The New England Chapter will hold its annual Sunday brunch on April 6th at the Hilton Garden Inn in Waltham, MA. This popular event will feature a leisurely late breakfast followed by lively roundtable discussions led by knowledgeable AMWA members who will share their insights, offer valuable advice, and answer questions.

There will be 8 roundtables in all – 7 on career-related topics, plus an informal “discussion” table. When you register for the event, choose the table that interests you most. Don’t delay, as seating at each table will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis upon registration.

Agenda:

Start: 11:00 am

Brunch: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Roundtable discussion: 12:30 – 2:00 pm

Menu: 

Fresh pastries, sliced fruit, yogurt with toppings, scrambled eggs, bacon, applewood smoked bacon, pork sausage links, home-fried potatoes, coffee, tea and juices.

Roundtable Descriptions

Table #1

Money Matters in the Freelance World

Leader: Theresa Singleton

Even the best writers won’t have financial success unless they know how to get what they’re worth. Join a discussion on the essentials of setting and raising rates, assessing the benefits of hourly rates versus project rates, collecting your due, negotiating contracts, and more. Come share your experiences and tap into those of your colleagues.

Theresa Singleton has been a medical communicator for over a decade. She holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from Boston University. As a freelance, she specializes in writing and editing communications for scientists in biotech/pharma and health communications for nonprofits. Theresa credits her business success to recognizing challenges as opportunities. She wishes to share her experiences and help others to thrive in the field.

Table #2

Avoiding Rejection: Tips for Manuscript Writing Success

Leader: Andrea Gwosdow

Writing manuscripts can be challenging. This roundtable will focus on the primary reasons manuscripts are rejected from journals and how to improve one’s chance of success when preparing manuscripts for publication. The tips provided are used by the presenter in her everyday work writing manuscripts. The roundtable will be participatory and participants will be asked to share their experiences and own tips for manuscript writing and publication.

Dr. Andrea Gwosdow is President of Gwosdow Associates Science Consultants LLC, a science and medical communications firm that provides medical and science writing services, teaches others how to write documents, works with schools on science education, and interprets science for non-scientists. Andrea is an award-winning medical writer and an AMWA Fellow who has worked around the world with organizations to improve their communication and writing skills through hands-on workshops, seminars, and presentations. Andrea’s book, The Complete Guide to Scientific Manuscript Writing, was written to help people learn the art of scientific manuscript writing.

Table #3

Transitioning From Academia to Medical Communications: Diversity in Medical Writing Careers

Leader: Dipanwita Ghose

Medical writing encompasses various styles, with each of us having a preferred mode of communication. While some prefer structured approaches, others thrive in more free-form environments when crafting communication materials. For new or aspiring medical writers, the first hurdle is often identifying the types of medical writing that align with their communication preferences. This discussion will explore the diversity within the field of medical writing, the associated career opportunities, and provide tips to help align them with individual interests.

Dipanwita is a medical communication expert with commercial acumen and 8 years of experience in developing scientific and medical content across various industry sectors. Prior to transitioning into the industry, she was an accomplished neuroscientist with 10 years of research and scientific communication experience in academia. In industry, Dipanwita’s experience encompasses writing of diverse medical communication materials including but not limited to critical appraisal and synopsis of clinical trial data, development of plain language summaries, publication materials (abstracts, posters, oral presentations, manuscripts), and diverse deliverables supporting various functions (commercial, medical affairs, corporate communications, investor relations, regulatory affairs) in the pharmaceutical industry.

Table #4

Regulatory Writing in the Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology Industry

Leader: Jeanette Towles

Find out all about one of the hottest fields in medical writing: helping pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms prepare new drug applications and other regulatory documents for the FDA. Good regulatory writers are always in demand. Explore opportunities as a freelance or staff writer. 

Jeanette Towles is President and owner of Synterex, Inc., a woman-owned, disability- owned clinical and regulatory consulting firm specializing in agile-based project management methodology, automation, and AI-driven technologies. Prior to that, she held in-house consulting and FTE medical writing and clinical science positions at both small- and large-size companies, with cumulative industry experience of nearly 20 years. She lives in the Boston area with her husband, 2 children, and dog.

Table #5

Communicating Effectively to Create a Successful Medical Writing Career

Leader: Jenny Thayer

Excellent medical writing skills are only part—and sometimes the smaller part—of what defines a successful career as a medical writer. In this roundtable, we will explore with one another the key communication skills that can make or break success as a medical writer. We will start with topics provided by the facilitator and then share our own experiences or questions along the way.

Jenny Thayer (MBA, EdM, MA), has 25+ years of experience at both small and large biotech/pharma companies, starting in regulatory affairs and transitioning to build and lead medical writing departments, navigating her groups successfully through mergers, acquisitions, and layoffs. She has significant experience planning and leading teams to develop the content for major marketing submission applications, resulting in numerous product approvals. Today, Jenny works at BioBridges in an advisory capacity to understand clients’ and consultants’ needs to determine the best consultant for each project. Jenny is enthusiastic about supporting others to achieve their best potential through effective communication practices.

Table #6

Overcoming Procrastination

Leader: Margaret Burke

Procrastination can negatively affect work, home life, financial stability, and happiness. This roundtable discussion will shed light on why it happens and what to do about it. We will discuss scientific theories of procrastination, common characteristics of procrastinators, and share tips on how to battle this tendency. A list of resources will be provided.

Dr. Burke is a pharmacist, freelance medical writer, and educator with 30+ years of clinical experience. She possesses a broad knowledge of disease and therapeutics with expertise in pediatrics and poison information. She started Precision Medical Writing, LLC in 2013. She strives to effectively communicate information to promote health, help individuals understand their illness and therapy options, and educate health professionals in the safe and optimal use of medications.

Table #7

Continuing Medical Education (CME): Careers, Content, and Industry Essentials

Leader: Thomas Mitchell

This roundtable offers visitors insights on where to find jobs and opportunities for freelance gigs in the continuing medical education industry and how to develop in-demand, high-quality content. Learn more about how to gain entry into this lucrative, dynamic industry and navigate key trends poised to shape the future of healthcare education.

Thomas Mitchell is the founder and lead medical writer at Tech Writers Plus, a medical communications company specializing in the development of continuing education materials and other content for scientific audiences. He has been a member of the American Medical Writers Association since 2019 and serves as the Local Networking Coordinator for members in Eastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Table #8:

Discussion Table

Looking for a table where you can chat informally with colleagues? Join this table to network with fellow Medical Writers.