Write Medicine

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:

Tune in to hear how to build a rock-solid evaluation process in under an hour.

Email: [email protected]

By Design Development Solutions

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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.

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:

Tune in to gain actionable tips on optimizing your medical writer relationships to develop better CME/CPD.

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.

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:

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’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:

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.

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Email: [email protected]

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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.

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:

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.

Clinical Education Alliance

Caroline LinkedIn | Email: [email protected]

Sarah LinkedIn | Email: [email protected]

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 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:

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.

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:

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.

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:

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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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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).

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The Edge Medical Writing

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The MiHLO Initiative

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:

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].

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 MiLHO 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 MiLHO 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. 

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.

[email protected]

The Edge Medical Writing

LinkedIn

The MiHLO Initiative

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.

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.

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:

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 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:

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.

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Visit Clarifying Complex Ideas for more on sustainable content strategies.

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.