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Write Medicine

Alexandra Howson PhD | CME Writer, Educator, Researcherwww.writemedicine.com
If TED Talks and a mastermind group had a podcast baby for CME professionals, it would be Write Medicine.  Think of Write Medicine as the NPR of continuing medical education—smart, engaging, and always packed with insights you can use right away.  Every week, your host, Alexandra Howson PhD, cracks open the secrets of powerful CME content, decoding adult learning, designing impactful outcomes, and navigating the fast-changing world of medical education. Sometimes, she goes solo. Other times, she invites industry pros to share their expertise. Either way, you’ll get practical strategies to elevate your CME writing game.  Whether you’re just starting in CME or you're a seasoned pro looking for that extra edge, Write Medicine is your weekly power-up session for crafting education that truly makes a difference.  Listen, learn, and level up your CME game—because better education means better patient care.
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Episodes

Elevate your CME Game: Insider Secrets from Kristen Dascoli to Transform Education Programs

Kristen Dascoli, a seasoned pro with experience on both the editorial and business development sides of CME, pulls back the curtain on the development of a pioneering program on gender-affirming HIV care. ELEVATE was a groundbreaking CME initiative that aimed to enhance healthcare providers' cultural competencies in delivering gender-affirming care to transgender and gender-diverse patients. From its pilot in January 2015 to its conclusion in the summer of 2019, ELEVATE conducted 26 trainings ac...

Jun 05, 202447 minSeason 8Ep. 124

Building Confidence as a New CME Writer: Strategies for Success

Are you a clinician, researcher or academic transitioning into CME writing? Do you sometimes feel like you're starting over from scratch, despite your wealth of expertise? Are you struggling with self-doubt, isolation, or imposter syndrome as you navigate this new path? If so, you're in the right place. In this episode, we'll dive into the common anxieties faced by new CME writers and share practical strategies to help you reframe your thinking, build confidence, and thrive in your new role. You...

Jun 03, 202411 minSeason 8Ep. 123

Navigating Self-Doubt in Continuing Medical Education: Insights from Milini Mingo

Are you struggling with feelings of self-doubt in your continuing education career? If you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or doubtful about your abilities in continuing education's fast-paced, ever-changing world, you're not alone. In this episode of Write Medicine, Milini Mingo reviews the history of the imposter phenomenon, shares a three-step approach to navigating self-doubt, and challenges the CE community to create professional development resources for ourselves that are oriented around...

May 29, 202438 minSeason 8Ep. 122

How to break into CME as a medical writer

How can you break into the rewarding and lucrative field of continuing medical education (CME) writing? If you're a health professional, academic, science researcher, or vet looking to transition into a career that offers more autonomy, flexibility, and meaningful work, this episode is for you. Discover how to leverage your existing skills and passion for writing, healthcare, and lifelong learning to create engaging educational content that supports health professionals and improves patient care...

May 24, 202415 minSeason 8Ep. 121

Gender Equity in CME: Practical Strategies for Empowerment

Have you ever wondered how gender inequities affect career progression in the world of continuing medical education/professional development (CME/CPD)? In this episode, we explore women's pervasive challenges in CME and CPD, from microaggressions to barriers in leadership roles. Whether you're looking to climb the career ladder or simply gain insights into the dynamics of gender equality within your field, this conversation sheds light on critical issues affecting many in the industry. 1. Discov...

May 22, 202440 minSeason 8Ep. 120

The CEO of You: Why Investing in Yourself is the Key to Freelance Medical Writing Success

Are you tired of feeling like your freelance medical writing business is running you, instead of the other way around? Many freelance medical writers find themselves stuck in a reactive cycle, pouring all their time and energy into client projects but neglecting the strategic work that will actually move their business forward. They dream of a thriving, fulfilling business where they're in the driver's seat, but struggle to find the time or headspace to make it a reality amidst the constant dead...

May 20, 202420 minSeason 8Ep. 119

Busting Silos: The Evolution of Independent Medical Education

Are you curious about the role of Medical Affairs in Independent Medical Education (IME)? Perhaps you're struggling to demonstrate the value and impact of your programs in a way that resonates with IME teams. IME is evolving. Today’s episode with IME expert Nancy Paynter discusses the pivotal role of IME within the broader scope of medical affairs and provides valuable insights to help you effectively communicate your initiative's impact to IME personnel. By tuning in, you'll discover: The conce...

May 15, 202441 minSeason 8Ep. 118

From Boring to Brilliant: Transform Your CME Content with Proven Storytelling Frameworks

Are you struggling to keep your clinical audience engaged and invested in your CME content? In today's fast-paced, information-overloaded world, medical writers face the daunting challenge of capturing and maintaining their readers' attention. This episode explores how you can leverage proven storytelling techniques to create compelling, memorable CME content that resonates with your target audience. Discover how to structure your content using powerful storytelling frameworks that build anticip...

May 13, 202414 minSeason 8Ep. 117

The Future of MedEd: Chatbots, AI, and Personalized Learning

Are you curious about how artificial intelligence and chatbots are revolutionizing continuing medical education (CME) and transforming the way clinicians learn? As a CME professional, you constantly seek innovative ways to create engaging and effective educational experiences for your clinician audience. Staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements, such as AI and chatbots, is crucial to address the specific knowledge gaps and practice needs of busy healthcare providers. This ep...

May 08, 202435 minSeason 8Ep. 116

How to Streamline Your Medical Writing Literature Review Process

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 ...

May 06, 202423 minSeason 8Ep. 115

First Friday: From Pharma to Freelance Medical Writing in the Digital Age

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 commun...

May 03, 202429 minSeason 8Ep. 114

Telling a Stronger Story: The Art of Communicating CME Outcomes

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 a...

May 01, 202441 minSeason 8Ep. 113

Elevate Your Medical Writing: How to Choose the Right Literature Review Approach for Your Project

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 ...

Apr 29, 202412 minSeason 8Ep. 112

The Art of Short-Form CME: Tweetorials and Social-Media-Based Content

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...

Apr 24, 202436 minSeason 8Ep. 111

Bridging Gaps and Crafting Learning Objectives: High-Impact Skills for CME Writers

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...

Apr 22, 202414 minSeason 8Ep. 110

Crafting Accessible and Inclusive Medical Content

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 o...

Apr 17, 202416 minSeason 8Ep. 109

Crafting Impactful CME: Core Competencies for Medical Writers

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...

Apr 15, 20248 minSeason 8Ep. 108

Navigating New Horizons: Understanding European Accreditation in CME

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, inclu...

Apr 10, 202440 minSeason 8Ep. 107

Nourishing Your Niche: The Secret to Thriving as a CME Medical Writer

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 n...

Apr 08, 202411 minSeason 8Ep. 106

How to Thrive in the Evolving Field of Medical Writing

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...

Apr 05, 202443 minSeason 8Ep. 105

Designing for Outcomes: Putting the Learner at the Heart of Your Educational Strategy

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 l...

Apr 03, 202441 minSeason 8Ep. 104

The Write Posture: Sustain Your Spine and Boost Creativity

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 Men...

Apr 01, 202429 minSeason 8Ep. 103

The Art of Storytelling: Engaging Clinical Audiences

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 ...

Mar 01, 202441 minSeason 7Ep. 102

Femtech and Inclusive CME/CPD: A Conversation with Caitlyn Tivy DPT

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 ...

Feb 28, 202442 minSeason 7Ep. 101

100 Ultimate Tips from 100 Episodes of Write Medicine

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, analy...

Feb 26, 202417 minSeason 7Ep. 100

Ben Lewin on the Imperfections of Science

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. ...

Feb 21, 202441 minSeason 7Ep. 99

Spotting Plagiarism in CME Content: Tools and Strategies for Prevention

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 ...

Feb 19, 202414 minSeason 7Ep. 98

The Art of Evaluation: Data-Driven Frameworks for Positive Change in CME/CPD

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 increasing...

Feb 14, 202445 minSeason 7Ep. 97

The Write Stuff: Partnering with Medical Writers for Impactful CME/CPD

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...

Feb 12, 202411 minSeason 7Ep. 96

From Scrubs to Scripts: How Claire Bonneau Redefined Her Career

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 jour...

Feb 01, 202440 minSeason 7Ep. 95
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