health and health in the LGBTQ+ community? Do you want to learn how you as a CME/CPD professional can promote inclusive and equitable language in your work, and why this is important in CME content creation? My guest today is Caitlyn Tivy DPT, a physical therapist, medical writer, and femtech pioneer. In today's episode, episode 101, we explore concrete ways CME/CPD professionals can help propel a shift toward more inclusive and equitable education and, ultimately, patient care. Caitlyn shares where harm has been done to women and LGBTQ+ patients through exclusion and bias in everything from clinical trials to medical curricula and terminology. We explore the real-world consequences of these biases, such as the underdiagnosis of heart attacks in women and the mismanagement of endometriosis. This episode is a call to action for us as CME/CPD professionals to embrace inclusivity and equity in our work. Takeaways 1. Inclusive language matters in CME/CPD, and why it's crucial for education activities and content to challenge biases and gaps in healthcare and medicine. 2. Femtech extends beyond reproduction and includes technology and services for various health conditions. 3. CME/CPD professionals can influence an education shift toward women's health and address care for LGBTQ+ individuals. Action Steps 1. Educate yourself on how to use inclusive language in CME/CPD. Consider enrolling in an AMWA course or reading resources like "Sex Matters" and "Invisible Women." 2. Engage in conversations with supervisors or peers to advocate for inclusive language and gender-inclusive care in CME and to identify the under-representation of women's health, LGBTQ+ health, and marginalized groups in CME. 3. Explore opportunities to include information about gender and sex-inclusive care in CME/CPD and contribute to creating a more comprehensive and inclusive healthcare education landscape. Resources Grab your copy of the CME/CE Content Creator's Inclusion Toolkit Clayton JA, Tannenbaum C. Reporting sex, gender, or both in clinical research? JAMA. 316(18):1863-1864. McGregor AJ. Sex Matters: How male-centric medicine endangers women's health and what we can do about it. Hachette Go, 2020. Perez CC. Invisible Women: Data bias in a world designed for men. Abrams Press, 2019. Redwood Ink. Inclusive Language Course Every R, Napolitan C, Wilson T. Improving Patient Care for the LGBTQ+ Community Through Continuing Education. Alliance Almanac. Feb 20, 2024. Time Stamps (02:55) - Addressing biases in clinical practice and education (09:54) - The role that continuing education plays in starting to shift this narrative away from women's health (16:27) - Caitlyn’s perspective on funding driving content (20:44) - Resources she recommends to writers to help them get up to speed on inclusive and equitable language (24:27) - Approaching research with a specific patient population in mind (28:09) - What Femtech is and why it’s important (29:34) - Caitlyn’s hope for providers who work in healthcare (32:05) - Femtech: growing field beyond women's health issues (34:01) - Caitlyn’s final thoughts (37:23) - Putting today's insights into action Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

We’ve reached a major milestone here at the Write Medicine podcast – episode 100. When I started this podcast, my mission was to foster a spirit of community, connection, and support among peers and colleagues in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. This mission has evolved and is increasingly focused on providing you. Write Medicine friend, with practical strategies and tools to advance your career and support your work as a CME/CPD professional, whether you are a planner, strategist, analyst, reviewer, or writer. So to celebrate making it to episode 100, I've compiled 100 tips covered by our conversations on the podcast. Consider today's episode the cheatsheet you need to: - Optimize CME programming, evaluation, and modalities - Craft high-quality content - Master efficient research strategies - Grow as a CME/CPD professional Take what serves you in your journey from this curated list across 10 key categories that this podcast explores. Time Stamps (01:26) Writing and content creation tips (02:37) Research and evidence tips (04:04) Career development tips (05:32) Communication and collaboration tips (06:52) Industry insight tips (08:18) Personal growth and productivity tips (09:43) Ethics and professionalism tips (11:00) Professional development tips (12:30) Navigating challenges tips (13:41) Technology tips (15:20) Next up on Write Medicine Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of scientific breakthroughs? Is the future of science at risk in the digital age? Like many fields, science is undergoing rapid changes in the digital era that could compromise integrity and innovation. As consumers of scientific knowledge, we all have a vested interest in an effective system. Join us in episode 99 as we explore the evolving world of science in the digital age, with insights from biochemist and former Cell editor, Ben Lewin. In this episode, you'll: Gain insight into flaws in the scientific publishing process involving peer review, preprints, and the "publish or perish" paradigm. Understand concerns over reproducibility, questionable research practices, and the influence of money in shaping projects. Learn how technology and A.I. are transforming science into a data-driven numbers game obsessed with quantity over quality. Don't miss this illuminating discussion on the complex forces that could undermine science in the 21st century. Takeaways 1. Science is not a linear, seamless process. Despite the perception of scientific progress as a smooth and consistent journey, it is often messy and characterized by zigzagging developments. The public needs to understand the principles and limitations of the scientific process to demystify the black box image of science. 2. There are emerging concerns about the influence of artificial intelligence, the shift towards "big science," and the potential lack of revolutionary ideas in scientific research due to the pressure to publish safer and more reliable work. Scientists are also at risk of becoming data-generating technicians rather than pursuing innovative questions and answers. 3. Criticisms have been raised regarding the hierarchy of scientific journals, the peer review system, and the prevalence of predatory journals. Despite its flaws, the current system of scientific publishing is considered the best available option for disseminating scientific knowledge. Resources Lewin B. Inside Science: Revolution in Biology and its Impact. Long Island, NY: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. 2023. Time Stamps (02:47) - Introducing Ben (06:33) - What we should be understanding about science (08:20) - Inside Ben’s book, Inside Science: Revolution in Biology and Its Impact (10:04) - The art of presenting scientific work (12:15) - The pressure to publish in science (14:23) - His thoughts on how science should proceed in the future with publishing (17:51) - Ben’s view on peer review (19:48) - His take on the peer review process (22:30) - His thoughts on the preprint problems during the pandemic (24:16) - The path for young scientists to get published in appropriate journals (26:26) - The key changes in scientific conduct that Ben’s been able to trace (29:37) - Concerns in modern science (35:13) - Ben’s key takeaways from Inside Science (37:09) - Highlights from today’s episode Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you aware that plagiarism is not just about copying text word for word? Listen in to uncover the different forms of plagiarism and how to spot them. Plagiarism can have significant consequences in CME content development, affecting the credibility of education materials and the reputation of education providers. By understanding the different types of plagiarism and how to detect them, you can ensure the integrity and originality of your CME content. Discover the various forms of plagiarism beyond direct word-for-word copying. Learn practical techniques for detecting and avoiding plagiarism in your CME content development. Understand the drivers of plagiarism and gain insights into CME content integrity. Tune in to episode 98 to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to identify and prevent plagiarism in your CME content, and take steps to ensure the originality and quality of your work. Resources Das N, Panjabi M. Plagiarism: Why is it such a big issue for medical writers?Perspect Clin Res. 2011;2(2);67-71. Harting D, Bowser A. Worst Practices for Writing CME Needs Assessments: Results From a Survey of Practitioners. AMWA Journal. 2019;34(2):51-55. Radike M, Fielder Camm C. Plagiarism in medical publishing: each of us can do something about it. Eur Heart J case Rep. 2022;6(4):ytac137. See the AMA Style Guide graphic. Retraction Watch Sandford-Cooke J. Ten signs of possible plagiarism. The blog of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading Weber-Wulff D. Plagiarism detectors are a crutch, and a problem. Nature. 2019;567;435. World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). Recommendations on publication ethics policies for medical journals. WAME. Englewood. Howson A. Should you go down the rabbit hole? Write Medicine, episode 48. Time Stamps (00:00) - Plagiarism takes different forms, including paraphrasing. (03:06) - AMA 11th Manual of Style addresses plagiarism. (04:45) - Plagiarism drivers. (06:40) - How to detect plagiarism. (08:51) - Tricks to avoid plagiarism. (09:31) - Use original words - read, digest, rewrite. (Dast, N. et al. 2016) (10:53) - Storytelling, retelling content. Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you curious about how the art of data collection and analysis can transform the impact of continuing education in the health professions? What if you could easily prove that learning activities drive tangible outcomes? Today's guest is Dr. Alaina Szlachta, a Learning Architect who improves the results of personal and professional development programs through data enablement. She joins us to unravel the complexities of effective education activity and program evaluation. In a world increasingly driven by data and evidence, understanding the outcomes and impact of educational programs is crucial, but learning professionals in many sectors often struggle to effectively evaluate education activity and program impact. And without proof of outcomes, it's difficult to demonstrate value and make data-driven decisions. Alaina outlines the crucial checkboxes for successful evaluation and highlights the art and science of strategically aligning evaluation variables to forge a persuasive chain of evidence. We also tackle the sometimes daunting task of identifying behavioral change indicators and how to build "indicator muscle." In this episode, you'll hear how to: Develop a simple framework for aligning learning outcomes. Identify indicators that reliably track performance improvement. Leverage AI to efficiently create assessments tailored to your needs. Tune in to hear how to build a rock-solid evaluation process in under an hour. Takeaways Effective evaluation in any field requires a balance of trustworthy evidence, improvement data, and operational insights, acting as a compass for success and growth. Create your impact hypothesis by lining up "dominoes"; start with the change you intend to make, then trace back through outcomes, outputs, and inputs. Visualize this sequence to clarify your strategy and prepare to measure each stage. The distinction between outputs (the immediate, tangible products of a program) and outcomes (the longer-term changes resulting from those outputs) is essential in evaluating the true impact of any initiative. Develop your "indicator muscle" by applying evaluation strategies to personal goals. Choose a goal, define indicators of success, and track them over time. This practice will build your skills in a lower-stakes environment and prepare you for larger, more complex projects. Resources Connect with Alaina Email: [email protected] By Design Development Solutions LinkedIn Time Stamps (03:17) - Introducing Alaina (05:26) - Connecting her professional threads to inform learning strategy, measurements, and evaluation (11:50) - Evaluating outcomes and evaluation framework (14:30) - Different evaluation models and robust strategies (21:12) - Output vs. Outcomes (22:38) - Importance of process evaluation (28:59) - Recommendations for starting to build the indicator muscle (31:04) - The challenges in thinking about and brainstorming behavioral indicators for change (34:30) - Emerging trends in learning and development (39:51) - Where to connect with Alaina (40:51) - 3 takeaways from today’s episode Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Do you struggle to find skilled medical writers who can develop high-quality, evidence-based CME/CPD content? Creating impactful continuing education relies on building effective partnerships between providers and specialist writers. In today's Monday Mentor we’re talking about the important yet often overlooked role of medical writers in developing credible, evidence-based CME content. Based on insights from experts in the field, you'll: Learn the diverse skills and deliverables medical writers offer beyond writing abilities. Discover common "pain points" in the provider-writer relationship from both perspectives. Get practical resources to set clear project expectations and enable smooth collaboration. Tune in to gain actionable tips on optimizing your medical writer relationships to develop better CME/CPD. Resources Grab your Process Start-Up Checklist Harting D, Bowser A. Worst Practices for Writing CME Needs Assessments: Results From a Survey of Practitioners. AMWA Journal. 2019;34(2): 51-54. Time Stamps (01:07) - Importance of medical writers in evidence-based CME and CPD content (02:42) - Contributions and challenges of medical writers in content development (07:05) - How we can bridge these gaps (09:08) - What’s coming next on Write Medicine Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

If you’re on LinkedIn, and you’re a nurse, a nurse who’s a health or medical writer, or a nurse who’s exploring how to become a writer, I think you’re going to love today’s First Friday episode.  From the scrubs to the keyboard, Claire Bonneau’s story of how she shifted out of a full-time nursing role into a thriving freelance medical content writer is nothing short of motivational. She graduated from nursing school in 2019 and leaped into freelance health writing during the pandemic and her journey is proof that it's never too late to follow your passions. Join us to explore: The challenges and triumphs of transitioning careers during uncertain times. How the problem-solving and creative aspects of nursing can lead to success in writing. The importance of community and learning from one's mistakes in the freelance world. Listen to the full episode to hear how Claire is shaping her unique niche in the freelance health writing community. Oh, and she drops some serious gems about navigating platforms like Upwork and LinkedIn. Connect with Claire Website LinkedIn Email: [email protected] Newsletter What steps can you take today? Dedicate a moment each day to journal about your professional journey. Capture moments of learning, growth, and the emotions attached to your evolving career path. Reach out and connect with one new person a week on professional networking platforms like LinkedIn to start building your community, just as Claire did. Experiment with a freelancing platform by creating a profile or submitting a project proposal to experience the process and discover potential opportunities for skill-building and networking. Time Stamps (02:59) - Introducing Claire: From nurse to now (05:55) - Why she went into writing (07:37) - How creativity has helped her build her business (09:05) - The obstacles Claire faced and her approach to problem-solving (10:27) - Some examples of roadblocks and embarrassing moments she experienced (13:34) - Transformation from isolation to engagement on LinkedIn (15:44) - Her experience building an email newsletter (17:37) - The purpose of the newsletter and building community (21:05) - Claire’s thoughts on Upwork and how it’s been effective for her (25:00) - Will she always be on Upwork and what a transition strategy would look like (27:56) - Where the negativity comes from towards Upwork (29:51) - Her encounter with feeling tapped by the nursing label as she transitioned into a new field (33:30) - Her 3 pieces of advice for transitioning from clinical care to writing freelance (34:58) - Where to connect with Claire (36:17) - Episode Takeaways Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

A decade ago, Curtis Olson PhD, then editor of the Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, made 20 predictions about the future of Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuing Professional Development. Those predictions included a shift from the individual to the team as the primary unit of learning, a greater focus on interprofessional learning, more frequent use of evaluation models that tell us not only what works, but also under what conditions and why, and less reliability on the psychology of learning and more emphasis on the sociology of behavior change.  Have you been wondering how those predictions are holding up today?  Joining us from the frontlines are two consummate CME/CPD professionals from Clinical Education Alliance—Sarah Nisly and Caroline Pardo. They’ll be sharing preliminary insights from research they’ve been doing on the relevance of these predictions today, emphasizing the need for diverse voices and perspectives in the field, and discussing how CME/CPD needs to be in sync with the "messiness" and complexity of contemporary healthcare. Tune in to learn more about: How past predictions about CME/CE are aligning with current trends and practices. How technology is reshaping shaping healthcare and the future of CPD. The importance for CME/CPD to adapt to different generations and changing priorities. And how continuous research and collaboration with multiple stakeholders is essential to shape the future of CPD and ensure its relevance and impact. Takeaways We need a forward-thinking approach in CME/CPD to prepare us to adapt to the evolving needs of healthcare professionals. There's an increasing emphasis on interprofessional education and the role of team-based healthcare. This approach recognizes the complexity of healthcare delivery and the need for collaborative learning strategies. Needs assessments and grant proposals are a focus of several sessions at the 20204 Alliance conference in New Orleans in early February. Today’s episode reminds us that needs assessments in CME/CE absolutely must go beyond clinical data and try to grapple with the real drivers of clinical gaps, including system and process issues, and patient preferences.  Caroline and Sarah’s work offers an invitation to us all to think about how we can be agents of change, and help to shape the future of CME/CPD. Time Stamps (03:46) Introducing Caroline + Sarah (05:23) Revisiting Curtis Olson's 20 predictions for the future (08:35) Interesting themes that stuck out when exploring (11:40) More about the juxtaposition and what it looks like in practice (18:49) A tiny flavor of their research process (22:29) The shifts and changes from the original predictions (29:34) The messiness of healthcare and the need for evolution (33:00) Frameworks for contemporary healthcare (37:23) Their predictions for where the profession is heading (42:38) The importance of comprehensive needs assessments Resources Olson C. Twenty predictions for the future of CPD: implications of the shift from the update model to improving clinical practice. J Cont Educ Health Prof. 2012;32(3):151-2 Pardo C, Nisly S. Unleashing Our Community's Power: Insights and Inspiration from the Field. Alliance Annual Conference. 2024. Feb 6, 10 a.m. Oak Alley. Connect with Caroline + Sarah Clinical Education Alliance Caroline LinkedIn | Email: [email protected] Sarah LinkedIn | Email: [email protected]

Have you ever felt like a failure in your role as a CME/CE professional? I have. But what if failure could actually enhance your CME/CE content creation instead of hindering it? Creating fresh CME/CE requires taking risks, but with risk comes failure. As errors and mistakes are part of the learning process, CME/CE professionals can struggle with how to evaluate failures safely and constructively. In today's Monday Mentor, you'll discover practical strategies to openly assess activities or programs that missed the mark and extract valuable insights from less-than-ideal outcomes. Tune in to: Gain insight on how to create a safe environment for reflection and feedback in your professional endeavors. Discover the benefits of anonymity and trust-building in sharing failures and lessons learned. Explore actionable strategies for focusing on constructive lessons rather than blame or shame when evaluating failures. Don't let fear of failure hold your CME/CE content back. Instead, use failure as a catalyst for growth in your CME/CE content creation process. Time Stamps (00:07) - Failure as a motivator, growth mindset in education (04:48) - Practical safe strategies to implement to make failure work for CME and CE learners (09:18) - The main ingredients for using failure effectively Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Have you ever felt trapped in your career, sensing a need for change but unsure where to begin? Have you felt a nudge to make a career change but fear holds you back? Yep, I’ve been there.  Making a major shift in your work can be daunting, but ignoring calls for change won’t make them go away. In a world where career transitions are increasingly common yet daunting if you are feeling the pull towards change but held back by uncertainty and fear, or if you are aware of an immanent push, this episode, EP92, is for you. My guest is Regina Sih-Meynier PharmD, an intuitive business strategist and life coach, who’s worked in healthcare, medical affairs, and in independent medical education in high-profile pharmaceutical companies. Way back in 2020, Regina was on the podcast and talked about how to create education content that supports authentic empowerment and transformational learning.  Today she’s offering guidance and inspiration for anyone in CME/CPD considering or facing a major career change. She shares her transformative journey from feeling stifled in the pharmaceutical industry to discovering her true calling.  So get ready to: Learn how to recognize the signs of transition that are pointing you to a needed change. Use practical tools for making decisions and navigating career transitions, including a five-step framework, that will help you map your fears and flip limiting narratives that are holding you back from unlocking your potential—the theme of 2024’s annual conference of the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Gain a framework for aligning decisions to your authentic self, not just ego fears. Connect with Regina Website LinkedIn What steps can you take today? Here are my takeaways and steps you can take to embrace authenticity in your career and life.  1. Embrace the Pause and Practice Reflection. Taking time to be still and reflect can provide clarity and insight, helping you recognize when and why you need a change in your professional life. 2. Your Body Intelligence is a Decision-Making Resource. Incorporating simple mindful, meditative, or breathing practices can lead to greater clarity and alignment with your authentic self. 3. Five-Step Approach to Decision Making. Regina detailed a five-step approach for making successful life and career decisions: getting clarity, identifying key players, addressing fears, amplifying your authentic voice, and taking aligned action. There are links in the show notes to tools for a structured approach to navigate career transitions mindfully.  Resources Take the free 3-minute decision-style quiz to better understand how you make decisions and what your potential blindspots could be. www.oh-universe.com/quiz Grab the free guide on How to Make the Best Career Decisions for You: www.oh-universe.com/resources Make successful decisions with this easy to use tool: 5-Steps to Confident Decisions Using Body Intelligence: www.oh-universe.com/resources Learn more about Regina's Go Slow to Go Faster Retreat in Vandelicourt, France in May 2023: www.oh-universe.com/retreat-details Time Stamps (03:05) - Signs that it's time for a career transition (08:12) - Tools and practices to tune into your inner voice (13:01) - Regina’s guidance if you are hearing that voice but are locked into fear (19:04) - Practical tools to move from fear to safety (21:52) - A universal struggle of overcoming fear and self-limiting thoughts (24:10) - How her tools apply if you have been pushed out (31:56) - Regina’s 5 steps to making successful career and life decisions (38:03) - First step in a career change (44:37) - Key takeaways you can take to embrace authenticity in your career and life Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Welcome to Monday Mentor, a Write Medicine series. I’m your host Alex Howson and today Helen Folsam is back to share insights on CME medical writing. Helen Fosam is a seasoned medical writer with over 20 years shaping her career, beginning in academia in the UK then moving to the US where she discovered medical writing working at companies like Ince, WebMD, and small remote startups. She launched her own medical writing consulting business, The Edge Medical Writing, through which she founded the Milo initiative to provide continuing education to improve health outcomes in Africa. In this episode, Helen dissects the nuances between medical and healthcare writing, discusses the challenges new writers face, and shares invaluable tips on asking the right questions to provide tailored content for clients.  Key Takeaways 1. Distinct Differences Between Medical and Healthcare Writing: There are important differences between medical writing and health writing in terms of target audience, objectives, accreditation status, and writing style. 2. Challenges in CME Writing: CME writing requires specialized expertise to effectively educate healthcare professionals through accredited activities. CME writing requires adherence to accreditation requirements, maintaining unbiased and evidence-based information, and preserving the integrity of CME. 3. Professional Development: Mentorship in the medical writing field is valuable, particularly for those new to the area. It acknowledges the challenges in providing quality mentorship, especially for freelancers, and the ongoing debate about sustainable mentorship models. What steps can you take today? 1. Identify Your Niche: Reflect on your interests and skills to determine whether you are more inclined towards medical writing or health writing. This will help you focus your efforts on developing expertise in your chosen area. 2. Educate Yourself: Engage in continuous learning and professional development via specialized courses and workshops. Stay updated with the latest trends and standards in CME/CE writing. Subscribe to relevant podcasts and newsletters (ahem!). 3. Network and Seek Mentorship: Connect with experienced professionals in the field. Even if formal mentorship seems out of reach, informal networking can provide valuable guidance, help avoid common pitfalls, and accelerate career development. Consider joining professional groups or associations that cater to medical writers (like WriteCME Pro). Connect with Helen [email protected] The Edge Medical Writing LinkedIn The MiHLO Initiative Time Stamps (01:21) - Helen’s background in academia (02:40) - How she found medical writing (06:50) - From her perspective, the differences between medical writing and healthcare writing (11:06) - Understanding the terminology in medical writing (15:53) - Creating accredited content versus creating content for education (20:32) - Addressing a fair and balanced approach with promotional content when mentoring new writers (23:46) - Sustainability of mentorship in freelance work (32:31) - Key takeaways from today's conversation Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Do you ever wonder about CME/CE in Africa? Or how you could use your content creation skills to improve health outcomes globally?  This episode explores how one CME/CE writer is using her expertise to directly improve patient care in Africa. Helen Fosam is a seasoned medical writer with two decades of experience shaping her career. Today we’re talking about the significance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical research and the dearth of CME in resource-limited settings like Africa that led Helen to launch the Milo initiative, which stands for "The Missing Link to Improved Health Outcomes." This pioneering project is aimed at democratizing access to CME in Africa and harmonizing healthcare knowledge across the globe.  In today’s episode, you’ll discover how the MILO initiative is transforming healthcare education in Africa and how Helen extends the reach and effectiveness of education materials by working with local experts. This approach ensures that the education materials are culturally and linguistically relevant, accessible to the target population, and fosters sustainable healthcare practices.  Insight into the Milo initiative, a pioneering approach to improving health outcomes in Africa through tailored CME programs. An understanding of the critical role of local content creators in developing relevant and effective medical education, highlighting the importance of diversity and cultural context. Strategies for overcoming barriers in CME in Africa, including the significance of online platforms in making CME accessible to a wider audience, regardless of their location. Tune in to hear firsthand how this global health education initiative got started and how it aims to bridge gaps in medical knowledge through context-specific content development and delivery. Connect with Helen [email protected] The Edge Medical Writing LinkedIn The MILO Initiative What steps can you take today? Explore Local Content Development: If you're involved in medical education, consider how localized content can improve your programs. Engage with local experts and communities to ensure that your CME activities are culturally and contextually relevant. Implement DE&I Practices: If you are an education provider, you can advocate within your organization for more inclusion and equity-focused CME/training and actively work to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion in your CME content. This could involve diversifying your team of content creators or ensuring that your materials are inclusive and representative of different populations. For tips on how to build DEi into CME/CE content, check out EP 61 with Sapana Panday.  Offer Support: Regardless of your role in CME, you can support nonprofit organizations like MILO that are addressing care disparities worldwide by volunteering your expertise or donating to their mission. Time Stamps (04:03) - Introducing Helen (05:33) - The MiLHO Initiative (11:44) - Writing grants for funding the MiLHO Initiative (15:41) - CME's Increased Focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (22:41) - Steps you can take today after listening to this episode Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Do you know the difference between CME, CE, CPD, and lifelong learning? Confused by all the terminology in continuing education for health professionals? Understanding the distinctions is key to navigating the world of accredited education and critical for delivering patient care based on the latest clinical evidence. These terms are like a variety of dishes at a buffet. CME is like a specially crafted, formal meal designed for licensed physicians, complete with specific flavors and presentations. CE, on the other hand, is the all-you-can-eat buffet, offering a wide range of options tailored to the entire healthcare team, from the savory entrees for physicians to the sweet desserts for nurses, pharmacists, and physician assistants. Meanwhile, CPD is like a cooking class that teaches not just recipes, but also the skills and techniques needed to become a versatile and accomplished chef, incorporating a mix of culinary, business, and professional development competencies. Just as lifelong learning is a continuous process of exploring new culinary delights, learning new skills, and combining different ingredients to create a fulfilling professional journey. Today's introductory primer breaks down the terminology in simple terms. Tune in to get clarity on continuing medical education once and for all. Connect with Alex Resources Time Stamps (00:08) - Introducing the Monday Mentor series (01:12) - The difference between CME, CE, and CPD (03:56) - Defining lifelong learning (05:06) - What CME is not (05:52) - 4 takeaways from today's Monday Mentor Transcript Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you overlooking a major yet often overlooked contributor to climate change through your digital content creation and strategies? Are you unintentionally contributing to the planet's digital carbon footprint? As CME/CE content creators and strategists, we likely don't consider the climate impacts of our websites, documents, videos, and other digital materials. However, all that data requires substantial energy to power the creation, storage, and transfer of bytes, which generates carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. In this eye-opening episode, Alisa Bonsignore, a content strategy and sustainable content expert, reveals the surprising truth about the environmental impact of our digital world. Whether it's the websites we browse, the videos we stream, or the documents we store, our online habits are not as harmless as they seem.  For CME medical writers and content creators, understanding this connection is vital in making informed decisions that align with environmental sustainability. In today’s episode, you’ll: Gain insights into how digital content, including websites and emails, contributes to carbon emissions. Learn practical strategies like streamlining and removing unnecessary pages to create more sustainable and climate-friendly content. Understand how to balance visual impact with environmental responsibility when creating graphics, video and other visual media, and in doing so, you’ll enhance the effectiveness of your digital presence. Appreciate the rationale for encouraging practices like video-off meetings and transitioning from video to audio or text formats. Tune in to hear digital sustainability expert Alisa Bonsignore explain how education content creators like you can reduce their climate impacts through smarter governance of bytes and pixels. Connect with Alisa LinkedIn Visit Clarifying Complex Ideas for more on sustainable content strategies. Resources Read Alisa's article on calculating emissions from digital content. Learn more about the Content Design Manifesto. Check out Gerry McGovern's book Worldwide Waste on the impacts of devices. Time Stamps (04:40) - Introducing Alisa (07:36) - The connection between data, energy, and carbon emissions (09:29) - How writers can think about the implications daily (12:19) - Her entry point into user experience and how it’s important in the work that she does (15:39) - Where to go for up-to-date information about how to think about data and digital imprint (18:46) - How recommendations about reducing digital imprint work when working with clients (21:30) - Her recommendations on messaging and communication for freelancers in the content creator economy (28:21) - Some of the metrics to think about as we consider sustainability or digital sustainability (30:06) - Places to go to find out more about the metrics and resources to raise with clients or employers (31:48) - What the Content Design Manifesto is and involves (35:37) - Alisa’s final thoughts for those who are noodling around the issue of digital imprint Transcript Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Transform your CME/CE content with Write Medicine! Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Have you ever wondered how academics or researchers transition into a successful career in medical communications (or medcomms)? With academia becoming increasingly challenging, many PhDs, scientists, and researchers are considering new careers that allow them to apply their expertise. Maybe you are too.  As part of our First Friday Features, episode 87 of Write Medicine brings you an exclusive conversation with Vicky Sherwood, a seasoned medical writer with a rich background in academia and medcomms.  In this episode, we explore Vicky's unique journey from academia into her thriving career as a medical communicator. Key takeaways include: Practical steps for academics considering a career shift Insider tips on networking your way into medical writing The diverse projects you could work on in medcomms How to navigate pharmaceutical compliance issues, and Whether AI will take over this field. Whether you're considering a move into medical writing or are just curious about the diverse opportunities in medical communications, this episode will resonate with your professional aspirations. Don't miss out on Vicky’s invaluable insights! Press play now to start your journey and unlock the secrets to a fulfilling career in medical communications. Connect with Vicky LinkedIn Website

Are you curious about how artificial intelligence (AI) can augment medical writing? Or are you wondering how AI could change the way we approach continuing education for health professionals? Listen in as Núria Negrão PhD shares tangible strategies for content creation. As advances in AI lead to fears about human jobs being replaced, medical writers and CME/CE professionals are wondering how to adapt. Núria explains key opportunities to enhance your skills and stay ahead of the curve. We take a deeper look at the practical applications and limitations of generative AI in medical writing, offering you valuable insights to enhance your professional toolkit. What you'll learn in this episode: Identify specific AI tools to help with literature reviews, analyzing bias, ideation, translations, and more. Approaches for integrating AI tools into medical writing, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. Appreciate the biggest risks of AI content creation and how to mitigate them. How to effectively balance human expertise with AI capabilities to create high-quality, comprehensive medical content. Strategies to navigate the challenges and ethical considerations of using AI in medical writing, enhancing your ability to produce content that's both innovative and trustworthy. Get actionable ideas to experiment with AI as part of your medical writing process—and a downloadable worksheet to help you brainstorm your own processes. Call to Action: Tune in to this future-focused conversation to explore how AI can make you a better, more effective medical writer right now. Transcript

Winter Solstice is a time of stillness that we can harness to reflect on our past year's journey. It's an opportunity to celebrate growth and anticipate what's coming next. So join me to reflect on memorable moments from the podcast this season and sneak a peek into the future of Write Medicine in 2024. Season Highlights The power of reflection to realign "why"  Innovations like AI for ideation and adult learning principles How education can build gender equity in health professions The potential and limitations of generative-AI Insights from our listener survey First Friday featuring medical writers Grab your digital goodie bag! Get a sneak peek into 2024 The launch of our revamped website Write Medicine joins the Health Podcast Network Shifting towards shorter, more practical episodes tailored to the specific needs of the CMECPD community. As always, thank you for listening and engaging with the community! Excited to continue the journey with you all in 2024. Timestamps: (02:44) - Announcement of listener survey winners (03:25) - Season 6 highlights: AI, gender equity, and live online education tips (07:19) - Alex’s takeaways from using Generative AI in education (11:34) - The evolution of Write Medicine (13:40) - Podcast expansion plans for 2024 (15:46) - Preview of 2024: Exciting changes and inclusion in the Health Podcast Network Resources Digital goodie bag Merch Tech stack list Newsletter Episodes Mentioned EP 71 EP 75 EP 76 EP 77 EP 80 EP 84 About Write Medicine Hosted by Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP Produced by Golden Goose Creative 🎙️ Know someone who would love this podcast? Share the podcast ☕ Want to say thanks? Buy me a Coffee

Show Notes What privacy concerns do you have related to generative AI tools like ChatGPT? Do you worry about the internet scraping that comes with gen-AI territory? Are you searching for practical advice on how to effectively use generative AI for creating continuing education content for health professionals? These questions and more are the focus of today’s episode of Write Medicine. My guest is medical writer and generative AI expert Nuria Negrao and we’re talking about how AI models like ChatGPT are trained and why we should care about this as well as the ethical implications of AI scraping information from various sources. Nuria also shares practical advice on effectively using generative AI for needs assessments and other types of CME/CPD content by paying attention to prompts, personas, and process. And we have a question from listener Natalie Turner about good prompts to aid in the development of a needs assessment. Time Stamps: (02:36) - Núria’s thoughts on using Generative AI as a thought partner for reflecting the full richness of cultural, ethnic, and gendered text and communication (03:51) - The Reddit lawsuit against ChatGPT over access to private conversations (06:27) - Listener Question: What are some good prompts to aid the development of a needs assessment? (11:57) - What generative AI can help with (15:15) - Using the process as a starting point 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 ChatGPT Cheatsheet 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 What existing skills and competencies do you know you have for sure? How can you put those skills to use to find new professional opportunities? Understanding and acknowledging your skills is crucial for building confidence and pursuing new professional opportunities. My guest today is JoAnna Pendergrass DVM, a veterinarian turned medical writer who has built a successful solo business creating content focused on pet health and educating pet parents. If you have participated in the freelance panel offered by the University of Chicago Professional Certificate Program in Medical Writing, you’ll recognize JoAnna. Today she shares the catalysts that triggered her transition from veterinary practice to medical writing, the challenges she faced in making this shift, and how she found solutions to those challenges. If you are a vet thinking of medical writing as a side hustle or alternative career, you’re going to want to listen to this episode. It’s jam-packed with tips and resources to support your medical writing journey. We talk about the importance of doing the internal work to clarify what brings you joy and to identify your current skills and competencies, how to build your business in a way that works for your life, and the importance of finding other vets who have made the shift into medical writing—people who speak your language. Time Stamps: (03:39) - Introducing JoAnna (07:40) - Her next steps and the challenges she navigated in shifting into medical writing (12:22) - JoAnna’s perspective on the field itself as she moved from a postdoc context into medical writing (14:02) - Her experience with agency work (17:29) - How JoAnna faced challenges (22:34) - How she found community with other veterinary medical writers (24:18) The impact of finding a community who spoke her language (24:50) The skills she brought from veterinary training to medical writing (27:59) What has surprised her about medical writing (31:50) JoAnna’s advice for vets thinking about shifting into medical writing (37:52) Her final thoughts on building a successful and effective business that works for your life Click Here for the Transcript Resources SCORE About JoAnna JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM, is a veterinarian and freelance medical writer. She has been a medical writer for over 10 years and started her freelance medical communication company, JPen Communications, in 2016. JoAnna is passionate about pet owner education. Through her writing, she seeks to fill in the gap between what the veterinarian says and what the pet parent understands. Connect with JoAnna LinkedIn JPen Communications 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 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

In this episode, I spoke with Sean Sodha, founder of medical content platform Grafi AI, about the promise and pitfalls of generative AI for healthcare content creators. Sean shared his unique perspective on navigating this emerging technology.  We take a comprehensive look at the role of generative AI in medical content creation and explore its promise for augmenting human skills and improving productivity in the medical writing space.Key TakeawaysGenerative AI can greatly accelerate drafting and ideation, but always requires human review. Gen-AI creates a first draft, not a final product.Prompt engineering could become less necessary as platforms improve at inferring users' needs and styles. Still, thoughtful prompts produce better results.Look for gen-AI providers focused specifically on healthcare to address nuances around compliance, accuracy, empathy, and privacy.Thoroughly vet platforms on explainability, recency, relevance, and uncertainty to ensure responsible AI practices.When testing generative AI, use fake data rather than real person information to safeguard privacy. Steps for EducatorsConsider gen-AI to streamline early phases of content creation like outlining.Remain mindful of how use of AI is communicated to learners. Focus on intended benefits.Advocate for transparent AI practices by creators to build trust.Connect with SeanGrafi.aiLinkedInResourcesBioGPT: a useful tool or cause for concern? The Publication Plan. July 2023. 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 had the pleasure of speaking with Michelle Rizzo, a trained journalist who turned her curiosity and life-long interest in medicine into a thriving career as a CME writer. Michelle currently works as an associate medical director and senior writer at a boutique CME content company, where she often finds herself writing and researching about rare diseases. She was kind enough to give us a glimpse into her writing process and share some actionable tips for getting into the field without a clinical background. Here are three key takeaways from the episode.Lead with the patient perspective: The ultimate goal of all CME content is to improve patient outcomes. So put your energy and effort into understanding how conditions impact the daily lives and trajectories of patients, beyond what the data alone may tell you.Write with empathy: Behind every study are stories of clinicians and patients, and once you tell them, those stories will be read by others. So put intention into making content that’s clear and takes into consideration your subjects’ points of view and the audience’s needs. Don’t be afraid to over-research: Time constraints are always a concern, but if you’re writing about a rare condition or a subject you’re not familiar with, strive to learn as much as you can before putting pen to paper. This episode has nuggets of wisdom for everyone, whether you’re only thinking about getting into CME or have been in the industry for decades. Share your thoughts and CME career stories in the comments below!Connect with MichelleAssociate Medical Director, Integrity Continuing [email protected] 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

If you are at all interested in the status of women in medicine and the role of education in addressing gender inequities in the health professions, then you’re going to love today’s episode. I’m speaking with Rebecca Ortega about improving gender equity in cardiology. Rebecca is the Founding and executive director of Women as One, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting talent in medicine by offering professional opportunities to women cardiologists through several different programs. 1. Rapid Evolution in Cardiology: Rebecca discusses her experience at SCAI, where she was in charge of education. 2. The Art of Grant Writing: Needs assessment in grant writing. Get clear on why a program is necessary and how it will solve a problem. 3. Challenges in Procedural Training: It might be straightforward to offer training for new procedures but gender equity is a more complex challenge that requires a different educational approach.4. Women as One Initiative: This organization promotes gender equity in cardiology through various programs like CLIMB, Escalator Awards, and a talent directory to help diversify clinical trial leadership.5. Future of Gender Equity in Cardiology: Focus on improving the quality of experience for women in the field rather than just numerical representation.Resources🌐 Women as OneYouTube channelAAMC Gender Inequity Initiative Connect with RebeccaLinkedInSupport 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

I’m really excited to have today’s conversation with  Dr. Barbie Honeycutt, a faculty development consultant and host of the podcast Lecture Breakers.  Barbi is an expert in the field of active learning and is known for her work on creating engaging and effective learning experiences for students. She is the founder of FLIP It® and Interactive Lectures, two popular strategies for incorporating active learning in the classroom.Here’s what you’ll learn in today’s episode. 1. Start with the learner's experience and where they are in their learning journey. Note their preferences for engaging with learning materials.2. There’s a continuum of active learning strategies to engage learners from low to high intensity, from think-pair-share at one end of the continuum to project-based assignments at the other. 3. As we know in CME/CE, it’s vital to align activities to learning outcomes. For example: If critical thinking is a key outcome, use case studies.4. Consider developing your content via inclusive course design principles that use Universal Design for Learning, draw on a diversity of voices, and offer learners choices about which content is most relevant and how to access that content. 5. Finally, mobile and microlearning are expanding in CME/CE. These are terrific tools for creating bite-sized content for busy professionals to learn as needed. An example might be 2-minute lessons that health professionals can complete on their phones and apply right away.Resources➡️ Bucklin B et al. Making it stick: use of active learning strategies in continuing medical education. BMC Medical Education. 2021, 21(44). ➡️ Universal Design for Learning guidelines➡️ Six Thinking Hats from the de Bono group➡️ Quick tips to break up lecturesConnect with BarbiBarbi's website: barbihoneycutt.comThe Lecture Breakers podcast LinkedIn  Connect with AlexLinkedInWebsiteWant tips and tricks to level up your CME/CE content writing practice? Subscribe to the biweekly newsletter.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

Instructional design for online courses is a crucial aspect of modern CME/CE. And as online learning has grown over the last 15 years or so, especially so since 2020, instructional designers play a vital role in creating effective and engaging CME/CE content for learners.In today’s podcast episode, I’m speaking with Mark Hagerty, an expert in effective instructional design in the context of CME/CE with a passion for behavioral and life sciences. 🩺💡Mark shares insights from his three-decade-long career in education and his background in psychology, biology, and organizational behavior.Key highlights include:The importance of involving multiple senses and humanizing content to boost engagement and retention. Dry text alone is an ineffective way to learn.Strategies like storytelling and relatable narratives help learners emotionally connect with and absorb information more readily.Building scenarios with realistic conflicts and frustrations clinicians experience makes the content more applicable and impactful.Following core instructional design models like ADDIE (analyze, design, develop, implement, evaluate) leads to higher-quality education activities.Tools like Articulate Storyline, Captivate, Snagit, and Camtasia enable interactive simulations, videos, and other multimedia elements to engage different learning styles.Networking, reading, and continuous learning help instructional designers stay current on best practices in their field.Mark's advice for anyone looking to improve their instructional design skills? Learn the ADDIE framework, get familiar with key software tools, play around with new ideas, and above all, have fun!Whether you're a seasoned medical writer or just starting out, Mark's insights around empathy-driven content and immersive learning experiences are indispensable. Implementing strong instructional design principles can elevate any CME or medical writing to better educate and empower healthcare professionals.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

Even those of us who’ve had surgery probably haven’t given much thought to the person who put us under and carefully monitored us while the surgeon did their work. I’m here today with anesthesiologist, author, and test pilot Dr. David Alfery to discuss his book, Saving Grace: What Patients Teach Their Doctors About Life, Death, and the Balance in Between, which was published by Wipf and Stock earlier in 2023. David was a cardiac anesthesiologist for over 30 years, taking patients to the brink of death and back during surgery.A cardiac anesthesiologist, Dr. Alfery reveals to readers of his book the critical role of the “total stranger [who] would take them closer to death than they would ever come in this life, then bring them safely back."David’s book explores the highs and lows of being an anesthesiologist, including his personal experience during his own daughter’s surgery. In this episode, we explore fears, aspirations, and motivations of health professionals and how to create and maintain sacred trust between physicians and their patients. David shared 3 powerful takeaways: 1️⃣ Human connection is key: The doctor-patient relationship is a unique space that amplifies all the things that make us human and connect us. Empathy, gratitude, and perspective are the vital keys in our interactions with others.2️⃣ Corporate medicine has negatively impacted teamwork in the OR by pressuring faster case turnover and high staff turnover. Teams that know each other work more smoothly together. 3️⃣ Trust and touch: Trust is at the core of the physician-patient relationship, and touch plays a crucial role in building that trust. Yet, there has been a shift in the reception of touch by patients. Personal space and boundaries are more important than ever, and it's essential for healthcare professionals to be respectful and mindful of this.David D. Alfery. Saving Grace: What Patients Teach their Doctors about Life, Death, and the Balance in Between. Resource Publications. 2023. [this affiliate link earns the podcast a small commission at no additional 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

If you are an education provider tasked with designing virtual education, or you work with providers involved in online group learning and experiences, today's episode is a must-listen. Gwyn Wansbrough is a facilitator who designs and leads interactive online sessions. Gwyn shares how to run effective and engaging live online sessions and guide a group to achieve a specific outcome. The more we talked, the more I realized that the preparation process for facilitation is akin to conducting a needs assessment and designing an education activity. We need to get to know our audience of learners, identify their gaps in knowledge or practice, and find out what they need to know and be able to do in order to make that education as concrete and meaningful as possible. Here’s what we cover:✔️ It’s the job of a facilitator to make it easy for a group to achieve an outcome. Facilitators can design an effective process by focusing on the purpose, audience, and desired transformation for the group.✔️ How psychological safety encourages participants to actively contribute versus passively receive content.✔️ How using an "ask then tell" approach taps into what adult learning research tells us about the power of connecting content to experience.✔️ If you are new to the facilitation process, build your confidence by starting small with low-risk experiments—like sprinkling facilitation into content delivery. Resources➡️ Exceptional Virtual Facilitator Workshop on September 7, 2023.  Registration details here. ➡️ The Quest: Subscribe for weekly facilitation tips and tricks➡️ Breakthrough Facilitation: A cohort-based course designed to teach the art of facilitation, September 26th to October 26th. This affiliate link earns the Write Medicine podcast a small commission at no extra cost to you. Experiential/transformative learning theorists➡️ Here’s a great overview of John Dewey’s education philosophy➡️ Background to Jack Mesirow’s work on transformational learning➡️ Background to David Kolb’s work on experiential learningSupport 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

Sarah Nelson PhD is a medical writer and founder of Green Pen Solutions Ltd. She is a leading mentor and trainer for medical writers all over the world. Her mission is to encourage more medical writers into Medcomms and help them create a sustainable career path that builds on their personal strengths.Sarah's wide-ranging knowledge comes from over 17 years as a medical writer, her experience leading large editorial teams, and from mentoring writers in over 20 agencies across the medcomms industry.In today’s episode, we focus on the importance of training for medical writers, medical writing tests, Sarah’s five pillars of medical writing, and the impact of artificial intelligence in medcomms. We also touch on the differences between Medcomms in general and the specific requirements of accredited CME/CE, at least in the United States. ResourcesGreen Pen SolutionsGreen Pen Solutions YouTube ChannelMedComms networking For more specific information on how CME/CE is changing in Europe and in the UK, check out episode 55 with Eugene Poznak of the European CME forum. Training and Mentorship➡️ Sarah is hosting a brand new medical writing course with coaching. Now you can elevate your medical writing career with Sarah's industry-leading expertise through the exclusive Agency Ready program. Courses include comprehensive training and coaching packages, all designed to get you ready to launch the next phase of your medical writing career.➡️  Take advantage of a special offer in September, saving you over £300 on the cost of enrolment on the Foundations of Excellence training course plus one of only 8 spots in the last Agency Ready coaching group of 2023.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

Welcome back to the Write Medicine podcast! Before we get into today’s topic on the power of experience in learning, I wanted to share with you a message from Mallory Kane. Mallory is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Connecticut who is creating an anthology of essays based on testimonies from people whose lives have been impacted by cancer. Whether you are a patient or survivor, a family member or caretaker, she wants to hear from you. She is using this anthology to highlight the experience of living with this disease.Mallory’s looking for 1–3-page essays (max 1500 words) answering the following prompt:What lesson have you learned from your experience with cancer that you want others to know?You can send your submissions to Mallory via email to [email protected] or via this form.Adult learning is a complex process and we all want to think our CME/CE content measures up to the challenge. So today’s episode focuses on learning by doing and learning through experience. But first, let's talk about building libraries and the American philosopher John Dewey. ResourcesRead a version of this episode here.Ready to turbocharge your facilitation skills?Next week my guest is Gwyn Wansbrough, who hosts Breakthrough Facilitation, an online course that provides personalized coaching, support, and feedback to fast-track your journey to becoming an exceptional virtual facilitator.If you are interested in learning more about Breakthrough Facilitation, Gwyn is hosting a demo on Sept 7th. Learn more here. But if you're ready to jump in, you can save $300 by using my affiliate link. Join the Breakthrough Facilitation by clicking here (affiliate link).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

Welcome to the season finale of the Write Medicine podcast!Today's episode was supposed to be live on LinkedIn, but we encountered some tech hiccups linking Riverside.fm to LinkedIn Live. Fret not! We recorded the episode for you, and it's available right here and on your favorite podcast platforms. We're looking forward to our first live episode, which we've rescheduled for the opening of Season 6 on August 30.Launched 2 1/2 years ago, Write Medicine has evolved into the go-to podcast for professionals in the continuing medical education/continuing education for health professionals (CME/CE) field, packed with insightful interviews about the intricacies of designing and delivering health professional education. Thanks to listeners like you, Listen Score ranks Write Medicine as one of the top 10% most popular shows out of over 3 million podcasts worldwide. Season 5 was packed with interviews featuring professionals from diverse backgrounds, to explore topics such as outcomes analysis, needs assessments, and diversity. Expect an exciting lineup in Season 6,  including experts from online learning, instructional design, and niche topics such as the climate impact of digital content creation.Season 5 has been a joy, and we're excited about the road ahead. Don’t forget to grab our WriteCME Roadmap bundle, specially crafted for medical writers. And if you have questions or topics you'd love us to cover in Season 6, reach out using the survey below. RESOURCES AND LINKSWriteCME RoadmapWhat questions do you want the show to answer? Ask here. Howson A. Practical Strategies for Creating CME/CE Content: Insights From Adult Learning Scholarship. AMWA Journal. 2023, 38(2). 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

If you’re a pharmacist you are probably going to have thoughts about today’s episode. I’m joined by pharmacist and Director of Pharmacy at Minnesota Oncology, Kirollos Hanna Pharm.D. I first met Kirollos at the end of 2020 in the context of an end-of-year report on oncology trends for the Association of Community Cancer Centers, that included a series of focus groups with ACCC members. I was deeply impressed by Kirollos’s humanity, clarity, and pragmatism, and if you don’t know Kirollos, I think you will be too.In this episode, we talk about the challenges and opportunities for pharmacists transitioning from clinical to non-clinical roles and explore the different roles pharmacists can take on in non-clinical settings, such as creating educational content or working in the pharmaceutical industry.Kirollos highlights the unique value that pharmacists bring to education and the importance of foundational knowledge in specialized areas like oncology pharmacy. But we also talk about the challenges pharmacists face every day and the evolving nature of the pharmacy field.Join us as we delve into the world of pharmacy and explore the possibilities for pharmacists as educators and their unique contribution as educators to continuing education in the health professions.Connect with KirollosKirollos is also Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Associate Editor for the Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology (JADPRO).Email: [email protected] Practitioner Society for Hematology and OncologyNational Comprehensive Cancer NetworkBoard Certified Oncology PharmacistsEducation VendorsMedscapeOncLive Pharmacy TimesSupport 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 an accidental educator, Andrew Crim MEd, CHCP is a seasoned expert in designing educational programs for healthcare professionals. He’s the Director of Education and Professional Development at the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is deeply passionate about the effect that high-quality education can have on patient outcomes. As an early adopter of Chat GPT, Andrew recognizes the potential of this technology to transform the way healthcare professionals access and engage with CME content. So in this episode, we’re exploring the potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT to revolutionize CME—from writing entire grant proposals to chatbots providing practice and feedback to learners. And of course, we talk about the limitations of generative AI.💡 Idea to tryCheck out Chat GPT and experiment with its capabilities🧭 Resource to exploreVisit the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists website for more information on their education and professional development programs.📱Follow Andrew Crim on LinkedIn for updates and insights on the latest developments in CME and AI.93ad1e279a661b5d2bd2225eb51908c71728b333Support 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

"There's great potential and power in acknowledging this. It's self to self, self to others single, self to others plural, and self to others at the macro level. You begin to appreciate how beautiful it can be all around you, how much we all need help, and how very related we are in our own ways." In episode 62, Dr. Leigh Boehmer emphasizes the crucial role of self-awareness in understanding and practicing intersectionality, which goes beyond recognizing one's own complexities and involves acknowledging the unique layers of others. Leigh is the Chief Medical Officer for the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) and is responsible for assessing educational needs and designing interventions for multidisciplinary cancer care teams serving patients in community oncology programs and practices. He also serves as a liaison with external stakeholders, including patient advocacy organizations, policy experts, and governmental agencies, to advance the objectives of the ACCC membership and projects.Leigh describes how ACCC responded to health disparities that were exacerbated by the pandemic, and how it acted as a convener to connect individual community needs with the mechanisms necessary to address inequities. Finding ways to enhance human connection and practice empathy becomes even more crucial as technology continues to advance, with the rise of big data, AI, and machine learning. Leigh highlights ACCC initiatives that foster connection and build equity such as the  ACCC-ASCO implicit bias training program, which, combined with a clinical trial site self-assessment tool increased knowledge among participants of health disparities and strategies to address implicit bias and diversity in cancer clinical trials. The FDA requirement for the pharmaceutical industry to develop Diversity Action Plans from July 2023 is an additional, granular step toward addressing diversity and the broader social, political, and economic issues affecting cancer care. Join us for a conversation about how continuing education, professional development, and the oncology community can give form to intersectionality and equity by asking the right questions, bringing the right people to the table, and listening.Connect with LeighEmail: [email protected] of Community Cancer CentersLinkedInResourcesBarret N, et al. An Assessment of the Feasibility and Utility of an ACCC-ASCO Implicit Bias Training Program to Enhance Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Cancer Clinical Trials. JCO Oncol Pract. 2023 Apr;19(4):e570-e580. Guerra C et al. Increasing Racial and Ethnic Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Cancer Treatment Trials: Evaluation of an ASCO-Association of Community Cancer Centers Site Self-Assessment. JCO Oncol.Pract. 2023;19(4): e581-e588.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 have a conversation with Sapana Panday, a medical education specialist with over two decades of experience. Sapana shares how her background in public health and evaluation research led her to work in medical education, particularly in areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).About SapanaSapana earned a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Mount Holyoke College and a Master’s in Public Health, Socio-Medical Sciences, from Columbia University. She brings a unique perspective from her upbringing in the developing nation of Nepal where education was a privilege afforded by the few, to her days as a health educator in the troubled schools of New York City. Over the years, she’s designed innovative educational formats, often leading the charge in introducing new concepts to medical education. She is a frequent speaker at many conferences and an advocate for integrating DEI efforts in CME. Integrate DEI Sapana emphasizes the importance of integrating DEO policies into both continuing education for health professionals and continuing education workplaces.Start with FacultyFor instance, faculty policies represent one core area that can benefit from an integrated DEI approach that considers the characteristics of the people contributing expertise to the design and development of content. A simple statement that outlines the organization's commitment to DEI sets a foundation for ensuring that faculty members reflect diverse backgrounds and experiences.Avoid Performative Allyship We also explore how to avoid performative allyship and how self-evaluation and internal reflection are important crucial steps toward creating a more diverse and inclusive environment in continuing healthcare education. Cultivate Communication ChannelsAnd in that context, Sapana cautions on how to avoid making the assumption that individuals from diverse backgrounds can speak for an entire group in general. She emphasizes instead, the value of cultivating channels to share diverse voices and opinions.Connect with SapanaEmail: [email protected] Lancet Group’s commitments to gender equity and diversityTen steps to gender equity: The BMJ’s resolutionsUnconscious Bias Drives Your Decision-Making. Here's How to Take ControlProduced by Golden Goose CreativeSupport 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

Simulated case-based educational formats allow radiologists to develop their skills in a safe environment, learning from experts without the risks involved in clinical care. This is exactly what Medality specializes in offering its learners. On today’s episode, Dr. Deanna Heier, Ph.D., Head of Educational Strategy and Operations at Medality, shares how the company replicates side-by-side training through asynchronous and synchronous learning options and uses performance outcomes to enhance this approach to medical education. While the microlearning model offers asynchronous, flexible case-based learning, faculty provide personalized feedback on both clinical and communication skills via synchronous learning. Join us for a conversation about mentorship, using productivity metrics to assess outcomes and gauge the confidence, accuracy, and efficiency of learners, and how Medality is partnering with the American Association of Women and Radiology to diversify its faculty and balance out this male-dominated field.Connect with DeannaEmail: [email protected] Association for Women in Radiology 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

✨ Focus Your Writing with Ben Riggs ✨Join Ben Riggs for a WriteCME Pro Expert Perspective session on how to focus your writing and create focused content for busy health professionals. When: June 21, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDTWhere: Live onlineHow: Buy a ticket for the event + 1 month of WriteCME Pro__________________________If content is King, learning culture must be Queen, as the latter goes a long way to determining learner outcomes. Frustrated with many years of check-box top-down broadcast learning culture, Andrew Barry founded Curious Lion and built a better way to effect behavior change by fostering progressive and transformative learning cultures. In this episode, Andrew outlines the building blocks required for a successful learning culture.✔️ Shared vision✔️ Collaborative peer-to-peer team learning✔️ Personal mastery & individual accountability ✔️ Systems thinking  Andrew invests heavily in building motivation through the self-determination theory of competence, relatedness, and autonomy, as he believes self-determination lies at the heart of behavior change. He recommends that creating learning cultures involves interventions at both the micro and macro levels, focusing on both the individual and company culture. We discuss the importance of developing life-long reflective learners and the circle of learning. Connect with AndrewFounder & CEO, Curious LionEmail: [email protected] Enablement ScorecardAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality Learning Health SystemsPeter Senge, The Fifth Discipline (shared vision and systems thinking)Deci EL, Ryan R M. Self-determination theory: A macrotheory of human motivation, development, and health. Canadian Psychology . 2008;49(3): 182–185MySnapshotProduced by Golden Goose CreativeSupport 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

Whether you are an education provider working with a distributed team or a freelance writer working with multiple clients, connecting with your colleagues, peers, and clients is key.Today I’m taking a deeper dive into connection to explore why it’s important in CME and to offer some different ways to foster connection with clients, colleagues, and content. To apply empathy to content creation, you can create content in multiple formats and provide access to that content in multiple ways. For instance, if the primary format is a podcast, including a transcript for people who prefer to read can be helpful. It's important, too, to identify the factors that motivate learners to participate in the educational activity and use these motivation factors to help learners connect with the content. Self-determination theory can be a helpful framework here as a reminder that adult learners need to feel autonomous, competent, and connected to what they're learning, as well as to the people they're learning with.We can also offer choices in the activity content and ensure the expectations for learners are succinct and clear and cultivate an audience mindset. By gathering feedback and engaging in dialogue with learners we can better understand what's important to them and create content that connects on a deeper level.✔️ Only connect✔️ Focus on relationship building✔️ Cultivate empathy in CME planning, designing, and writing✔️ Cultivate an audience mindsetRelated Podcast EpisodesConscious Communication in Content CreationMentoring You, Mentoring Me: Reciprocity and RelationshipsCultivating a Visual Mindset: Infographics in Continuing Healthcare Education ArticlesDeci EL, Ryan R M. Self-determination theory: A macrotheory of human motivation, development, and health. Canadian Psychology . 2008;49(3): 182–185Gohil S, Vuik S, Darzi A. Sentiment Analysis of Health Care Tweets: Review of the Methods Used. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2018;4(2):e43Guevara K et al. Busting myths in online education: Faculty examples from the field. J Clin Trans Sci. 2021; 5(1): e149.CAST. Universal Design for Learning Guidelines. Focus Your Writing with Ben RiggsProduced by Golden Goose CreativeSupport 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

Recently I read Tornado of Life: A Doctor’s Journey Through Constraints and Creativity in the ER by Jay Baruch, MD. It's a collection of linked essays, so you can dip into the book in small, snatched moments without losing momentum. If you need an introduction to the always challenging, sometimes messy, but ultimately humanizing work that clinicians do at the acute end of care, this is a great start. Jay is a physician and writer who explores how creativity in medicine supports empathy, the cornerstone of clinical care. He is a practicing emergency room physician, Professor of Emergency Medicine at Brown University’s Alpert Medical School, and the author of two award-winning short fiction collections. In his latest book, Jay interrogates the messy spaces of clinical practice and the art of caring for patients. Today we are talking about connections between writing, healing, and clinical care. We discussed Jay's experience of writing the book, the experiences that led to writing the book, and the ways that writing can help us figure out who we are and what we think and feel. Alan Bleakley, Emeritus Professor of Medical Education and Medical Humanities at the University of Plymouth calls Tornado of Life the best medical memoir he's read. I can only agree and encourage you to read the book, too. Why? Because it'll expand your concept of the healthcare team to include "the regular players already there, humanity scholars, writers, artists, and designers." And it'll expand your idea of what CME can do too. ResourcesBaruch J. Tornado of Life: A Doctor’s Journey through Constraints and Creativity in the ER. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. 2022.   Baruch J, Springs S, Poterack A, Ganz Blythe S. What Cy Twombly’s Art Can Teach Us About Patients’ Stories. AMA J Ethics. 2020;22(5):E430-436. Baruch J. Doctors as Makers. Acad Med. 2017;92(1): 40-44.   Deavere Smith A. Talk to Me. Travels in Media and Politics. Anchor. 2001.  Scarry E. The Body in Pain. Oxford: OUP, 1987. Schulz K. Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margins of Error. Harper Collins. 2011. 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

Transforming our own habits is notoriously challenging and changing clinical practice habits even more so. But my guest today shares strategies that CME practitioners can apply to education design and implementation based on understanding clinician readiness to change. Sara Johnson PhD is a leading expert in behavior change science. Along with Dr. Kerry Evers, she is co-President and CEO of Pro-Change Behavior Solutions, a behavior-change consulting firm and solution provider that empowers people to experience life-changing breakthroughs in health and well-being. Sara also co-edits the American Journal of Health Promotion (AJHP) and contributes to the Knowing Well, Being Well practitioner-focused section focusing on emerging trends in health promotion and well-being.  Sara's been refining the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of change for over two decades and in our conversation she explains how to apply the five stages of change (pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance) to understand readiness for change as a foundation for clinician-focused education as well as multi-level community-based education. To this end, Sara shares insights from the Communities United Together for Health enterprise, a multi-level initiative addressing health disparities around diabetes in Black communities, inspired by a collaboration with Dr. Stephen Thomas from the University of Maryland Center for Health Equity.  Connect with SaraProChange Behavior SolutionsLinkedInSupport 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

Ready for a tour of the European Continuing Medical Education environment?Eugene Pozniak is Managing Director and CEO of Siyemi Learning, an independent medical education provider established in 2006. In fact, Siyemi Learning is the first non-US organization to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and is uniquely also accredited on the other side of the Atlantic by the European Board for Accreditation of Continuing Education for Health Professionals (EBAC).Eugene left the promotional sector in 2000 and has since worked exclusively in CME-CPD, initially devising, and delivering e-learning for the European Society of Cardiology and the Federation of European Cancer Societies. He was Director of Global CME (ex-US) at Wolters Kluwer Health, before setting up Siyemi Learning and the European CME Forum. Eugene describes a disparate European CME landscape, driven by national requirements and split by specialties within countries. We explore accreditation similarities and differences between Europe and the US. For example, while European activity-based accreditation systems embrace a granular, structured approach focusing on the format and organization of the educational activity, US accreditation allows comparatively more flexibility to deliver innovative education.We also discuss the European CME Forum, cofounded by Eugene alongside Peter Llewellyn in 2008, which facilitates open discussion amongst all stakeholder groups and promotes a high standard of CME in Europe. Eugene also set up the Journal of CME (JCME), an open-access, peer-reviewed journal with a global focus on all aspects of CME-CPD, and is a founding member of the Good CME Practice Group.CME Practice and Accreditation Stakeholders in EuropeThe European Accreditation Council of CME (EACCME) of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). EACCME is run by UEMS.The European Board for Accreditation of Continuing Education for Health Professionals (EBAC)The European CME ForumThe Good CME Practice group (gCMEp)The International Academy for CPD Accreditation ResourcesJournal of CMEGood CME Practice groupEuropean CME ForumConnect with Eugeneemail: [email protected] LinkedInSiyemi LearningSupport 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

Instructional designers are the architects of learning experiences. In this episode, Parker Grant PhD, the co-founder of IDLance, an instructional design freelance agency, discusses the learning process, how to use learners’ experiences to optimize education, and where instructional designers go for their story inspiration. Parker advises, “In adult learning, what's really important to know, is that all learning is experiential. What makes learning better is having a multifaceted approach, meaning you don't look at just any one mode of learning as the optimum, but the combination of many facets.”To these ends, Parker uses concept maps to create learning experiences. He finds that mental models help individuals to visualize other perspectives and shift mental models, thus encouraging consistent performance and improving outcomes. Parker describes the core characteristics of well-designed learning activities that allow us to deliver rich learning experiences for healthcare professionals and we discuss how simulations and case studies can enhance the learning experience through feedback and building consequences into the virtual experience. ResourcesGenter D. Holyoak KJ,  Kokinov BN. (eds) The Analogical Mind: Perspectives from Cognitive Science. The MIT Press. 2001. Stevens AL, Gentner D. Mental Models. NY: Psychology Press. 2014. 7taps Microlearning PlatformArist Connect with ParkerEmail: [email protected] 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

What qualities do medical writers need? This is a question I'm frequently asked. In this episode, expect to hear some robust answers—whatever your niche, specialty, or area of focus.Holly Hagan MSc, Success Coach for Medical Writers, believes that all medical writers require diplomacy, intellectualism, inquisitiveness, and resourcefulness as fundamental qualities to thrive. Authentically embodying moral and civic character lies central to her approach to medical writing. In addition, Holly maintains that personal branding goes deeper than your background banner, understanding personal brand to encompass the experience of your every interaction with colleagues and customers.She advocates that employees and freelancers would benefit from adopting a service mindset. Shifting to a service mindset also allows writers to reframe the taboo surrounding sales into one where we understand and fulfill the customer's needs. Holly advises beginner writers to remain vigilant about opinions versus facts when considering what is possible and recommends using visualizations to stay focused on achieving your goals. Holly suggests, "I find that it can be really powerful to separate the facts from opinions when it comes to your job search. That core belief will then change what sort of things you see in the visible world."Connect with HollyEmail: [email protected] Medical WriterLinkedInHolly is presenting at the AMWA Carolinas spring conference: Learn more  ResourcesClifton Strengths 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 this episode of Write Medicine, the tables are turned as I’m interviewed by guest host Holly Hagan. We talk about my own personal journey into CME writing, including how joining the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions was a turning point in my business. Being a part of this community has given me the opportunity to learn about new developments in the field and connect with education providers.We discuss how I’ve integrated my previous experience and interests into my work,  some key learnings when it comes to running my own business, and I share some of my favorite recommendations for academics or medical professionals who want to explore a career in CME writing. And on May 5, 2023, I’ll return the favor and interview Holly about her expertise in medical marketing and copywriting.  Connect with AlexLinkedInWebsiteCourses, Community, CoachingConnect with HollyLinkedInHolly is presenting at the AMWA Carolinas spring conference: Learn more  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

If you've been in the CME field for more than a hot minute, you'll know that Graham McMahon MD, MMSc is a medical educator, researcher, and practicing endocrinologist. He is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME®) and an Adjunct Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern University.Today, we're talking about integrity and trust in CME. We dig into the factors that prompted the publication in 2020 of ACCME's report on standards for integrity and independence in CME, especially the emergence of potential threats to content credibility. Graham emphasizes the importance of nurturing innovation and retaining balance in education and points to the role of content validity as a core part of ACCME's standards and promise to the community of physician learners. We also talk about the centrality of trust in the process of teaching and learning,  how the concept of an educational home fosters trust among physician learners and the work to be done in the CME community to ensure safe learning spaces and create education that is diverse in focus, content, and faculty contribution. ResourcesAccreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME®). Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. 2020. McMahon GT. Changes to the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Continuing Medical Education. JAMA. 2021 Sklar DP, McMahon GT. Trust between teachers and learners. JAMA. 2019;321(22): 2157-2158Connect with GrahamAccreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education  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

Clinicians, academics, or researchers transitioning into freelance medical writing—whether it's CME-focused or not—often worry about whether it’s the right move to make and whether there will be enough work to support their goals.  In today’s episode, long-time freelance medical writer Jonathan Agnew PhD, MBA brings a sense of reassurance to these questions and emphasizes the potential for abundantly available work. In addition, he shares tools and techniques to facilitate the freelance process. Notably, Jonathon’s mantra is “your mindset underpins your success.”  He recommends that you avoid the perfectionist mindset many clinicians and academics are prone to and instead strive for excellence and quality. These goals will give you permission to take risks and enjoy the benefits of autonomy. And Jonathan recommends defining quality simply. he says the best metric of success as a freelancer is getting paid and learning to value yourself fairly is a vital business mindset. Connect with Jonathanemail: [email protected] 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

Christine Welniak is an independent medical writer who specializes in cardiology and diabetes. She values opportunities to develop content that helps healthcare providers learn about new treatments that could improve patient outcomes. Christine contends that "content is king" and is central to producing high-quality CME/CE writing. Learning the art of the pitch in her previous life on Wall Street, Christine is well-equipped to discuss why CME/CE medical writers require skills in negotiation and strategy. Although CME/CE writers are sometimes undervalued in terms of remuneration, it's possible to achieve above-average market rates. Christine observes that writers who do so demonstrate skills above and beyond excellent writing, such as strategy, analysis, or comfort in talking with faculty members. To this end, Christine highlights her top tips for approaching negotiation and empowering yourself to talk about money with ease.Be honest, direct, and listeningDefine your non-negotiables upfrontLearn the language suitable for money conversationsPractice getting comfortable talking about moneyConnect with ChristineLinkedInSupport 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

The medical and CME writers I teach often worry about how to rein in a tendency to burrow into the rabbit hole.If you're a medical writer, I'm sure you know what I mean. That tendency to get led into or follow the delicious temptations of information, data, and stories that bear a family resemblance to the project you're working on, but are not quite on track.The stories that are fascinating and feed your mind, but don't necessarily move your project any closer to a conclusion. Like you, I’m up against the challenge of the rabbit hole too. But instead of seeing rabbit holes as something that derails us, perhaps it's possible to view them as gifts.  In today's episode, I share a process that accommodates the pleasure of following where the rabbit hole leads and supports the time frame you typically have to do your work. ResourcesThe shape of notesApps to match your note-taking styleReferencing software reviewedConnect with AlexLinkedInWebsiteWatch the podcast on YouTubeSupport 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

The CME/CE field has increased its focus on outcomes over the last decade. As a result, outcomes reports now involve a more bespoke process, showcasing more detailed targeted data presented in a visually appealing way. Angelique Vinther CHCP is an independent data and outcomes consultant who has specialized in IME reporting for 14 years.  She focuses primarily on data collection and analysis methodologies, test question-writing best practices, and reports that communicate clear messaging and data transparency.  In today’s episode of Write Medicine, we discuss best practices that education providers can use to evaluate the effectiveness of their CME/CE programs and how to use outcomes to inform decision-making. We explore solutions to education providers' main challenges in developing robust outcomes frameworks, like establishing an efficient process that allows time to evaluate the quality of feedback and think creatively about activity design. Connect with AngeliqueLinkedInFamiliarity with outcomes is core to writing needs assessments.  Next Level Needs Assessments is open for enrollment. You’ll learn how to write lean, agile needs assessments with the help of deliberate practice, peer-to-peer discussion, and expert feedback.Runs April 3-May 12, 2023Ready to level up your needs assessment writing strategy? Learn more. 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

The content creation process in continuing education for health professionals (CEHP) combines both art and science. As a result, creating content for continuing education attracts people who are synthesizers, information seekers, and creators—like academics, researchers, or health professionals looking for a career change. In EP 46 we explore taking the leap from clinical work to medical writing with Esther Langmack, MD, a medical writer and CME consultant. Esther deliberately practiced her newly acquired skills while working as a clinician and medical director of the CME unit at an academic medical center. Tapping into her natural curiosity, she fostered connections and honed her skills by being open to feedback from experienced colleagues.  We talk about the creativity, flexibility, and autonomy that creating education content for health professionals offers and discuss clinicians' specific strengths in CME/CEHP medical writing. 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

Diana Durham PhD, FACEHP is an accreditation strategist who has worked in CME/CPD since the 1990s. Diana has served in many leadership roles, including for the Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. We talk about the accreditation process in general and the evolution of joint accreditation in interprofessional continuing education (IPCE). And we consider how IPCE is evolving and the trends and impacts of accreditation bodies giving hospitals, healthcare systems, specialty societies, and medical schools a mechanism for joint accreditation. Diana shares her perspectives on creative methods of educating all members of the healthcare team such as Schwartz rounds, Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes), and simulations. ResourcesVolponeACCMEACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing EducationJoint AccreditationAmerican Council for Pharmacy EducationAmerican Nurses Credentialing CenterAmerican Academy of Physician Assistants Council on Optometric Practitioner Education American Dental AssociationBoard of Certification for the Athletic Trainer Connect with [email protected] with AlexPodcastLinkedInYouTubeSupport 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

Medical research has the potential for far-reaching implications for individuals and society. Peer review remains the gold standard to ensure high-quality information. However, traditional journal submission involves an extensive process that is often costly, and time-consuming process. Mark Riotto is the founder and president of The Research Post, a peer-reviewed, open-access publishing channel. Mark shares his insights on medical publishing and his campaign to promote a more visual experience for disseminating clinical data in a timely fashion. Mark considers the barriers to accessible, digestible information and we explore the advantages of the visual medium in an increasingly transparent publishing process.ResourcesThe Nelson Memo: Ensuring Free, Immediate, and Equitable Access to Federally Funded ResearchConnect with MarkTheResearchPost LinkedInFacebook: @theresearchpostConnect with Alex PodcastLinkedInYouTubeSupport 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

Sedentary lifestyles pose significant well-being challenges to western cultures. For example, prolonged periods at a desk affect posture, mental and physical health, and stress levels. Those of us working in continuing medical education and continuing education for health professionals are no exception to these risks and we can all benefit from a proactive approach to injury prevention. Eva Stabenow, a medical writer and German translator specializing in health and wellness communication, shares her insights with us today. After years of searching  Eva found relief from chronic work-related pain by re-patterning her movements with Pilates. When she realized many of her fellow desk workers were facing the same challenges, she set out to help them. Today, in addition to keeping a full-ish writing and translation schedule, she empowers people of all ages and abilities to move better, feel better and live better through targeted 1-1 sessions and affordable online group classes. In addition to helping people understand complex health content using plain language, Eva physically conveys her passion for health and health communication by teaching Pilates—a low-impact activity that balances strength with mobility and flexibility, so that you can move more freely and with more power. We discuss the following topics:✔️ Who benefits from Pilates, and what are those benefits ✔️ Preconceptions of flexibility, mobility, and strength training ✔️ What to look for in a Pilates instructor✔️ Pilates role in bridging the gap between physical therapy and return to regular workoutsResourcesIs Pilates as Good as Everyone Says?Pilates Method Alliance Pilates Anytime5 Pilates Exercises for Fibromyalgia SymptomsConnect with EvaYou can find and follow her at Sunroom Pilates. email: [email protected] Eva and mention this podcast to try a free class!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

Storytelling cultivates authentic connections and inspires curiosity in our audiences. At the same time, arousing emotions can enhance the learning experience in professional development and continuing education scenarios, like continuing medical education/continuing education in the health professions (CME/CEHP). Today with Ben Riggs, author, writing coach, and Senior Communication Specialist for Kettering Health, Write Medicine considers how to use storytelling in the health professional education field. We focus on the importance of understanding the constituent parts of the writing process and understanding audience needs by first defining who they are. Connect with BenLinkedInResourcesRiggs B. Tell Them a Story. Using narrative nonfiction in your everyday writing. NY: Editorial Freelancers Association.  WordRake: Writing Professionals on LinkedIn to FollowPepper Content:15 Freelance Writers You Should Follow on Linkedin for Inspiration Clear Writing Q&A  Get Started on Your Writing Journey The Importance of Powerful Storytelling in Writing When we were talking about ideas/"leafmold," Ben mentioned an essay he wrote about walking his dog, Lewie. Here's the essay. Ben's recommendations for d books on writing:  Elements of Style (Strunk &White) Writing Tools and Help! for Writers (Roy Peter Clark) On Writing Well and Writing to Learn (William Zinsser)  The Reader, the Text, the Poem (Louise Rosenblatt) 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 this bonus episode of Write Medicine I talk with Ben Riggs about writing voice. Ben is Senior Communication Specialist for Kettering Health and author of Tell Them A Story. He shares insights on three components that contribute to writing voice: level of formality, syntax and use of metaphor.Connect with BenLinkedInResourcesRiggs B. Tell Them a Story. Using narrative nonfiction in your everyday writing. NY: Editorial Freelancers Association.  WordRake: Writing Professionals on LinkedIn to FollowPepper Content:15 Freelance Writers You Should Follow on Linkedin for InspirationClear Writing Q&A Get Started on Your Writing JourneyThe Importance of Powerful Storytelling in WritingWhen we were talking about ideas/"leafmold," Ben mentioned an essay he wrote about walking his dog, Lewie. Here's the essay. Ben's recommendations for d books on writing:  Elements of Style (Strunk &White) Writing Tools and Help! for Writers (Roy Peter Clark) On Writing Well and Writing to Learn (William Zinsser)  The Reader, the Text, the Poem (Louise Rosenblatt) 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

The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) encourages the inclusion of the patient perspective within CME activities. And patient cases are a great way to meet this recommendation.Allison Armagan, Pharm.D. a content and education director specializing in creating interactive patient cases, joins me in this episode to talk about how to create multifaceted, dynamic patient cases for education activities. She talks about how targeted patient cases provide ways for clinicians to experience a "real-life" scenario, allow them to practice their skills in a consequence-free environment, address patient needs, and identify gaps in their knowledge and skills.Designing patient cases involves a LOT of research, starting with patient advocacy websites, clinical guidelines, and recent literature. Allison emphasizes the importance of understanding the patient's voice, in addition to the disease state information, and of the power of the narrative. to engage audiences by telling a memorable and enjoyable story. DisclaimerThe opinions expressed within the content are solely the author's and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of Pfizer.ResourcesEpisode 4 of Write Medicine focuses on writing patient cases with Scott Kober. Allison mentioned I’m Aware That I’m Rare, a podcast on pulmonary hypertension.Connect with AllisonLinkedInConnect with AlexLinkedInWebsiteSupport 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

Providers of accredited education for health professionals need to demonstrate that education activities have changed learner behavior and healthcare quality for the better. One of the best ways to show positive change is via outcomes reports. In episode 39 of Write Medicine, Medical Writer and Certified CME Professional Andrew Bowser ELS, CHCP talks about outcomes. Andy is the owner and lead developer with IconCME, a content development and consulting firm in Philadelphia. We discuss the format of reports, who the audiences are for outcomes reports, and how the results can help education evolve and improve. Andy describes the evolution of CME, outlines Moore’s Outcomes Framework for evaluating outcomes, and explores the increasing oversight of what constitutes accredited CME. We discuss the importance of narrative and telling a story within outcomes reporting and he recommends using visual cues to simplify the design and improve comprehension. He says, “there's a lot of interesting and creative ways you can portray the data and help people comprehend the outcomes of an activity.”The following acronyms are mentioned in our conversation. CME = Continuing Medical EducationCE = Continuing EducationCPD = Continuing Professional DevelopmentConnect with AndyIconCMELinkedInConnect with AlexLinkedInWebsiteSupport 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

Are you fearless in your marketing? If not, I got good news for you. Lori De Milto, author of The fearless Freelancer is talking with me on this episode of Write Medicine. We explore effective marketing for freelance writers and others working in medical communications, the importance of cultivating a freelance mindset, and how to embody grit, resilience, and confidence in your marketing. Wherever you are on your marketing journey, Lori will reassure you that you have the power to make your freelance future brighter by building relationships through networking. If you're in a marketing slump, or you don't know where to start, listen to the podcast, buy the book, and you will feel like and be in actuality, a fearless freelancer. Lori highlights the importance of strategic networking to create work opportunities and stay front of mind for prospective clients. As we all know, LinkedIn is key to strategic networking. Lori explains the value of an optimized LinkedIn account as a networking tool and for researching potential clients.We touch on the importance of adopting a growth mindset approach that includes grit, resilience, and confidence. Lori reassures us we all have the power to make our freelance future brighter by building relationships through networking.Connect with Lorie: [email protected] MarketerLori De Milto Writer for Rent LLCLinkedIn Ready to level up your needs assessment writing strategy?In Next Level Needs Assessments you’ll learn how to write lean, agile needs assessments with the help of deliberate practice, peer-to-peer discussion, and expert feedback.Doors close January 31, 2023.✴️ Grab your spot.✴️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

Continuing medical education planning usually includes a needs assessment. But sometimes it’s pretty challenging to get to the root cause of clinical or professional practice gaps, because they are often multifactorial.That’s where root cause analysis comes in.In episode 37 of Write Medicine, Greg Salinas, PhD, President of CE Outcomes, discusses his unique approach to needs assessments using root cause analysis. He emphasizes that the literature tells us that practice gaps exist (the what), but that we learn more about why gaps exist through direct outreach to clinicians and other stakeholders.We explore what root cause analysis involves, its benefits for CME needs assessments, and how to approach it using conversational interviews and qualitative analysis.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

Crystal Herron, PhD, ELS founder of Redwood Ink, is an editor, educator and coach. In this episode, she shares her insights into building relationships through supportive, mindful collaboration. Crystal explains how cultivating a gentle and informative manner for feedback promotes longevity with clients. This mindful approach is evident in her informative website resources and newsletter, which are well worth checking out. Crystal advises cultivating a communication skills mindset, with self-awareness and self-regulation at the center through the following:Slowing down when gathering informationAllowing for curiosityMeditation Journaling, using the 5-minute morning and evening feedback practice (here's how Tim Ferriss uses this practice)Crystal also counsels us to consider the emotions behind our writing and content creation. Understanding how our audience feels, not just their interests or knowledge base, allows us to form stronger connections with readers (and learners). Achieving this connection requires going beyond the text and cultivating direct interactions with readers and learners.  Resources for Developing Communication SkillsEmotional Intelligence by Daniel GolemanNonviolent Communication: A language of life by Marshall RosenbergThe 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim DethmerMindset by Carol DweckDifficult Conversations by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen Atlas of the Heart by Brené BrownConnect with CrystalLinkedInWebsiteNewsletterFreebies Crystal is offering a 5% discount for her  Scientific Writing Masterclass . Next session starts January 30. Registration closes January 23. The code does not expire.Get the CodeEditing Software Text Expander Shortcuts: save time with snippetsAutotext is built into Microsoft WordSponsorsCMEpaloozaWriteCME ProProduction TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDShow notes: Rhona Fraser BSc BVMSManagement: Golden Goose CreativeSupport 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

Community health improvement and improving healthcare quality are both Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)  Accreditation with Commendation  criteria.In this episode of Write Medicine, Heather Clemons, MS, MBA, ATC, CHCP shared how she and her colleagues at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Mesa, California, mobilized quality improvement (QI), a community needs assessment, and continuing medical education (CME) to improve community health and clinical care.As Heather describes, there are many facets to QI, including clinical analytics at the system level, performance improvement CME, and patient safety, which involves specialists to determine root cause analysis—which we’ll be exploring in Season 5 of the podcast.We discuss how diversity, equality, and equity emerged as goals for Sharp Healthcare via a combination of an employee grassroots movement, California legislation, and a health system culture underpinned by an awareness of the social determinants of health and unconscious bias or stigma.The confluence of these factors allowed Heather and her colleagues to build a unique CME and QI process, that included:Regular discussions in different formats to create a safe learning spaceA tri-annual community needs assessmentAn established process to validate gap analysesProactively addressing community and clinician education needs through CMEAs Heather says, improving community health and clinical care involves,meeting people where they’re at, seeing them for who they are, meeting their needs the way they need them met. And that’s different for everybody.ResourcesU.S. Household Food Security Survey ModuleCalifornia Medical Association resources on Cultural & Linguistic Competency (AB1195) and Implicit Bias (AB241)California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act (SB 464): resources on implicit bias and reproductive justice  Community Health Needs Assessments Sharp HealthCare/San DiegoChallenges and Opportunities in Healthcare Leadership (chapter: Sharp HealthCare Food Insecurity Education Initiative, Raine Arndt-Couch, Heather L. Clemons, Jeonathan Rodriguez Roman, and Jillian Warriner)AbbreviationsERAS: Enhanced recovery after surgery protocolsABIM: American Board of Internal MedicinePI-CME: Performance improvement continuing medical educationSupport 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

We're getting a little meta here on Write Medicine—this is a podcast episode on the value of podcasts 😉Did you know that podcasts are increasing in popularity in continuing healthcare education?As I was researching this episode, I was astounded to see the enormous growth in the number of continuing education podcasts, and the number of clinicians using podcasts as part of their formal and informal learning. As of 2019, the last year for which I could find figures, there were 200 medical podcasts available online covering 19 specialties and almost 14,000 episodes. And while many podcasts now offer CME and maintenance of certification credits through organizations like the American College of Physicians and the Society of Hospital Medicine, they are still relatively under-used as a CME format.On this episode of Write Medicine I talk with Mike Donoghue, an enthusiastic podcast consumer who co-founded  ConveyMED after recognizing that podcasts offer a great way to learn. As he put it (paraphrasing , when your eyes are busy, your mind is free. We talk about how the ConveyMED platform delivers a novel podcast experience combining visual images alongside an audio experience, and touch on the challenges in setting up a podcast. ConveyMED partners with medical associations to provide content expertise and guides the design process to ensure a self-directed experience that includes: Conversational style discussions between expertsProblem-centered content Material that is framed into short, accessible modules As Mike explains, This is how the mobile generation wants their content. So if you're an association, an academic medical centre, or another content creator and you're not doing podcasts, I would highly encourage you to think about it. Connect with Mike: [email protected] 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

Infographics offer a powerful tool in our education armamentarium. We process images much faster than we do text, so visual communication saves time and allows more effective data retention. On this episode of Write Medicine, I'm joined by Bhaval Shah PhD and Karen Roy MSc—co-founders of Infograph-Ed, a company delivering engaging visual communications in healthcare. We talk about the power of visual communications in continuing healthcare education, how to develop a visual mindset and current trends in visual communications. We also discuss the design process and how to create effective visual communication through the following strategies: Communicate a value propositionIdentify what your audience is looking forDeliver accessible member-driven contentEvaluate your resourcesAnalyze feedback to focus content on the audience's requirements.Resources from Infograph-Ed and Others4-step plan: Designing Information with ImpactBetter Ways to Present Information and DataColor toolNightingale viz McCandless D. Information is Beautiful. 2000. Collins. Kirk A. Visualizing DatawebsiteConnect with Infograph-EdKaren Roy, CEO and Co-Founder: [email protected] 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

Podcasts continue to grow in popularity, and educational podcasts have multiplied in recent years. In addition, the trend towards mobile education and shorter, more focused activities will likely continue as millennials become the majority of the health care workforce. On this episode of Write Medicine, I talk with Lisa Townsend, a marketing and communications professional working in healthcare associations and non-profit organizations. We discuss the developing role of both accredited and non-accredited continuing education podcasts and how they fit within the education provider's content portfolio in member-driven organizations and associations. In particular, Lisa shares insights on how to:Communicate a value propositionIdentify what your audience is looking forDeliver accessible member-driven contentEvaluate your resourcesAnalyze feedback to focus content on the audience's requirements.Connect with Lisae:  [email protected] with AlexTwitterLinkedInProduction TeamAlexandra Howson PhD, CHCP: Host/ProducerRhona Fraser BSc BVMS: Show notes➡️ Join the Write Medicine community➡️ Fall Series: WriteCME Clinic☕ Buy me a Coffee⭐ Review the podcast🎙️ Share the podcastSupport 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

Multi-disciplinary education has expanded in the last decade or so as a way to ensure that healthcare teams cooperate, coordinate care and communicate to make care more patient-centered, continuous and reliable. On this episode of Write Medicine I talk with Lorna Lucas, MSM, a healthcare education professional and advocate for equitable healthcare. We discuss the role of multidisciplinary education in improving patient outcomes, the challenges in delivering and evaluating multidisciplinary education, and interventions that emerged during the early months of the COVID 19 pandemic to provide psychosocial support for both professionals and patients. Lorna shares the need to focus on designing and delivering educational content in a holistic, equitable, and patient-centric way that fosters interdisciplinary collaborative practice. She says, “We must look holistically at the team dynamic. It’s great to have everyone performing at the top of their medical discipline. However, coordinated care requires attention between the cracks.” In this episode we talk about the importance of the following: ✔️ Local/onsite champions to support multidisciplinary education✔️ Deep listening to perspectives in each discipline ✔️ Ensuring that everyone involved feels heard✔️ Emphasizing a comprehensive team approach to address challenges, many of which are operational✔️ Designing and delivering programs that work with everyone’s role in mind  We also touched on the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted existing disparities and inequities in education. She described how educators can play a role in providing psychosocial support for health professionals and how this support can improve patient outcomes. Connect with Lornae:  [email protected] with AlexTwitterLinkedInHosted and produced by Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP➡️ Join the Write Medicine community➡️ Fall Series: WriteCME Clinic☕ Buy me a Coffee⭐ Review the podcast🎙️ Share the podcast➡️ Needs Assessment Fall WorkshopThis episode sponsored by CMEpalooza Fall  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

Ruwaida Vakil, MSc is a consultant, speaker and a medical writer with expertise in medical communications and continuing medical education (CME). Ruwaida earned her MSc in Immunology at the University of Toronto and the Ontario Cancer Institute. She moved into developing educational content over 21 years ago and is a highly experienced writer of needs assessments. She has developed an effective system for ensuring that these kinds of CME/CE deliverables are framed by fair balance,  detail gaps in clinical practice, describe the likely education required to address those gaps, and foreshadow anticipated outcomes from education. On this episode, Ruwaida shares valuable lessons for people considering a move into CME/CE writing, or for CME/CE writers who are considering working freelance.  ✔️Establishing a CME/CE writing niche can be highly rewarding and sustainable especially if you establish yourself as an expert in writing needs assessments.  ✔️Direct energy into marketing yourself as a CME/CE writer to ensure a steady stream of valuable and valued clients.   ✔️Develop relationship management skills to ensure fair balance and content integrity.  ✔️Use downtime to remain current in your specialist area. You can share new insights with clients and position yourself as a valuable partner in their work.   ✔️Sales training and non-accredited education clients value CME writers as skilled content partners.  ResourcesRuwaida has generously shared a range of resources for listeners. AMWA Best Practices for Writing CME Needs Assessments (members only)Pocket Training Best Practices for Writing CME Needs AssessmentsPresentation: Best Practices for Writing and Editing Needs AssessmentsDownloadable Poster: A Survey of Best Practices in Writing and Editing CME NeedsAMWA Blog: Best Practices for Writing CME Needs AssessmentsConnect with Ruwaida ProMed Write LLC e: [email protected] TwitterConnect with Alex Twitter LinkedIn Hosted and produced by Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP➡️ 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 this episode of Write Medicine, I'm joined by Don Harting to talk about CME writing competencies. What are the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that those writing CME/CPD content need to develop in order to create content that connects with and educates health professionals?Medical writers often ask CME writers where to find training and how to get started in CME writing. Don says that clients share with him how challenging it is to find skilled writers for CME-related work. Don and his co-investigator Haifa Kassis think the medical writing field needs a competency model as a basis for training programs and skill-building that is directed toward the need for codified expertise in CME writing. They're using a Delphi process with a panel of experts to determine what those competencies might be.  We discussed:✔️ Changing practices for writing needs assessments✔️ What a competency model for CME/CPD writers might entail ✔️ Why a competency model for CME/CPD writers is important✔️ Key deliverables for CME writers✔️ The role of Delphi method in determining competencies—what it is and how it can be used ✔️ Ranking function in Delphi✔️ Anticipated outcomes from the Delphi approach✔️ Ethics and fair balance in content development ResourcesNorman Dalkey and Delphi methodClemow D et al. Medical writing competency model—Section 1: Functions, tasks, and activities. Ther Innov Regul Sci. 2018;52(1):70-77Clemow D et al. Medical writing competency model—Section 2: Knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors. Ther Innov Regul Sci. 2018;52(1):78-88LockyerJ, Bursey F, Richardson D, et al. Competency-based medical education and continuing professional development: A conceptualization for change. Med Teach. 2017;39 6): 617-622Khurana MP et al. Digital health competencies in medical school education: a scoping review and Delphi method study. BMC Med Ed. 2022;22(1):129ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical  EducationConnect with DonTwitter #cmechat or #mededBlog: Occasional  posts  on CME-related topicsConnect with AlexSupport 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

According to a 2022 Gallup poll, the percentage of adults in the US who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual has doubled in the last decade, and stands at 7.1%. 1 in 5 Gen Z adults identify as LGBT.But health disparities persist among people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, or asexual and more (LGBTQA+). And discrimination against LGBTQA+ people is a key social determinant of health that is linked with high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse,and suicide. Discrimination is evident even as people in LGBTQA+ communities navigate healthcare. My guest this episode is Dena Silva, an educator with a passion for creating education that enables clinicians to address the healthcare needs of LGBTQA+ communities. Dena is CME Director for an association management organization which includes oversight of 4 medical societies in California.We talked about:✔️ How to work with experts who really know about the challenges facing LGBTQA+ patients in health care✔️ The role of education in supporting providers who are working with LGBTQA+ patients ✔️ What providers need to know in order to meet the health care needs of LGBTQA+ patients✔️ Strategies to build more representative and inclusive education programs ✔️ How skilled facilitators are an asset Straight Talk as a Starting PointSometimes the conversation was tricky (failing forward!). It's straight talk, after all, rather than talk among people who are LGBTQA+.  We recognize that this conversation may be filled with things that we  stumbled over.  But as Dena reminded me, in order to show up as an ally for LGBTQA+-affirming CME/CE, we need to learn how be sensitive about the ways we represent ourselves, the language we use, and the assumptions we make about who people are and what they need from healthcare providers. We welcome feedback for our own learning journey so we can improve the way we communicate about this topic and better advocate for LGBTQA+ health needs. The CME community has an opportunity to create education programs that increase awareness around health disparities for LGBTQA+ patients and that equip clinicians with tools to have a conversation with their patients about how they would like to be addressed and what they need from their health care providers. CME/CE can offer a safe space for clinicians to mess up, to say the wrong thing, and to find a way to course correct in curious, compassionate, non-judgmental ways. Without education leading the way, many clinicians will opt to not have this conversation at all. ResourcesFenway InstituteNational LGBTQIA+ Health Education CenterPromoting EquiSupport 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

Jayzona Alberto EdD, MS began her continuing healthcare education career by working on curricula for dentists and other clinicians before transitioning to the Stanford University School of Medicine, where she currently serves as Assistant Director of Continuing Medical Education. Jayzona and her team  work with e-learning tools such as animations, and in this episode she walks us through the process of creating an animation from start to finish. We discuss the importance of building relationships with the faculty who inform education content, the resources for CME that an institution such as Stanford can provide, and the potential for changing clinical practice that well designed CME/CPD fosters. Other topics we discussed include:Differences in assessing knowledge versus assessing clinical change The importance of cultivating soft skills as both a clinician and an education provider How online education is changing the parameters of what is possible in CME And how to raise the visibility of CME within clinical or academic organizations.ResourcesSeptrisConnect with JayzonaEmail: [email protected] Connect with Alexwww.alexhowson.comEmail: [email protected] TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCPShownotes: Emma KolakowskiSound: SuZen MarieYou can support the podcast via Buy Me a Coffee!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

On this episode of Write Medicine, my guest is Dr. Eve Wilson CHCP, FACEHP (she/her), a medical writer with deep expertise who helped me get started in the field.While Eve is primarily a creator of continuing medical education resources, she also holds a PhD in microbiology, and uses her analytical background to inform her present-day work. As Medical Director at PlatformQ Health, Eve integrates new learning concepts with the more traditional didactic experiences to design a meaningful journey for the learner that leads to new insights as a result of their learning experience.   In this episode, we talk about career origins, and the significance of “story” in a seemingly facts-only field. We talk about the creation of curricula, how to find balance variation of content and format, and  how to create and implement multimodal ways of learning. Other topics covered in this conversation include how Eve:✔️ Started in medical writing and what she tells aspiring writers✔️ Preps for continuing education projects✔️ Gauges audience needs and adapts content accordinglyResourcesNBME Item Writing Guide Downloadable Planning Tool for Developing Multimodal CMEEve is running a professional workshop on Preparing CME Materials: Concepts, Strategies, and Ethical Issues,  AMWA 2022 Conference: November 4 2022Connect with Evee: [email protected] with Alexe: [email protected] TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCPShownotes: Emma KolakowskiSound: SuZen MarieSupport the podcastSupport 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

Brian McGowan PhD, FACEP planned to be the team orthopedic surgeon for Notre Dame football. After a month of working in an orthopedic rehab hospital when he was in college, he realized that he didn't know what he wanted to be when he grew up, but it wasn't going to be a physician. Lucky then for us. Brian has worked in academic, industry, and is co-founder of ArcheMedX. But the places he's been do not mark who Brian is. It's his passion for behavioral science, learning science, and research into medical education methodology that make him inimitable in the field of continuing education for health professionals.Join us for a conversation about what continuing education practitioners can do to help learners think more efficiently and effectively. Points of interest include: ✔️ Which root skills are most important for CME storytellers ✔️ What the Ebbinghaus experiment is in learning science ✔️ How physical environments affect learning ✔️ Brian’s love for the three-slide-per-page print option for PowerPoints Resources Brian’s reading list Alter A. Drunk Tank Pink and Other Unexpected Forces that Shape How We Think, Feel, and Behave. NY: Penguin, 2013. McGowan B. #SocialQI: Simple Solutions for Improving Your Healthcare. 2012. Milkman KL, et al. Megastudies improve the impact of applied behavioral science. Nature. 2021;600:478-483. Murre JMJ, Dros J. Replication and analysis of Ebbinghaus’ forgetting curve. PLOS One. 2015; 10(7): e0120644. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120644Roediger HL, III. Remembering Ebbinghaus. Cont Psych. 1985;30(7):519-523.Connect with BrianArcheMedXTwitter LinkedInemail: [email protected] with AlexTwitterLinkedIn email: [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

Today we're talking about ghostwriting. Not the ghostwriting that has been loaded with negative associations within medical writing circles for many years but a different kind of ghostwriting. The kind that gets your business to business or business to consumer book out the door. My guest, Wendy Meyeroff, has been ghostwriting for many years and is here to share what she has learned about what is is, how it has changed, who can benefit from the support of a ghostwriter, and what to look for when you are thinking of hiring a ghost writer. If you didn't know about the world of ghostwriting before this episode, I think you'll agree that there's a lot to mull over here. If you need a writer to help you write a B2B or B2C book or other materials, you can learn more about how to hire a ghostwriter at Wendy's website, to which I've included a link in the show notes, as well as Claudia Suzanne's website,  ghostwritertraining.comEven if you are still on the fence about the value and credibility of ghostwriting, Wendy shares a wealth of detail about the craft of writing, its role in educating audiences, examples from ghostwriters who work in particular genres, like memoir, and a long list of resources on tools of the trade and where to find training. ResourcesSmithsonian Magazine American Medical Writers Association Council of Science Editors  Editorial Freelancers Association Claudia Suzanne Claudia Suzanne Ghost Writing Course  Derek Lewis Lorraine Nash Military Writers Society of America Mark Agnew Connect with Wendy: Email, LinkedIn Host: Alexandra Howson PhD Sound Engineer: Suzen Marie Shownotes: Linzy Carothers  Join the Write Medicine Community 🗞️ Biweekly newsletter🎧 Podcast updates✨ First-in-line access to qualitative research trainings🎁 Receive bonus content from Season #1: https://bit.ly/3GmVuUHSponsor Write Medicine is brought to you today by Breathing Space. When you're glued to a keyboard, your body pushes back with headaches, wrist, arm or back pain, or fatigue. Sound familiar? Breathing Space offers consistent, short, and simple breath awareness, movement, and myofascial release techniques you can practice at or away from your desk tSupport 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

Brenda Thompson is my guest on this episode of the podcast. Brenda has a background in counseling and education and is a longtime professional in the graduate medical education space. For the last year or so, Brenda has been working as a resident and fellow liaison, educating residents who are transitioning into practice about topics such as how to negotiate a physician's contract, how to prepare for the interview process, and how to form their professional identity for the community, their patients, and their colleagues. Join the conversation to learn from Brenda about:The role of the physician liaisonHow Brenda and her colleagues teach newly minted physicians to stand out from the crowd, establish networks, create relationships, and negotiate contractsHow continuing education can educate established physicians about the business side of medicineThe need for health and well-being education for residents and fellowsResourcesAccreditation Council for Graduate Medical EducationAmerican Medical Association NIH Valerian Root & Lemon Balm Tea StudyGraduate Medical Education re[Think] re[Claim] re[Design] re[Create]: Memoir and Call to ActionConnectBrenda: Twitter, Secondary Twitter, LinkedIn, Secondary LinkedInAlex: Twitter, LinkedIn, website🗞️ Biweekly newsletter (with bonus content from Season #1)Host: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieSupport 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

Allison Kickel is Founder & President of Bonum CE. I kept coming across Allison at meetings and via LinkedIn posts and knew I wanted to have a conversation with her. She's smart—that goes without saying—as well as funny and warm.  Most discernibly she thinks outside of the box and is unafraid to both challenge convention and try new things. It's perhaps unsurprising then that she has a background in visual arts—photography and design—and uses this to full effect in the context of designing education for consumption via a range of channels including learning management systems and social media.Join us to explore the benefits of:✅ Appreciation for design in education ✅ Thought diversity✅ Social media based continuing educationBook RecommendationsThe OverstoryThe Language of KindnessResourcesAmerican College of GastroenterologyGlobal Education GroupProject ECHO@MondayNightIBDEpisode 2 of Write Medicine on Design Thinking with Dr. Andrew Chacko Connect with Allison: Twitter, Secondary Twitter, LinkedInConnect with Alex: LinkedIn, www.alexhowson.comSupport 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

This episode's guest is no stranger to many of you in the world of continuing healthcare education. Lawrence Sherman FACEHP, CHCP is president of Meducate Global, LLC and describes himself as a learning facilitator, a global educator, and an education futurist. He is deeply committed to lifelong learning and to humor as a learning tool.Join us for a conversation that touches on:Needs assessments as a continuum Skills required for moderation and collaborationControversy about learning styles Importance of context in teaching and learning Resources Association for Medical Education in EuropeAmerican Association of PsychiatryEuropean CME ForumLinkedIn CME GroupMeducate Global LLCConnect with Lawrence: Twitter, LinkedInSee Lawrence's TEDx TalkConnect with AlexPodcast TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieShownotes: Linzy CarothersSupport 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

We tell ourselves stories in order to live, as Joan Didion wrote in The White Album. We talk a lot about the importance of story on this podcast, and about storytelling as a portal to learning. In today's episode, we get to learn from a storytelling master. Rick Stone, CEO of StoryWork International, has spent a lifetime crafting stories in many sectors, including healthcare. He is the co-creator of StoryCare, a web-based product to help healthcare organizations improve patient safety and support team-based health professional education. He also created the Living Stories program for Novant Health, which supports patients in telling their life stories in service of improving their health outcomes.  Rick is the co-author of Story Intelligence: Master Story, Master Life. I think you are in for a treat in this episode. Our conversation touched on:The role of literature and art in cultivating empathy in medical professionalsThe power of emotional intelligenceThe narrative structure of the brain and how story is a powerful reagent to rewire the brain and help us learn new perspectives and points of viewThe difference between case studies and stories ResourcesStory IntelligenceThe Healing Art of Storytelling  Every Patient Tells a StoryColumbia University Narrative Medicine Program Howard Gardner at HarvardMark Nepo7000 Ways to ListenJohnny MosesTeam STEPPSRonald EpsteinPaula UnderwoodPeter PappasSam MagillConnect with Rick, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn Connect with AlexSubscribe to the Write Medicine newsletter for bonus material. Be first-in-line when doors open to qualitative research trainings.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

One of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the massive shift from live meetings and education to virtual formats and the longer term implications of this shift is an ongoing conversation in the continuing healthcare education world. The 2020 ACCME Annual Report noted that online activities engaged most learners compared with live courses and regularly scheduled series, the dominant activity types in preceding years. The shift to online education is itself not new in the US although its expansion has been patchy and there are several factors that pose barriers to the development and implementation of online learning, such as time constraints, poor technical skills, inadequate infrastructure, absence of institutional strategies and support and negative attitudes. As a result of these  barriers, as well as the impact of the evolving science of learning, the demand for instructional designers in continuing healthcare education is increasing. One study predicts that by 2025, there will be a 28% in ID jobs in education.But what do instructional designers do and what is their role in continuing healthcare education? My guest today Jessica Martello answers those questions. As VP of of content and editorial at EVERFI, a digital education company, Jessica brings deep expertise to the potential of instruction design in adult learning. Join us to hear more about:The key components of an effective digital learning platformKey factors to optimize digital learning platformsHow to assess learning outcomes in digital educationChallenges that adults experience in relation to online learningResourcesEVERFIOn Being with Krista Tippett: Ariel Berger—Be a BlessingInstructional Design Resources from ACCMEAccreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). ACCME Data Report. Rising to the Challenge in Accredited Continuing Education—2020. Love LM, Anderson MC, Haggar FL. Strategically integrating instructional designers in medical education. Academic Medicine. 2019;94:146.Snell L, Son D, Onishi H. Instructional Design. Applying Theory to Practice. In Swanwick T, Forrest K, O’Brien BC (eds) Understanding Medical Education: Evidence, Theory, and Practice. Third Edition. 2018. London: Wiley.Connect with JessieConnect with AlexPodcast TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieShownotes: Linzy CarothersSupport 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

My guest on episode 16 of Write Medicine is Greselda Butler, a  health education professional who works at Otsuka. Greselda lives her passion for educating and leading others toward their passion.  IN this episode, we talk about mentoring—what is is, its benefits for both mentor and mentee, and how to find and structure mentoring opportunities.Resources Goldfarb InstituteAlliance for Continuing Education in the Health ProfessionsHealthcare Business Women's AssociationThe Alliance’s Pilot Mentoring Program launched in October 2020https://hbr-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/hbr.org/amp/2021/05/what-great-mentorship-looks-like-in-a-hybrid-workplaceTownsend B. Mentoring Virtually: A Timely Benefit for Alliance MembersJohnson-Bailey J, Cervero R. Mentoring in black and white: the intricacies of cross‐cultural mentoring. Sociology. 2007: 7-21Connect with GreseldaTwitter: @aCMEstory LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/greseldabutler Podcast TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieShownotes: Linzy CarothersSupport 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

Anne Jacobson MSPharm, CHCP is an independent writer who has been specializing in healthcare professional education since 1999.We recorded our conversation in May 2021. For Anne and many colleagues in continuing healthcare education, the last 18 months or so has been a time of taking stock and reflection on what we want the next phases of our careers to look like. We discuss this process of reflection and the path it leads to questions about how we find fulfillment in work and life.As many guests on Write Medicine have shared, there are so many different stories of how we found our way into medical writing and medical education.Anne observes that across all these different stories is a consistent theme: most of us didn’t follow a pre-existing passion for medical writing or continuing healthcare education; we discovered it while we were on the road to other things.But what many people share in this space is what Cal Newport calls a craftsman mindset. We explore:✔️ How does a person get good at what they do?✔️What does craftsmanship look like?✔️ How do we keep things interesting in our work and create the life we want? Resources✔️ Continuing Medical Education (CME)✔️ American Medical Writers Association Conference✔️ National Association of Science Writers✔️ Cal Newport Professor of Computer Science at Georgetowno  Deep Worko  So Goodo  Digital Minimalismo  Craftsman Mindset✔️ International Society for Medical Publication Professionals✔️ National Association for Health Care Quality✔️ CME Palooza ✔️ UC San Diego Medical Writing Certificate Program✔️ American Medical Association (AMA) Medical Writing Certificate ProgramConnect with Anne: LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with AlexPodcast TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieShownotes: Linzy CarothersSupport 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

My guest  is Dr. Elizabeth Franklin, Associate Professor in the School of Health Related Professions at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Elizabeth teaches research, communications, and health policy for the doctorate in health administration degree program.  Elizabeth shares her considerable knowledge about online learning and interprofessional learning in the state of Mississippi and draws on a deep well of teaching in high school, community college and university settings. She shares strategies to support engagement in online learning and gets into the nitty gritty of software integrations that make online interactions fun.ResourcesSchool of Health Related Professions CEA OfficeAlliance for continuing education in the health professions Quality MattersAlliance Learning LabNearpodKnowimaHCHAPS ScoresAccreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)Journal of Applied Social Psychology Connect with ElizabethConnect with AlexPodcast TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieShownotes: Linzy CarothersSupport 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

Karen Overstreet EdD, RPh, FACEHP, CHCP, Vice President, Scientific and Educational Affairs for Medical Learning Institute, Inc. is here to talk about her journey into educating health professionals and some of the things she thinks are important to support effective communication in the education field. These include:* Skills you need for staying power in CME/CPD* The science of learning* Creative ways to measure outcomes* Formats for delivering education to clinicians* How to build interactivity into text* Parsing education materials for specific kinds of clinicians* The pressing need for wider professional development ResourcesMedical Learning Institute, IncFacebook: @mliaceInstagram: @medicallearninginstituteLinkedIn: @medical-learning-institute-incTwitter: @mli_aceAccreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) StandardsHealth and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHSOIG) GuidanceConnect with Karen: LinkedInConnect with Alex: ThistleEditorial.com Breath Awareness Audio FileNewsletter Podcast TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieShownotes: Linzy CarothersSupport 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

Hello and welcome to Write Medicine. I’m your host Alex Howson and I use She/her pronouns. I wanted to jump in and introduce myself to those of you who may be new to the podcast and also share a summary of topics that you might have missed and season season one so that it’s easy peezy to go back and download those episodes for your library.If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and/or leave a review on your podcast listening platform. And if you’re interested in receiving alerts about what’s coming up next, as well as a summary of resources and tools that our guests have shared,  why not sign up for our biweekly newsletter.  As a gift, you'll receive a summary of top tips and tools from Season 1 to elevate your education content. 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 a yoga teacher who loves to share tools like mindful movement, breath awareness, and stillness to help people cultivate rest and resilience in their lives, I’m beyond delighted to share episode 12 of Write Medicine with you. My guest is Donna Gabriel, the Senior Director of Global Education at Med-IQ. Donna is currently pursuing doctorate in Mindful Leadership in Healthcare and is an advocate for mental health in general and reducing clinician burnout in particular. Donna talks about why so many clinicians are exhausted and discusses the importance of mindfully-designed education that not only supports clinician wellbeing but also boosts learning. 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

Martin Warters MA Ed. Tech, CHSE is Head of Education Development Management at Pfizer. Today he shares his expertise on how we can leverage simulation technology in clinical learning and continuing healthcare education. He talks about the power of narrative design to buttress the patient's story, and how to creatively craft pathways  for effective learning.  ResourcesHigh fidelity simulation AR/VRLev Vygotsky and the zone of proximal development Narrative Medicine at ColumbiaNarrative design Conceptual frameworks in medical simulationSimulation in adult learninghttps://learninguncut.global/podcast/Connect with Martin: LinkedInConnect with Alex: Thistleeditorial.comPodcast TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieShownotes: Anna CodinaSupport 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

Adrienne Stevens, EdD, MBA, Vice President and Head of Scientific Strategy at Healio Strategic Solutions shares how her passion for dance, and her interest in the mechanics of movement, physical therapy, anatomy, and physiology has translated into a career as a medical communicator. Dance requires precision, and that’s what Adrienne practices in her work. Welcoming Adrienne Stevens, PhD in physiology, to the podcast [00:02] Some of the things Adrienne  learned in the process of writing her dissertation that fuel her approach in healthcare communication.[00:04] Some of the key differences Adrienne sees between scientific writing and business writing.  [00:09] Key types of communication that work with physicians and other healthcare workers. [00:13:25] The importance of motivational interviewing.[0015:29] Differences in the kind of education strategy and format that MSLs respond to compared with clinicians. [00:18:22]  Are we interactive enough in the education we design?[00:20:36] Communication in obesity education.ResourcesHealio Strategic Solutions Performing Health Motivational interviewing Connect with Adrienne: LinkedInConnect with Alex: Thistleeditorial.comPodcast TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieShownotes: Anna CodinaSupport 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

IntroductionAmanda Kaczerski, ATC, MS, CHCP is Vice Principal of Educational Strategy at the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning. We first met at the beginning of 2020, feels like 100 years ago now, when we both co-presented as faculty in a prep course for the Alliance's CHCP exam. I'm delighted to have her on the show today, we're going to talk about instructional design, and geek out a little bit and some of those instructional design parameters.Chapters00:04:19 From field sales to learning design00:06:11 Pay attention to clinician goals00:11:00 Dealing with online fatigue00:14:55 Addressing the "shiny objects"00:19:46 Changes in how people approach education design00:22:24 Leveraging a range of virtual learning approaches for CME/CPD00:27:15 Key Take AwaysConnect with Amanda: LinkedInConnect with Alex: Thistleeditorial.comPodcast TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieShownotes: Anna CodinaSupport 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

IntroductionMonique Johnson MD is the Medical Director at Physicians' Education Resource and has more than 20 years in the CME field. Monique shares some of the challenges clinicians face when they're in the healthcare industry, why she's passionate about having better education within this field, and how to overcome common structural barriers in healthcare that block health professionals from learning.Chapters[02:03] A little bit about Monique and how she got started in the medical education field. [06:37] Monique shares some of the challenges she had on the administration side of things when she was in the medical field. [11:20] Monique gives an example of how education can address structural healthcare barriers. [14:54] Some 'common facts' that medical professionals use and reference all the time can actually be outdated or flat out not true.[18:00] The value of education on social determinants of health.[21:40] What has changed in 2020 and 2021 on how to best approach training clinicians? [27:22] How should the CME industry best help their clinicians?ResourcesWilliams DR, Cooper LA. Reducing racial inequities in health: Using what we already know to take action. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(4):606. Brewer LC et al. Association of race consciousness with the patient-physician relationship, medication adherence, and blood pressure in urban primary care patients.  Am J Hypertens. 2013;26(11):14-152. Connect with Monique: Gotoper.com & LinkedInConnect with Alex: Thistleeditorial.comPodcast TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieShownotes: Anna CodinaSupport 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

Summary Steve Powell DHA is the CEO and Founder of Synensys Global and is a recognized leader in performance improvement. He has led programs in the US Navy, commercial airline industry, and the healthcare industry for more than 30 years and is passionate about patient safety, quality control, and patient-centered care improvements. Steve shares what he learned in safety when he was a Navy Pilot and how these experiences crossover nicely into the medical industry. He also shares his thoughts on what makes a team successful when it comes to patient handoffs, and the 5 key principles to a high-reliability organization. ResourcesInstitute of MedicineTeamSTEPPSKohn KT,  Corrigan JM, Donaldson MS, eds. To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System. Washington, DC: Committee on Quality Health Care in America, Institute of Medicine: National Academy Press; 1999.Nash D, Beliveau ME.  Two lessons hospitals can learn from their COVID response. MedPage Today. Dec 7, 2020. Connect with Steve: Synensysglobal.com + LinkedInConnect with Alex: Thistleeditorial.com + LinkedInPodcast TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieShownotes: Anna CodinaSupport 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

IntroductionToday my guest is Nina Taylor, Vice President of Learning and Education at American Society for Radiation Oncology. I first met Nina Taylor in 2018 at an Alliance Quality and Innovation Summit in Park City, Utah.  She and Andrew Chacko, who was a guest in episode 2 of Write Medicine, were presenters in a session on designing innovative education programs.  Nina talks about her work in continuing education and how she uses active listening, social learning, and a sense of fun to create immersive and accessible education for healthcare clinicians.Ley Take Aways* How Nina got started in CME.* What really goes behind the scenes in building out engaging adult learning materials.* Nina challenges you to think about your leadership ethos. * Nina shares what her experience was like working in several different medical societies and some of the key takeaways she’s learned over the years. * When you’re in an association or a society, you’re seen as a peer and medical faculty are happy to help you because everyone is fighting for the same team.* How does the American Society for Radiation Oncology approach clinician education? * Nina shares some of the challenges she faced trying to incorporate virtual technology into her department. * What does a dynamic and immersive educational experience look like? Nina shares some examples. * Covid is hard for everyone right now. Humans are social creatures and we need connection. * Nina believes every meeting should have a virtual component. It just opens the doors to so many people who weren’t able to come before due to financial or geographical restraints. * Virtual is here to stay! Education in any form is always a positive. * What should practitioners be thinking about when it comes to the future of the CME field? * We really have to practice what we preach. Sometimes our learning materials are so dry and dull! * What is the Psychiatric Innovation Lab all about? * What’s Nina looking forward to in 2021? SummaryNina's experience at an HBCU gave her direct exposure to a dynamic learning environment filled with opportunities to teach and facilitate that she has been able to pull into her professional life and use to support her work with faculty. And her leadership style of leading from the middle is invested in uplifting team members, elevating their skills, and fostering an ecosystem of sharing information and a climate in which team members take ownership of their own work, and not the work that someone else has determined for them. The parallel here for me is adult learning. How many programs in CME/CPD really allow learners to take ownership of their own learning? And to what extent does the shift to a virtual learning open a door to that kind of experience?  Nina is clear that it is possible to craft dynamic, immersive, experiences that offer room for learners to curate their own learning in a virtual environment that has a clear esthetic design, rapid interactive activities, and networking opportunities.  She's also clear thatSupport 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

Regina Sih-Meynier is an authentic leader with expertise in developing and executing strategic plans for Medical Affairs. She is passionate about ensuring patients receive the best available healthcare and she leverages her intuitive sense, her ability to identify problems, and her creativity to create systems and processes to solve those problems. She has over 20  years of experience in the healthcare field and understands the importance of demonstrating impact in patient care. Regina talks with Alex about how to create education content that supports authentic empowerment and transformational learning. Key Takeaways[0:55] How did Regina get involved in medical education? Like so many of us in this field, her career path wasn’t exactly linear.[4:20] What is authentic empowerment? [6:25] Regina loves to use her intuitive sense to guide her in writing highly educational and engaging patient materials. [7:25] Tapping into your intuition is something corporate likes to stay away from because you can’t exactly see it or touch it. However, you’re missing out on a whole superpower if you ignore it. [9:35] How can you tap into your intuition and really listen to your inner voice? [13:30] There’s a real art to developing care that is both science-based and gut-based. [14:15] Why does corporate like to avoid people’s intuition? [18:35] Glennon Doyle’s inner voice. Ideas and solutions have their own energy. Regina explains what she means by this.[22:00] Regina shares what she’s learned from working with a life coach and how it’s given her a new way to approach and solve problems. [25:00] What is Regina’s company, Oh Universe, about? [29:25] What are some of the benefits of taking on a more authentic empowerment stance in the medical education space? [32:40] Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not real! We don’t always have all the answers. [34:25] Regina shares her morning rituals.ResourcesConnect with Regina: www.oh-universe.com, LinkedIn, FacebookDoyle G. Untamed. The Dial Press. 2020. Gilbert E. Big Magic.  CreativeLiving Beyond Fear. Riverhead Books. 2016.  Gladwell M. The Tipping Point. Bay Back Books, 2002. Sih-Meynier R. An opportunity for organizational leaders and decision-makers to step in and protect the well-being of their people. Thrive Global.  October 4, 2020. Thaler RH, Sunstein CR. 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

Scott Kober MBA is the Managing Partner of Excalibur Medical Education, which launched in January 2021. He has more than two decades of experience designing and developing content for CME activities and provides high-quality innovative education for today's healthcare providers. In this episode, Scott underscores the different aspects writers need to think about when developing medical content, especially if they do not have a medical or science background. Scott also shares some of his tried and true tips on how to create engaging medical pieces that are simple and easy to understand.Key TakeawaysA little bit about Scott and how he got involved in this field. How has medical education evolved since the early 2000s? Scott defines what adult learning looks like in healthcare and how it slightly differs in other industries. What are some industry best practices out there where we can drive home the core message of ‘what does this all mean’? Writers love to show people how smart they are and reference as many medical guides as possible, but that’s not helpful! How can writers get better at creating more relevant content for their audience, especially if they don’t have a science or medical background?Scott shares some advice on how to develop a case study that’s helpful to your readers.How much style or personality can you have when writing these very educational and often serious materials?Scott’s content development process.Don’t get intimidated by the different content platforms out there. Everyone starts somewhere.People underestimate how challenging medical content is, so it’s important to educate your higher ups on what actually goes into creating these pieces. ResourcesThistleeditorial.comCMEpaloozaConnect with Scott: Excalibur Medical Education & LinkedInGet access to Write Medicine podcast updates—and more—with Thistle Insights.Quotes “What does it all mean? This can be challenging because we are not health care professionals, we’re not the ones seeing these patients. So we have to take our best guess and work with our faculty.”“Make your materials interesting. No one wants to sit through the monotony of study and data. You got to figure out a way to translate the information in a way that’s going to resonate with people.”“If you can be entertaining and still get your message across, that’s going to be the perfect way to do it. However, it doesn’t come naturally to a lot of people.”Podcast TeamHost: Alexandra Howson PhDSound Engineer: Suzen MarieShownotes: Anna CodinaListen on Apple Podcasts, Google, SpotifySupport 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

Dr. Genevieve Long is a medical writer and editor specializing in patient education, plain language, health literacy and marketing communications. She began her medical writing career as a manuscript editor at Oregon Health & Science University and has more than 25 years of healthcare experience. Dr. Genevieve has been active in the American Medical Writers Association since 2002 and is the past president of AMWA-Northwest. She also teaches at the University of Chicago Graham School on the subjects of medical writing and editing.In this week’s episode, Dr.  Long shares: How she got into this specialized fieldBetter ways to practice patient empathy, and What healthcare professionals need to focus on first when it comes to creating educational content. Key Takeaways[3:38] A little bit about Dr. Genevieve and how she got into the field of patient education.[9:02] Dr. Genevieve shares what people need to be thinking about when they begin to write patient education materials. You might not realize it, but you have a lot of power and what you do/say can hurt the patient. For many health care professionals, the world of medicine is a comfortable place. For patients and their loved ones, it is not. It’s a traumatic experience for them. [13:16] When it comes to creating content, you want to focus on the most important content first. People have short attention spans! Get clear on what’s a ‘need to know’ vs. a ‘nice to know’. Should all of your words be short? Dr. Genevieve says no, but spacing plays a big role in readability. When it comes to adult learning, the more you’re engaged and interacting with the content, the better of an understanding you’ll get. Dr. Genevieve tries to incorporate this principal into her classes. [19:19] Patients who are engaged with their own healthcare journey tend to do better in their recovery. When faculty talks about ‘empowerment’, what do they really mean when it comes to patient education? [22:31] How are educators and providers thinking about information sharing and content creation in today’s landscape? [25:09] Dr. Genevieve shares the different types of materials she’s worked on over the years to make content more digestible. Informational videos are doing exceedingly well. [30:00] What resources are out there that content creators can leverage when creating simple and easy to understand patient education materials?[33:45] Dr. Genevieve shares her tips on building a more empathic approach to her writing. Spend time with patients! Your materials will immensely improve. [37:25] The more people we can bring into science, the less fear people might have on certain medical procedures. [40:00] What don’t we do enough of in patient education? Dr. Genevieve shares her thoughts on usability testing.  ResourcesThistleeditorial.comConnect with Dr. Genevieve: Bridgehealthcomm.com 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

My conversation today is with Dr. Andrew Chacko, a psychiatrist and leader in healthcare innovation. Andrew uses his medical experience to teach others how to become design thinkers using cognitive, strategic and practical processes by which design concepts (proposals for new products, buildings, machines, etc.) are developed. He is passionate about transforming healthcare into the vital, rewarding, and life-changing practice that it can be for patient, provider, and support professionals alike.Show Notes/Highlights[04:43] - Design thinking applied to problems in healthcare.[09:37] - Design thinking and problems caused for healthcare by COVID-19.[14:16] - How does design thinking get systems (and leaders within) to start thinking about the people who support those systems?[19:10] - The synergy between design thinking and other ongoing healthcare initiatives e.g., CME/CPD. [31:18] - The application of design thinking to clinician education.Where to connect with AndrewWEBSITE: https://www.drchacko.com/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chacko_md/?hl=enHere’s the Medium story Andrew mentioned.Articles on Design Thinking in Medical EducationSandars J, Goh P-S. Design Thinking in Medical Education: The Key Features and Practical Application. J Med Ed Curr Devel. 2020. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2382120520926518Gottlieb M, Wagner E, Wagner A, et al. Applying Design Thinking Principles to Curricular Development in Medical Education. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/aet2.10003McLaughlin J, Wolcott MD, Hubbard D, et al. A qualitative review of the design thinking framework in health professions education. BMC Medical Education. 2019;19(98): https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-019-1528-8     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

Audrie Tornow is Managing Partner at Excalibur Medical Education. We talked about the role of creativity, intentionality, and failure in designing education content for clinicians in healthcare.  01:27 Introductions with Audrie Tornow02:31 Audrie talks about her beginnings and journey into medical education: No one majored in CME…04:34 Does anyone remember transparencies? 05:50 How has your background in English informed the way you approach education design and delivery? “When we plan education, it has become something where everything has a purpose because cost is affiliated with it. Planning it out and knowing what we want, starting with the end in mind, has become more critical than ever.”07:23  How do you personally define good learning for adults, especially for those working in healthcare? 09:23 What’s your sense of what learners are looking for in their education during the COVID-19 pandemic? “We talk about online fatigue, but right now so many providers and partners out there are seeing larger metrics than ever in online activities. And so, we’re showing we’re versatile. We’re showing we can adapt.” 14:11 What are some of the shifts you’ve seen in the last few months that really try to creatively engage with a) where learners are and the challenges they may be facing in their personal lives and b) getting around that virtual approach?18:06 How was the ability of educators within the CME world changed in order to prepare them to work more fluidly and intimately with partners? 21:53 How effective do you think our field is in openly discussing failure? “I think people think that demonstrating failure means you aren’t a trusted partner. That you aren’t a successful business. And that’s definitely a perception that’s valid, but I think there’s so much to be learned by saying ‘I tried this, here was the idea. And it didn’t work.’ And it might be that next partner that says, ‘Actually if you had just done this.’ They might be the missing piece.” 24:02 You talked about the potential reemergence of print as something that might be increasingly appealing to learners. Can you talk a little bit about that?ResourcesEric Weiner. The Geography of Bliss. Twelve. 2009.TransparenciesResults of the Alliance 2016 Environmental Scan. Almanac. Ben and Jerry Flavor GraveyardAccreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. ACCME Data Report 2019.        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