Write Medicine

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!

Email: [email protected]

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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™.

Ghidinellli M, Pozniak E, Kolanko C, Wilson S. The ongoing challenges faced by providers of CME-CPD in Europe. J CME. 2023;12(1)

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

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!

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 for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Mentioned in this episode:

CMEpalooza

CMEpalooza Fall is a 1-day event scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, that will feature a series of sessions relevant across the CME/CE spectrum. Broadcasts will stream live on the LIVE page of this website and be available for viewing shortly after their conclusion on the Archive page. There is no charge to view or participate in any of these sessions.

Outcomes Architect Sprint

Want to finally master outcomes reports? Join my 4-Week Outcomes Reports Sprint and walk away with a polished, portfolio-ready sample plus templates, coaching, and lifetime tools. Spots are limited—sign up at [insert URL].

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:

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.

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.

Health Writer Hub

LinkedIn

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

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!

[email protected]

Outcomes Engine

(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

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!

(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 for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Mentioned in this episode:

Outcomes Architect Sprint

Want to finally master outcomes reports? Join my 4-Week Outcomes Reports Sprint and walk away with a polished, portfolio-ready sample plus templates, coaching, and lifetime tools. Spots are limited—sign up at [insert URL].

CMEpalooza

CMEpalooza Fall is a 1-day event scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, that will feature a series of sessions relevant across the CME/CE spectrum. Broadcasts will stream live on the LIVE page of this website and be available for viewing shortly after their conclusion on the Archive page. There is no charge to view or participate in any of these sessions.

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:

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.

Content Alchemy. Tip Sheet for Medical Writers

Email: [email protected]

Website

YouTube

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fall Back to School Sale

We're running a back-to-school sale September 2 through 12. Standalone CME writing toolkits, business kits, and quarterly WriteCME Pro membership — all at the best pricing we've offered this year. Everything's at www.alexhowson.com. Link's in the show notes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fall Back to School Sale

We're running a back-to-school sale September 2 through 12. Standalone CME writing toolkits, business kits, and quarterly WriteCME Pro membership — all at the best pricing we've offered this year. Everything's at www.alexhowson.com. Link's in the show notes.

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.

(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

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fall Back to School Sale

We're running a back-to-school sale September 2 through 12. Standalone CME writing toolkits, business kits, and quarterly WriteCME Pro membership — all at the best pricing we've offered this year. Everything's at www.alexhowson.com. Link's in the show notes.

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:

Don't miss this illuminating discussion on the complex forces that could undermine science in the 21st century.

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.

Lewin B. Inside Science: Revolution in Biology and its Impact. Long Island, NY: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. 2023.

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fall Back to School Sale

We're running a back-to-school sale September 2 through 12. Standalone CME writing toolkits, business kits, and quarterly WriteCME Pro membership — all at the best pricing we've offered this year. Everything's at www.alexhowson.com. Link's in the show notes.

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.

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.

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.

(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.

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fall Back to School Sale

We're running a back-to-school sale September 2 through 12. Standalone CME writing toolkits, business kits, and quarterly WriteCME Pro membership — all at the best pricing we've offered this year. Everything's at www.alexhowson.com. Link's in the show notes.