Welcome to the December 2024/January 2025 chapter newsletter. 

CHAPTER NEWS

• Book Club Selections for 2025

• Espresso Your Thoughts: Medical Writers Monthly Meet Up

• Call for Submissions

• Join our AMWA North Central LinkedIn Community

FEATURE ARTICLE

• My 5 Personal Highlights from Michael Franklin’s Editorial Legacy

FROM THE GRAD STUDENT QUILLS

• Finding Your Medical Writing Mentor: Resources for Grad Students

JOB BOARD

• Announcements

CHAPTER NEWS

Book Club Selections for 2025

Mark your calendars! We selected the books for the 2025 book club led by Paul Mamula. Whether or not you have read these, join us for an evening of discussion at the upcoming sessions:

Jan 27, 2025: In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope by Rana Awdish, MD

April 28, 2025: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (fiction)

Sept 22, 2025: Gut: An Owner’s Guide by Austin Chiang

Please save the Google Meet information for the upcoming January session:

AMWA Book Club - Jan 27, 7pm
Monday, January 27, 2025 · 7:00 – 8:00pm
Time zone: America/Chicago
Google Meet joining info: please check your email for the link

Please feel free to send any title (medical, technical, or nonfiction) that you would like to discuss at our Book Club to Paul Mamula (paulpat@pclink.com). 

[There is additional information regarding the book club here]

Espresso Your Thoughts: A New Monthly Meet-Up

Exciting news for our AMWA North Central Chapter! We’re thrilled to introduce Espresso Your Thoughts, a new monthly meet-up welcoming current members as well as those interested in becoming one. Starting February 4th, we’ll gather on the first Tuesday of every month at Nina’s Coffee Cafe in Saint Paul (165 Western Ave N) to sip coffee, enjoy discussions, and make connections in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you're a seasoned professional, a newcomer, or looking to transition to the field, this is a fantastic opportunity to network, spark a conversation and meet fellow writers. Mark your calendar, grab your favorite brew, and join us as we energize our month! If you would like to attend, please email Dora Miedaner (dora.miedaner@gmail.com) to get on the email planning list.

Call for Submissions

As a lifelong educator, one of my first initiatives as the new editor is to include graduate student voices in our medical writing community. To the previous contributors, your pieces are truly appreciated, and I hope you will consider continuing to volunteer your time and expertise. To all Chapter members, we welcome your upcoming contributions. I hope to continue to make the newsletter engaging and informative for members to aid in career development and networking.

If you are interested in writing for the newsletter or have a topic you would like to have covered in mind, please contact Publications Committee Chair, Dora Miedaner (dora.miedaner@gmail.com).

FEATURE ARTICLE

My 5 Personal Highlights from Michael Franklin’s Editorial Legacy

by Dora Miedaner

Hello AMWA North Central Chapter Members,

I am thrilled to be Michael Franklin’s successor as the new editor of our Chapter’s newsletter and continue delivering content that informs, inspires, engages, and connects our community of medical writers. 

Michael Franklin served as the editor of the North Central Chapter newsletter from August 2023 to November 2024. As Mike himself wrote, his goal was to make the newsletter an informative place for our Chapter community to connect through shared experiences and expertise. I believe he not only accomplished this goal but exceeded it by introducing new article features, such as the Tess Van Ee’s Grammar Talk column, Naomi Ruff’s article series on the business of freelancing, and Adam Fix’s articles summarizing his experiences completing AMWA trainings. He also organized the West Metro Social Hour, an event designed to make it easy for medical writers in the area to gather and build relationships.

Mike will continue to organize the West Metro Social Hour, and I am pleased to announce that he has also agreed to join the editorial board of the newsletter as a member of the Publications Committee, where he will continue to guide this project forward. Thank you, Mike!

Take a stroll down memory lane with me as we celebrate Mike’s legacy! From insightful tips on job search to thought-provoking industry trends, I selected my favorite feature articles from the past editions. Grab a coffee, settle in, and enjoy revisiting these gems that have informed us over the past year!

October 2023: We have all been in the thick of it at some point, and I wish I had come across Job Search Tip by Adam Fix when I needed to refresh my game plan.

November 2023: As someone who has the not-so-loved habit of subtly correcting others, I was delighted to see the column Grammar Talk by Tess Van Ee introduced to the newsletter.

December 2023 / January 2024: A veteran freelancer, Naomi Ruff highlights The Importance of Having a Diversified Client Base to run a successful business.

February 2024: A booklover’s food for soul; I’m always excited to read Paul Mamula’s Book Review, and the one of The Icepick Surgeon by Sam Kean is no exception. It doesn’t get better than a combination of murder and science.

June 2024: The use of AI has been a hot topic in the regulatory writing field and I’m always excited to listen to ways healthcare educators…well, educate. Reading Mike Franklin’s coverage of Andrew Crim’s talk on Exploring the Use of AI in Medical Writing is a food for thought that made me spend a snowy afternoon looking up his engaging portfolio. 

From the Grad Student Quills 

Finding Your Medical Writing Mentor: Resources for Grad Students 

by Ashley Auerbach, PhD Candidate at University of Texas Health San Antonio

“Your mentors in life are important; choose them wisely.”— Bill Walsh

As a PhD student graduating next spring, it has been challenging to navigate the job market and work towards transitioning to a career in medical writing. Being engrossed in academic research for the past five years, I have limited exposure to the practices of industry. Without help it is difficult to know how to tailor my resume for a medical writing position. I don’t know which experiences are the most important to highlight and even which roles to appropriate to pursue at this education level. Throughout my PhD, I have had the help of several mentors including my advisor, committee members, post-docs, and fellow graduate students. It has been beneficial to have people around that are available to answer questions, talk through problems, and provide feedback. For those looking to transition to medical writing, finding a mentor that is currently in the field is advantageous.1 Your medical writing mentor can help you navigate the field and provide insights such as:

1. A thorough understanding of a career in medical writing

2. Insights into the career supported by personal experience

3. Valuable connections & networking opportunities

4. Personalized feedback

It is easy to understand why having a mentor is so highly valued. So, how do you go about finding a mentor? 

The first step to finding a mentor could be as easy as a click of a button. In the age dominated by online interactions, leveraging professional social media platforms can be your first attempt in pursuing networking opportunities. This type of networking can be made easier by having an up-to-date LinkedIn profile.2 If you prefer face-to-face interactions, local events from your AMWA chapter are another great way to meet people in your future field. The main thing to keep in mind is that networking, as any skill, requires practice, which can certainly seem daunting. However, as tempting as it may be to send off a batch of connection requests, building genuine connections with people goes a long way. This takes time and effort on both ends, so don’t get discouraged in the process.

Speaking for myself, as a PhD student, I can talk to fellow classmates, lab members, family, friends, and co-workers from previous work experiences. It is likely you already know someone who is willing to help you. Try reaching out to previous mentors or any recent graduates from your PhD program. Even if they are not a medical writer, they may know someone that is. 

Another great resource are alumni groups from your undergraduate or graduate institutions. These often host regular networking events, such as social hours, which are a great way to perfect your small-talk skills in a more casual setting. Lastly, online blogs and YouTube channels run by medical writers, such as The Bold PhD3, are another excellent resource to learn about types of medical communications, a day in the life of a medical writer, types of working arrangements and much more, without personally knowing someone in the field. 

Important Qualities of Mentor

When trying to find a mentor, there are several important qualities to look for.4 This will vary based on the person, as each mentor-mentee relationship is unique, and highly dependent on individual personalities.5 You should look for a mentor that is:

1. Passionate about their career and involvement in mentorship activities

2. Honest and capable of providing constructive feedback

3. Respectful and non-judgmental 

Now that you’ve identified a potential mentor, you can continue connecting through additional conversations and regular meetings. While some would recommend asking for the person to “officially” become their mentor, it is not required to ask directly.6 If the two of you are a good fit, this often happens organically. The main thing to remember is that, as with any relationship, this interaction is a two-way street.  It is important to continue to nurture this relationship and not get lost in just seeking the opportunities to advance your career. Think about the value you can provide to your mentor and strike a balance between give-and-take. By finding a mentor, you have not only already made a great first step towards pursuing a career in medical writing, but you have also found an inspiration to further fuel your aspirations.

Resources

• American Medical Writers Association (AMWA)

• Online content by PhD graduates in Medical Writing (The Bold PhD)

• LinkedIn.com 

References

1. The importance of mentorship. Forbes.com. Published July 5, 2023. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/07/05/the-importance-of-mentorship/

2. Create a good LinkedIn profile. Linkedin.com. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a554351

3. How I became a medical writer. Theboldphd.com. Published October 2, 2021. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://theboldphd.com/how-i-became-a-medical-writer/

4. How to choose a mentor. Yale University. Accessed December 23, 2024.

https://your.yale.edu/work-yale/learn-and-grow/career-development/mentoring/how-choose-mentor

5. Characteristics of excellent mentors. Asha.org. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.asha.org/students/mentoring/excmentor/?srsltid=AfmBOooYrExYvQ3wfRIhy_fpBcYaxWI6hizfb9Nf7wDUj7wgwouu5r6V

6. How to ask someone to be your mentor. Published July 19, 2024. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/business/learning/blog/career-success-tips/how-to-ask-someone-to-be-your-mentor

Job Board 

Announcements

Are you looking for work? You know someone who’s hiring? Please reach out! The job board will be updated in every issue of the monthly newsletter. If you’d like to add your name to this list, please contact Dora Miedaner (dora.miedaner@gmail.com).